NORAM scholars 2026-27

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Graduate - Norwegian Master's and PhD candidates to the U.S.

Graduate

Anders Bekkevard

MS in Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Anders is from Halden, Norway. He is pursuing a master's in Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU, specializing in Computer Science, and will spend an exchange year at MIT. Anders has previously developed a programming course for Edrupt, an edtech company. He has also interned as an equity analyst at Odin Forvaltning, covering the Norway and Nordics funds. At MIT, he aims to deepen his technical foundation in probability, machine learning, and optimization, and engage with the research community in Boston. Outside academics, Anders climbs for the ascent and ski-tours for the descent. He has a fondness for gradients.

Mie Bøttger

MS in Integrated Marketing, New York University

Mie is originally from Oslo, Norway, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing with a focus on Brand Management at New York University. Before relocating to New York, she earned aBachelor of Science in Strategic Communication and Public Relations from the University of Colorado Boulder. Throughout her academic and professional journey, Mie has gained hands-on experience through internships in both the U.S and Norway working with Oslo Runway, Elle, Amundsen Sports, and Nespresso. Mie has also contributed to brand engagement for Candy king, Fanta, Caia Cosmetics, and Coach through her own channels. She is passionate about applying her background to foster meaningful and inclusive communication through strategic brand building.

Jørgen Rokne Dahle

MS in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley

Jørgen is from Bergen and currently studies Computer Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where he has also finished a bachelor’s degree in Economics. He works part-time as a teaching assistant and volunteers at a student-run bar. He is interning this summer at IF Insurance as an analyst. Jørgen is excited to spend a year at UC Berkeley where he hopes to learn more about neural networks and natural language processing. Outside of school, Jørgen enjoys running and watching football.

Jakob Ugland Damsgaard

MS in Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Jakob Ugland Damsgaard is from Kristiansand, Norway. He studies Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU, with a specialization in Computer Science. In addition to his studies, he has worked as a teaching assistant in programming and mathematics courses. At MIT, he looks forward to challenging himself academically, exploring new technologies, and learning from students and researchers at the forefront of innovation. Outside the classroom, he is excited to experience campus life at MIT and live in the United States.

Malin Sende Grägg
MS in Biology, University of North Dakota

Malin Sende Grägg is from Verdal, Norway, and is pursuing an M.S. in Biology at the University of North Dakota, where her research focuses on wildlife ecology and animal behavior. She previously earned a B.S. in Biology from the same institution. Her master's research examines the movement behavior and social organization of zebra in South Africa, combining GPS tracking, spatial ecology, and fieldwork in Kruger National Park to better understand how wildlife responds to environmental change. Through her studies, she has developed skills in ecological modeling, GIS, and wildlife movement analysis, and hopes to apply these experiences to wildlife conservation and natural resource management in Norway.

Mattias Hammersland

MA in International Affairs, Columbia University

Mattias is from Oslo, Norway, and holds an MA in Economics and Politics from the University of Edinburgh. After graduating, he interned with Norway's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and currently works as an analyst in ocean freight shipping. He will be pursuing a Master of International Affairs (MIA) in International Finance and Economic Policy at Columbia University where he looks forward to studying how international financial markets function, fluctuate, and respond to economic shocks. Outside of academics, Mattias enjoys travelling, reading, and hiking.

Maria Haugan

PsyD in Clinical Psychology, Adler University

Maria Constanza Haugan grew up on Stord, a small island community about two hours south of Bergen, Norway. She is currently pursuing a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Military Psychology at Adler University in Chicago. Maria previously earned a Bachelor's degree in Communication and a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from North Park University in Chicago. She has worked with military populations and individuals receiving services in community mental health settings on Chicago’s South Side. Her professional interests include psychological assessment, trauma, resilience, and the mental health needs of service members and veterans. Following the completion of her doctoral training, Maria hopes to serve military personnel and their families within both the Norwegian and United States militaries.

Martine Aamodt Maksutova

MA in History, George Washington University

Martine is from Egersund, Norway. She received her BA in Political Science & International Relations from Yonsei University in South Korea. Currently, she is pursuing an MA in History at George Washington University, focusing on Uyghur history in 19th century Qing dynasty. With her background in social sciences, she hopes to focus on the economic and social history of this period using Russian and Chaghatay language sources. Outside of academics, she enjoys hiking and going to museums.

Daniel Leon Marchand

MS in Cybernetics and Robotics, University of California, Berkeley

Daniel is from Trondheim, Norway. He is pursuing a Master's degree in Cybernetics and Robotics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), specializing in autonomous systems. He has been active in Ascend NTNU, a student organization developing autonomous drones, and has worked at the drone startup Aviant. Daniel has also served as a teaching assistant in multiple engineering courses. He will spend a semester at the University of California, Berkeley, where he looks forward to learning from leading researchers in robotics and artificial intelligence, while engaging with the vibrant technology and innovation community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Pawel Margielewski

MS in Financial Engineering, Columbia University

Pawel is from Tønsberg, Norway. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Norwegian School of Economics and is pursuing a master’s in financial engineering at Columbia University. His interests lie in the intersection of macroeconomics and finance, especially commodities. He has experience from Goldman Sachs, Norsk Hydro, Aker BP, Lerøy, and the Norwegian Embassy in Warsaw. Pawel’s academic interests lie in applying mathematics and statistics to price securities, especially within the derivatives markets. At Columbia, he looks forward to understanding how Transformer models and LLMs can be used to price options, as well as meeting people from all around the world.

Leo Lie McGrath

MS in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley

Leo is a dual American-Norwegian citizen from Oslo pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science at NTNU in Trondheim, where he specializes in Artificial Intelligence. This fall he is attending UC Berkeley as an exchange student, placing himself at the heart of the AI ecosystem he hopes to build a career in. Leo has gained industry experience as a data engineer at Equinor and is spending the summer of 2026 as a developer intern at Bekk in Oslo. Through his exchange, Leo aims to experience the startup culture of Silicon Valley firsthand and bring what he learns back to Norway. In his free time, he enjoys running and skiing.

Balder Hella Mikkelsen

Master of Musical Arts, Yale University

Balder Hella Mikkelsen is a Norwegian cellist from Bergen. He is currently pursuing a Master of Musical Arts degree at the Yale School of Music, after earning his Master of Music degree from Yale in 2026. Prior to his studies at Yale, he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Performance from the Barratt Due Institute of Music. Balder has received several national and international awards, including Yale University’s Broadus Erle Prize in 2025 and a prize at the Virtuoso & Belcanto Competition in Lucca, Italy. He has performed and recorded with the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra and appeared as a soloist with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra. In 2020, he was a finalist in NRK’s national soloist competition, Virtuos.

Knut Opland Moen

MS in Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Knut is from Oslo and is pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science at NTNU. Passionate about artificial intelligence, he is currently interning on the AI team at Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), and looks forward to spending the coming semester at MIT to dive deeper into the field. Alongside his studies, he has been an intern and later worked as a scientific assistant at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), while also being a member of ReLU NTNU, a student-run applied AI organization. Outside of academics, Knut enjoys spending time in nature through road cycling, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

Maud Sundnes Moen

MS in Sustainability Management, Columbia University

Maud is from Oslo, Norway. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Development Studies from the University of Oslo, which included an exchange semester at Sciences Po Lyon and fieldwork in Tanzania. Maud has held internships at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo and the United Nations in New York. Prior to beginning her Master’s degree, she worked for two years as a Sustainability Advisor at VOICE, a major Norwegian fashion company. At Columbia University, she focuses on environmental science, corporate strategy, and supply chain management while continuing to build practical skills, broaden her network, and gain new perspectives.

Ruwayda Mohamed

MS in International Educational Development, University of Pennsylvania

Ruwayda is pursuing a master's degree in Global Education Policy at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, specializing in education technology and development finance. She is a Lipman Family Prize Fellow and writer at the Wharton School. Before Penn, she worked across education and development, including at Norway's Permanent Delegation to the OECD and UNESCO in Paris, and the United Nations Development Programme. She holds a BS in Sociology with a specialization in Economics from the University of Oslo, and has a background in applied machine learning.

Paul Henrik Morud

MS in Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley

Paul is from Trondheim, Norway, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), specializing in Visual Computing. His academic interests focus on machine learning and computer vision. During the fall semester, he will study at the University of California, Berkeley as an exchange student, where he looks forward to deepening his knowledge of artificial intelligence and learning from leading researchers in the field. He is excited to engage with Berkeley’s academic community and gain new perspectives on technology and innovation. Outside of academics, Paul enjoys skiing, hiking and running.

Linnea Spånberg Nordli
MS in Marine Biology, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Linnea is from Norway and holds a bachelor's degree in marine biology. For the past two years, she has worked as a Research Assistant at the Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University, focusing on applied aquaculture research and developing molecular laboratory skills. This fall, she will begin a Master's degree in Marine Biology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, where her research will center on coral reef ecology, environmental stressors, and microbial interactions. She looks forward to deepening her understanding of reef systems and contributing to marine science in one of the world's most biodiverse ocean environments.

Tiril Opsahl Nystad

MS in Social Work, University of West Florida

Tiril is from Bodø. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Nord University in 2022 before moving to the United States to pursue social work. She completed her BSW in 2025 at the University of West Florida and is currently working on her MSW. She enjoys playing pickleball and attending hockey games. Through her studies and internship at the Military and Veterans Resource Center, she developed a strong interest in supporting military members, veterans, and their families. She looks forward to learning more about veteran support systems and mental health services, and exploring how successful approaches can be adapted and implemented in Norway.

Arya Rogne

MA in English, North Dakota State University

Arya is a Master’s student in English Literature at North Dakota State University. She grew up on Longva outside Ålesund, Norway, and previously studied Theatre Studies and Comparative Literature at the University of Bergen. Her master’s project examines adaptation to life in North Dakota and its Norwegian cultural heritage, in dialogue with narratives of Norwegian settlers from over a century ago. Her interests include knitting, poetry, hiking, and brewing kombucha. She looks forward to further developing her master’s project as she completes her degree in the United States.

Emma Ryen

MS in Accounting and Fundamental Analysis, Columbia University

Emma is from Hamar, Norway, and holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). Prior to starting her master's, she worked in private equity in Oslo and Stockholm. Now in her second year at Columbia University, Emma has thoroughly enjoyed the programme, with a strong focus on fundamental analysis. Alongside her studies, she has taken the opportunity to travel around the United States. She looks forward to her final semester this fall and continuing to deepen her expertise in finance.

Frederik Seim

Master of Business Administration, Columbia Business School

Frederik, a native of Bergen, earned his bachelor's degree at the Norwegian School of Economics (NHH). His early career included internships in investment banking and private equity in companies such as Carnegie Investment Bank and Altor Equity Partners, before he joined McKinsey & Company in Oslo as a full-time Business Analyst. He has since enrolled in an MBA at Columbia Business School in New York. Drawn to international engagement since volunteering as a teacher in Nepal at seventeen and in Zambia at twenty-four, Frederik is driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact. He enjoys football, tennis, reading books, and building lasting friendships.

Christian Viken-Slåtten

MS in Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Christian is from Asker, Norway, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Industrial Economics and Technology Management at NTNU, specializing in Mechanical and Energy Engineering. As part of his studies, he will spend time at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he looks forward to deepening his knowledge of technical subjects and optimization while exploring how to tackle complex engineering and energy-related challenges. Alongside his studies, he has worked as a teaching assistant and private tutor, developing an interest in teaching and helping others succeed academically. Outside of academics, Christian enjoys strength training, alpine skiing, and spending time hiking in nature.

Maya Westerlund

MS in Foreign Service, Georgetown University

Maya Sidney Westerlund is a graduate student at Georgetown University pursuing a Master of Science in Foreign Service with a concentration in Geoeconomics, Business & Finance, alongside studies in Hebrew. She holds a bachelor's degree from BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo and has picked up experience along the way through management consulting internships at BCG, PwC, and EY, as well as startup work in Oslo. Maya is currently a Wallenberg Fellow in Sweden, completing a corporate and investment banking internship at SEB. Outside of work and study, she enjoys running, playing piano, and traveling. She looks forward to exploring how macroeconomics shapes and drives financial markets during her time ahead in the MSFS program.

Didrik Wiig-Andersen

MSE in Software Systems and Cybersecurity, University of Pennsylvania

Didrik is pursuing a Master of Science in Engineering in Software Systems and Cybersecurity at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania. Besides his academics, Didrik enjoys scholarly research. He has written two papers in the field of Finance and been a research assistant in the Digital and Computational Pathology Lab at Penn Medicine. Didrik is originally from Tønsberg, Norway and enjoys skiing, reading, and traveling. Over the past summers he has worked at DNB Asset Management and Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace.

Masod Yousufi

MSc in Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Masod is from Lillehammer, Norway. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where his thesis analyzed the carbon footprint of wildlife crossings in Norway, focusing on concrete and timber construction. He has interned at Skanska Norway and is the founder of ByggBrukt, a platform for the reuse of surplus construction materials. After spending a year at the University of California, Berkeley as an exchange student, he now returns to pursue a Master of Science in Construction Systems, where he aims to explore how AI can support more sustainable building practices.

Johannes Øksnevad

J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law

From Hommersåk, Norway, Johannes is a Juris Doctor Candidate at Wake Forest University School of Law. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, summa cum laude, with a minor in Creative Writing from Lees-McRae College. As a rising third-year student, he is eager to continue developing professional skills through academic engagement and hands-on legal experience. Outside of law school, Johannes enjoys attending athletic events, cross-country skiing, and exploring global cuisines.

Graduate - American Master's and PhD candidates to Norway

Americans

Ann Carlson

MA Screen Cultures, University of Oslo

Annie Carlson (she/her) is from Minnesota, USA. She previously graduated summa cum laude from Gustavus Adolphus College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, double-majoring in Communication Studies and Dance and minoring in Film and Media Studies. After graduating, Annie worked in various media and communication roles and freelanced as a dancer and choreographer before moving to Oslo to attend UiO while concurrently learning more about her Norwegian ancestry. She is now a master's student studying Screen Cultures at the University of Oslo and an intern at the Munch Museum.

Sarah Ditelberg

MD, University Centre in Svalbard

Sarah is a medical student at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She completed her undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This fall, she will complete three courses at UNIS in Svalbard covering safety management, risk assessment, and emergency preparedness and response in the Arctic. Her academic interests include aerospace medicine and human adaptation and performance in austere environments. She hopes to bring her skills learned at UNIS to future work at the intersection of expedition medicine and human spaceflight.

Delaney Rose Free

MA in Multilingualism, University of Oslo

Delaney is from Orange County, California. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Linguistics from California State University, Fullerton in 2021. Since first visiting Norway in 2018, it became a dream of hers to study in Norway. After working in Human Resources for two years, she made the decision to return to academia to pursue a Master’s degree in Multilingualism at University of Oslo. Delaney is excited to use eye-tracking technology to explore the effects of multilingualism on figurative language processing for her master’s thesis.

William Haslam

MA in History, University of Oslo

William is from Franklin, Tennessee. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the American University in Bulgaria. He will begin studying in the Modern International and Transnational History masters program at the University of Oslo this fall. William is a published poet and enjoys reading Norwegian literature.

Vita Keith

MPhil in Ibsen Studies, University of Oslo

Vita is a first-year Master's student at the University of Oslo, where she will be completing an MPhil in Ibsen Studies. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature and Theater and Performance Studies, and has many years of experience working in theater and education. She plans to research the translation of Henrik Ibsen’s plays into English and Spanish in order to determine how adaptation and translation shapes Ibsen’s reception around the world. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, and playing video games. She is beyond excited to begin her studies in Oslo.

Julia Kiaer

MA in Archaeology, University of Oslo

Julia Kiær is from Portland, Oregon. She holds a BA in Archaeological Anthropology and English, with a concentration in Creative Writing, from Barnard College of Columbia University. Although she grew up in the United States, she is a citizen of Norway through her father and has maintained a close relationship with the country and culture, visiting yearly and living in Oslo in 2025. She is eager to return to complete an MA in Archaeology at the University of Oslo. Her academic research is interested in how modern identities are informed by archaeological histories.

Benjamin Malovrh

MSc in Computer Science, University of Stavanger

Ben is from Minnesota, USA and holds a BS in Computer Science from Augsburg University and is currently pursuing a Masters of Computer Science at the University of Stavanger. He has experience in high level language programming, embedded programming, app development, web development, and has a Minor in Mathematics. His professional and academic interests lie in ethical computing, renewable energies, EU alternative software options. He interned with Watlow providing embedded programming with IoT integration. He hopes to build a future where legislation and technology is used to benefit all, to coupled with equal access to technology across economic classes.

Alf & Bergljot Kolflat Fund

Siri Lundestad

Siri Lundestad is an architect with broad experience across all phases of urban and architectural development, working with innovation, environmental sustainability, and social sustainability. She has been a co-owner at several offices. She has been a guest critic at Bergen School of Architecture, an examiner at NTNU, and a jury member for Europan, an international architecture competition. Siri is particularly interested in strategic urban development and the design and experience of our common spaces. Siri is the founder of ArkiBator, an incubator for architects with the aim of building a more diverse profession — and more diverse cities and built environments.

Ambassador Robert D. Stuart Fellowship

Nhan Kien Nguyen Huynh

Stuart Fellow Spring 2026

Nhan is from Notodden, Norway, and is currently working as a Political Advisor on Health and Care Services for the Progress Party Parliamentary Group. Nhan holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from University of Agder. Nhan is member of Telemark county council and member of Notodden municipality council. During Nhan fellowship he worked for Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak from North Dakota.

Aila Emilie Kamaly

Stuart Fellow Fall 2026

Aila is from Gjøvik, Innlandet. She has been part of the national leadership of the Socialist Left Party (SV - Sosialistisk Venstreparti) since 2021. She is a master student in Political Science at the University of Oslo. Previously, Aila has worked as Deputy Secretary of Education, Child Care, and Youth Services for the City of Oslo. She enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with friends and family.