CV

Dr. Guntars Kitenbergs

Senior researcher at the MMML lab

Associate professor and head of the Department of Physics

Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry

University of Latvia

Scientific experience

From 07/2016 - senior researcher at the MMML lab, University of Latvia

09/2013 - 06/2016 - researcher at the MMML lab, University of Latvia

09/2013 - 07/2015 - PhD student at the PHENIX lab, University of Pierre and Marie Curie (UPMC, Paris 6)

04/2014 - visiting researcher at the Bio-Nano Electronics Research Center, Toyo University, Kawagoe, Japan

03-07/2012 - intern at the Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Physics (LIPhy), UJF Grenoble/CNRS

02-08/2010 - physics technician at the MMML lab, University of Latvia 

Teaching experience

From 04/2024 - associate professor at the Department of Physics, University of Latvia

01/2021 - 03/2024 - assistant professor at the Department of Physics, University of Latvia

From 09/2016 - teaching courses for Bachelor of Physics and Master of Physics (University of Latvia):

Organizational experience

From 04/2024 - Vice-Rector for Research, University of Latvia

07/2016 - 05/2024 - head of the Department of Physics, University of Latvia

From 11/2015 - Expert at the Latvian Council of Science

From 2014 - member of the Association of Latvian Young Scientists, member of the board (03/2016-03/2019)

From 05/2019 - member of the Scientific council of the Institute of Solid State Physics, University of Latvia

05/2018 - 12/2020 - member of the Council of the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Optometry, University of Latvia

08/2016-06/2020 - member of the Latvian Council of Science as a representative from the Association of Latvian Young Scientists

09/2014-07/2018 - co-organizer of training sessions for Latvian IPhO team candidates

2019 - member of the local academic committee of the 3rd European Physics Olympiad EuPhO2019

Education

2012-2015 - Doctoral studies at the University of Latvia and the University of Pierre and Marie Curie (UPMC, Paris 6), thesis 

                      "Hydrodynamic instabilities in microfluidic magnetic fluid flows", supervisors Prof. R.Perzynski and Prof. A.Cēbers, 

                      defended in Paris on 16/07/2015, with mention très honorable (with great honor);

2010-2012 - Erasmus Mundus Master of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology at the KULeuven and the UJF Grenoble, nanophysics

                      specialization, graduated with magna cum laude (with great honor);

          2011 - ATHENS course at the Czech Technical University in Prague on "Particle Image Velocimetry";

2007-2010 - Bachelor of Natural Sciences in Physics at the University of Latvia, with distinction;

          2009 - ERASMUS semester at the Leibniz University of Hanover;

1995-2007 - Riga Secondary school No.64;

Scientific production

Until 02/2024, 22 publications and 33 international conference abstracts. See publication list.

Involvement in scientific projects

01/2022-today - project leader and senior researcher  for the Latvian Council of Science #FLPPLV project "Advancement of methods for measuring the motility of microswimmers (A4Mswim)"

12/2022-today - WP task leader and senior researcher for the Latvian Council of Science State Research programme project "Smart materials, Photonics, Technologies and Engineering Ecosystem"

01/2021 - today - co-PI and senior researcher for the Latvian Council of Science #FLPPLV project "Biologically inspired models of active matter driven by electromagnetic field (BIMs)" 

05/2018 - 06/2022 - supervisory board memeber and co-supervisor for a PhD student in the H2020 MSCA ITN project Magnetics and Microhydrodynamics - from guided transport to delivery (MaMi)

01/2021-08/2021 - senior researcher for M-era.net Call 2017 project "Flexible Magnetic Filaments: Properties and Applications (FMF)"

11/2017 - 10/2020 - project leader and senior researcher for the European Regional Development Fund #PostDocLatvia project "Microflows in magnetic soft matter" 

01/2018 - 11/2019 - project leader for the French-Latvian bilateral program Osmose project "Fluctuation phenomena in magneto-microhydrodynamics (FluMaMi)"

04/2017 - 08/2017 - senior researcher for the European Regional Development Fund project "The quest for disclosing how surface characteristics affect slideability"

06/2016 - 12/2016 - senior researcher for the Baltic-German University Liasion Office project "Stochastic dynamics of magnetotactic bacteria at random switching of rotary motors"

09/2015-12/2015 - researcher for the State research program project "Nanomateriāli un nanotehnoloģijas medicīniskajam pielietojumam/Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies for medical applications"

01/2014-08/2015 - researcher for the European Social Fund project "Formation of a new interdisciplinary group for development of nanostructured multilayer material applications (2013/0028/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/13/APIA/VIAA/054)"

02/2010-08/2010 - physics technician for the Latvian Council of Science project „Funkcionālu un mikrostrukturētu materiālu īpašību elektromagnētiskā laukā izpēte/Research of properties of functional and microstructured materials in magnetic field”

Additional education

An Introduction to Evidence-Based STEM Undergraduate Teaching, CIRTL Network MOOC, with distinction, Summer 2023

Leadership and Management Skills Course for PIs, hfp consulting (funded by ESF project 8.2.2.0/18/A/010), August 2020

Advancing Learning Through Evidence-Based Teaching, CIRTL Network MOOC, with distinction, Spring 2019

Introduction to lecturer work, University of Latvia, Faculty of Education, Psychology and Art, Spring 2018

Languages

Latvian (native), English (excellent), French, Russian and German (good), Dutch (basic)

Awards and Honors

One of personalities in Calendar #researchLatvia (2020), organized by the Ministry of Education and Science in Latvia [video]

Cabinet of Ministers diploma for achievements in work with talented school children (2015, 2016, 2017)

Forbes 30 under 30 in Latvia (2016)

Honorable mentions in IMO 2005, IPhO 2006 and 2007

Cabinet of Ministers diploma for achievements in International Science Olympiads (2005, 2006 and 2007)

Prize in the name of J.Kasakovskis (Best results in math Olympiads during school time) (2007)

Hobbies

Active leisure outdoors, MTB cycling, photography