Strengthening digital competencies in teaching – Meet Mads-Peter Christiansen
Since September, Mads-Peter Verner Christiansen has been employed as Academic Staff Member focusing on the development of digital competencies in teaching at the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. The position is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Prize for Science Teachers and is part of the ongoing effort to build and strengthen digital competencies among students in the new Bachelor’s degree programme in Molecular Biology and Molecular Medicine.
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The purpose of the position is to support both lecturers and students in working more systematically with digital tools and methods. This includes, in particular, the integration of Python programming and JupyterLab in courses, but also broader competencies in data management, data analysis, bioinformatics, and the application of digital tools in experimental work.
Mads-Peter serves as a link between lecturers, students, and technical development – helping to ensure that digital skills become a natural part of the academic progression throughout the degree programme.
A strong profile at the intersection of digital technology and natural sciences
Mads-Peter holds a PhD in Physics and has a strong background in scientific programming, data analysis, modelling, and machine learning. He has experience from both research and teaching – including as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Aarhus University, where he developed software for advanced global optimisation.
He has also organised and taught courses, workshops, and supervision in programming, data analysis, computational modelling, and machine learning at both national and international levels. This combination of technical, academic, and pedagogical skills makes him particularly well suited to support the development of digital teaching activities at the department.
Developing and supporting digital teaching initiatives
In practice, Mads-Peter will work closely with lecturers and course coordinators in both bachelor’s and master’s courses to develop and test specific digital teaching elements. He will also serve as a resource person for students who need extra support to get started with programming and to apply digital methods in their studies.
If you are a lecturer with ideas on how the development of digital competencies could be integrated into your course – or a student with questions about programming and data analysis – you are very welcome to contact Mads-Peter.
📧 machri@mbg.au.dk
📍 Office 1872-360