Summary

Physicist (PhD, Condensed Matter Physics, University of Oslo, 2023) working across research, teaching, and science communication. Currently Senior Lecturer at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, researching the use of AI in education, with a particular focus on science and mathematics teaching — including a forthcoming book, Lære med KI. Formerly a physics and mathematics teacher in Oslo through the Teach First Norway leadership programme. Co-founder and host of the science podcast Under Kappa, recurring panelist on NRK's Abels tårn, and recipient of the Norwegian Physical Society's 2025 outreach prize.

Education

2019–2023

PhD, Condensed Matter Physics

University of Oslo, Norway

Phase-field modelling of crystal deformation and microplasticity, supervised by Prof. Luiza Angheluta. The position included a 25% teaching load, part of which was spent as group-teacher coordinator in thermal physics and developing new Learning Assistant programmes.

2017–2019

Teach First Norway Candidate

City of Oslo, Norway

Two-year leadership programme for scientists and engineers entering teaching. Combined practical pedagogical education at the University of Oslo, didactics courses, and leadership training (Equinor) while teaching full time in an Oslo high school.

2017–2018

Pedagogical Education

University of Oslo, Norway
2015–2017

Master of Science, Theoretical Physics

University of Oslo, Norway

Thesis: Three M-Species Generalizations for Rotating Bose Gases in the Lowest Landau Level.

2012–2015

Bachelor of Science, Physics

University of Oslo, Norway

Theoretical focus.

2011–2012

Musical Education

Manger folkehøgskule, Norway

Trumpet and brass band.

2009–2011

High School, Science Track

Trondheim Katedralskole, Norway
2008–2009

High School Exchange Year

Lycée Privée Notre-Dame, Fontenay-le-Comte, France

Academic & Professional Experience

2023–present

Senior Lecturer

University of Oslo, Norway

Teaching, research, improving group-teaching sessions, and the use of AI in physics education.

2019–2023

PhD Candidate

University of Oslo, Norway

Doctoral research on phase-field modelling of microplasticity.

2017–2019

Teacher

Hersleb videregående skole, Oslo, Norway

Physics and mathematics teaching through the Teach First Norway programme.

2015–2016

Group Teacher

University of Oslo, Norway

Mechanics (FYS-MEK1110) and Modelling and Computations (MAT-INF1100).

2015

Assistant Teacher

City of Oslo, Norway

Summer course "Matteknappen 2", teaching mathematics to 8–9 year olds.

2014

Summer Research Intern

FASE, Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, Norway

Investigated the high-temperature characteristics of a perovskite oxide.

2013–2016

Volunteer

Red Cross Oslo, Norway

Homework help for high-school students at Red Cross centres.

2012–2014

School Band Instructor

Kløfta skolekorps, Norway
2010–2011

School Band Instructor

Steindal skolekorps, Trondheim, Norway
2009–2012

Kitchen Staff

McDonald's Nidarvoll, Trondheim, Norway

Publications

Peer-reviewed & preprint

  • How Physics Professors Use and Frame Generative AI Tools. Skogvoll, V., & Odden, T. O. (2025). arXiv:2511.11317. Under review, European Journal of Physics. doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2511.11317
  • ComFiT: A Python library for computational field theory with topological defects. Skogvoll, V., & Rønning, J. (2024). Journal of Open Source Software, 9(98), 6599. doi.org/10.21105/joss.06599
  • A unified field theory of topological defects and non-linear local excitations. Skogvoll, V., Rønning, J., Salvalaglio, M., & Angheluta, L. (2023). Npj Computational Materials, 9(1). doi.org/10.1038/s41524-023-01077-6
  • A phase field crystal theory of the kinematics of dislocation lines. Skogvoll, V., Angheluta, L., Skaugen, A., Salvalaglio, M., & Viñals, J. (2022). Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 166, 104932. doi.org/10.1016/j.jmps.2022.104932
  • Hydrodynamic phase field crystal approach to interfaces, dislocations and multi-grain networks. Skogvoll, V., Salvalaglio, M., & Angheluta, L. (2022). Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering. doi.org/10.1088/1361-651X/ac9493
  • Stress in ordered systems: Ginzburg-Landau-type density field theory. Skogvoll, V., Skaugen, A., & Angheluta, L. (2021). Physical Review B, 103(22), 224107. doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.103.224107
  • Dislocation nucleation in the phase-field crystal model. Skogvoll, V., Skaugen, A., Angheluta, L., & Viñals, J. (2021). Physical Review B, 103(1), 014107. doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.103.014107
  • Composite fermion basis for M-component Bose gases. Skogvoll, V., & Liabøtrø, O. (2017). Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 50(40), 405301. doi.org/10.1088/1751-8121/aa85f7
  • Evaluation of the elastic field in phase-field crystal simulations. Punke, M., Skogvoll, V., & Salvalaglio, M. (2023). PAMM, 23(3), e202300213. doi.org/10.1002/pamm.202300213

Theses & other writing

  • Symmetry, topology, and crystal deformations: A phase-field crystal approach. Skogvoll, V. (2023). Doctoral thesis, University of Oslo. duo.uio.no/handle/10852/102731
  • Three M-Species Generalizations for Rotating Bose Gases in the Lowest Landau Level. Skogvoll, V. (2017). Master's thesis, University of Oslo. duo.uio.no/handle/10852/57548
  • Lære fysikk med språkmodeller. Skogvoll, V., & Odden, T. O. (2024). Fra Fysikkens Verden.
  • Lære med Kunstig intelligens. Skogvoll, V., & Odden, T. O. (2025). In Artikkelsamling — MNT-konferansen 2025 (Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 449–453). doi.org/10.5324/njsteme.v9i2.6403

Teaching & Supervision

2025–present

Profag KI-kurs

KURT, University of Oslo, with Andreas Haraldsrud

A four-part professional development programme for teachers on using AI well: learning-science foundations and prompt design, teaching activities and differentiation, programming with AI, and assessment. Run for teacher groups across several Norwegian counties each semester since 2025, with consistently strong participant feedback on classroom relevance.

2024–present

Co-supervisor, student projects

University of Oslo

Currently co-supervising two students at the University of Oslo, working with computational field-theory methods built on the ComFiT framework.

2018–present

Learning Assistant (LA) programme

Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo

Involved in developing and running the six-week Learning Assistant programme for PhD students and others teaching smaller groups — class management, relationship-building, question design, active learning, and formative assessment.

2019–2023

Group-teacher coordinator, thermal physics

University of Oslo

Part of the 25% teaching duties during the PhD; also developed new Learning Assistant programmes.

Grants & Awards

2025

Book writing grant

Norsk faglitterær forfatter- og oversetterforening

For the book project "Learning with AI".

2025

The Norwegian Physical Society's outreach prize

Norsk Fysisk Selskap

Bi-annual prize for outreach communication in physics, awarded for the podcast Under Kappa.

2022

The Njord PhD award

Njord Centre for Studies of the Physics of the Earth, University of Oslo

Awarded for the best PhD of the year at the Njord Centre.

2020

Kristine Bonnevie travel scholarship

University of Oslo
2015

Guest at the Abel Prize dinner

Oslo, Norway

Represented the Red Cross homework centre at the dinner the year Andrew Wiles won the Abel Prize.

2011

The King's Watch

Trondheim Katedralskole

Annual prize for one student, for social commitment and academic achievement.

2011

International Physics Olympiad

Bangkok, Thailand

One of five students representing Norway.

2011

Third place, Norwegian Physics Olympiad

Norsk Fysikkforening
2009–2010

Several entrepreneurship prizes

Regional "Grundercamp", Trondheim Katedralskole

Four prizes across two years, for best use of science and best oral presentation.

International Experience

2022

Research stay — Minneapolis, Minnesota, US

Host: Prof. Jorge Viñals, Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics

Theoretical analysis of the phase-field crystal model, as part of the PhD.

2021

Research stay — Dresden, Germany

Host: Prof. Marco Salvalaglio, Computational Materials Science

Topological analysis and application of the phase-field crystal model to material systems.

2008–2009

Exchange student — Fontenay-le-Comte, France

Lycée Privée Notre-Dame

Outreach & Media

A selection — the full list runs to dozens of talks and guest appearances since 2020.

2023–present

Under Kappa — podcast

Co-founder, producer & host

A bi-weekly science communication podcast analysing the scientific plausibility of superheroes, with a focus on physics and biology. Close to 70 episodes, coverage on national TV and radio, and the Norwegian Physical Society's 2025 outreach prize.

2022–present

Abels tårn — expert panel

NRK P2

Recurring member of the expert panel answering listener questions on NRK's popular-science radio show.

2022–present

Jøss? — podcast guest

With Andreas Wahl

Repeat guest on the science-facts podcast, most recently in 2025.

2023–present

REAL læring & KIosk — podcasts

KURT, University of Oslo

Podcasts made as a senior lecturer on learning science in higher education and on AI in teaching, covering topics from ChatGPT and learning to the different institutes at the MN faculty.

2023–2024

Studio 2 — recurring science expert

National radio, culture & science

Explained the real-world physics behind popular superhero powers.

2025

TV2 — "God morgen Norge"

National TV morning show

Guest, discussing the science of superheroes, with Even Garvang (October 2025).

2024

TV2 — subject-matter expert

National news segments

Explained the physics of microwave food placement, and of hot water freezing mid-air.

Selected Talks & Workshops

2026-08

KI og fysikklæring

Norwegian Physics Teacher Conference
2025-10

Learning with AI & the LA-seminar

Lund University & Linköping University, Sweden

Invited talks on AI in teaching and on the Learning Assistant programme, in English.

2025-10

Foredrag om entropi, & KI og læring

Realfagssamling Sør-Trøndelag & "Naturfagets helter", Norway

Talks for ~150 natural science and physics teachers across two regional conferences.

2024-11

KI og læring, & superhelter i fysikkundervisning

NTNU / Realfaglig dag, Sør-Trøndelag fylkeskommune, Trondheim
2024-10-30

Five tricks to nail the exam with AI

Livestreamed talk, Realfagsbiblioteket, University of Oslo

Watch the recording

2023-06

PhD defense & trial lecture

University of Oslo

"Symmetry, Topology and Crystal Deformations: A Phase-Field Crystal Approach", plus a trial lecture on Brownian motion.

2022-10

A Phase Field Crystal Theory of the Kinematics of Dislocation Lines

10th Int'l Conference on Multiscale Materials Modeling & University of Minnesota
2021-05-03

8 ways to break things

Livestreamed talk, Realfagsbiblioteket, University of Oslo

Watch the recording

Plus roughly 30 further teacher workshops and PD sessions on AI in education across Norway and Sweden since 2020, and a dozen research seminar talks on phase-field crystal theory.

Skills

Languages

Norwegian mother tongue English fluent French advanced, B2 German advanced, B1 Spanish intermediate, A2

Computer

Generative AI highly specialized Python advanced — built ComFiT Spreadsheets enthusiast