Rigmor Baraas

ORCID Researcher unique identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3259-7617

Cristin-person-ID: 323642 

Rigmor C. Baraas studied Optometry and Vision Science at University of Manchester, England. She graduated in 1994, and was subsequently appointed Lecturer in the Department of Optometry at Buskerud University College, Kongsberg, Norway. She received a PhD fellowship in 1998, and returned to Manchester to undertake postgraduate research in the Vision Science Laboratory with Prof. J. J. Kulikowski. She obtained her PhD from the University of Manchester in 2002. She then moved to the Visual and Computational Neuroscience Laboratory and undertook 3-years of postdoctoral research with Professor D. H. Foster. She returned to Buskerud University College in spring 2005 as Associate Professor of Visual Sciences in the Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences. She was promoted to full professor in November 2011. Baraas was featured as Visionary of the Quarter on the European Gateway for Vision Research for the first quarter of 2013. She is a member of NOF, OSA, XR4All, ICVS and ARVO. She was the organizer of the 21st Symposium of the International Colour Vision Society and an elected director of the ICVS Board for eight consecutive years. Baraas was an elected member of the Visual Psychophysics (VI) section of the ARVO Annual Meeting Program Committee and chair of the section for 2015-2016. She is currently Editor-in-chief for Scandinavian Journal of Optometry and Visual Sciences and is on the OSA Technical Group Color (VC) Executive Commitee. She is a board memeber of Forum Farge Norway. She organizes the annual Kongsberg Vision Meeting. Baraas is the director of research at the National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care in the Faculty of Health Sciences.  

EDUCATION

2016–2017          Developing Doctoral Supervision Diploma, University of South-Eastern Norway.

2016–2017          Research Management Diploma, Copenhagen Business School, Copenhagen, Denmark

2008–2009          Practical-Pedagical Diploma in Higher Education, University College of Østfold.

2002–2005          Post Doctor, Computational Neruoscience Laboratory, University of Manchester, UK.

1998–2002      Doctor of Philosophy: Disputation date: 09.12.2002

Supervisor: Janus J. Kulikowski, The Visual Science Laboratory, University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology (UMIST), Manchester, UK

1994–1995      Contact Lens Diploma. Buskerud University College, Department of Optometry, Kongsberg, Norway

1992–1994      Bachelor of Science (Hons), Optometry and Visual Science, University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology (UMIST), Manchester, UK

CURRENT AND PREVIOUS POSITIONS

2011–present   Professor

Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, University College of Southeast Norway.

2019–Present  Director of research

National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care, University College of Southeast Norway.

2013–2019  Centre Director

National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care, University College of Southeast Norway.

2014–2017  Prodean for Research

Faculty of Health Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway.

2005–2011      Associate Professor

Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Buskerud University College. Norway

2005–2008      Honorary Visiting Research Associate

Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, UK

2002–2005      Post-Doctoral Research Associate (Wellcome Trust Grant)

Supervisor: David H. Foster, Computational Neruoscience Laboratory, University of Manchester, UK.

FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS 

2013                Awarded the Norwegian Association of Optometrist Honorary Gold Medal 

2013                Awarded the title Visionary of the Quarter by the European Gateway for Vision Research for the first quarter of 2013.

2010                Recipient of the Buskerud University College Research Award 2010

2010                Recipient of the Norwegian Optometric Association Innovation Award 2010

SUPERVISION OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AND RESEARCH FELLOWS

2014–present        4 PhD and 1 Master Students

Faculty of Health Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway, 1 PhD student is affiliated with Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway

2008–2014                   3 PhD and 23 Master Students

Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Buskerud and Vestfold University College, Norway

TEACHING ACTIVITIES 

2008–present   Teaching (Master and PhD) scientific methods, image processing and psychophysics. Supervision of Master and PhD students.

2005–2014      Teaching (BSc) visual physiology, visual optics, visual perception and colour vision; Supervision (BSc) Final year student research projects.

ORGANISATION OF SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS

2015–2017  Member of the scientific organization committee for the 24th symposium of the International Colour Vision Society, Erlangen, Germany August 18-22, 2017

2008–present   Organizer of Kongsberg Vision Meeting, annual Scandinavian meeting in vision science since 2008, 20-40 participants, Kongsberg, Norway.

2012–2016      Elected member of the Visual Psychophysics (VI) section of the ARVO Annual Meeting Program Committee, Chair of the committee 2015–2016, including organization of four mini symposia over four years

2010–2011      Organizer of the 21st symposium of the International Colour Vision Society, 140 participants, Kongsberg, Norway July 1-5, 2011

INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

2015–present   Member of PhD program board, Faculty of Health Sciences, University College of Southeast Norway.

2012–Present  Member of institutional quality assurance in education board, University College of Southeast Norway.

2007–Present  Head of Colour Vision and Retinal Imaging Research Group.

2014–2016      Project manager for the development of National Centre for Optics, Vision and Eye Care, with responsibility for a budget of NOK 31.7 mill, attracted external funding of NOK 8 mill.

2015                Member of 2015 strategic working group for the future University College of Southeast Norway Project 1 on the new institutions platform and profile.

2012–2014      Project manager for the development of a Nordic Master in Vision Rehabilitation, budget NOK 2 mill.

2011–2013      Member of committee developing the PhD program in person-centred healthcare and the application towards NOKUT accreditation. The PhD program started in 2014.

2012–2014      Director of Postgraduate Studies including HR responsibility for the departments associate and full professors, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Buskerud University College, Norway.

2012                Member of the two working groups for organizing the Faculty of Health Sciences at the former University College Buskerud and Vestfold, operative from Jan 1. 2014.

2011                Member of the working group for organizing the new Faculty of Health Sciences at Buskerud University College, operative from Jan 2. 2012.

2009–2011      Postgraduate Coordinator, Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Buskerud University College, Norway.

COMMISSIONS OF TRUST

2016–present   Selected by the Board of Directors of International Colour Vision Society (ICVS) to serve as a member of the Verriest Medal Committee.

2014–2016   Member of National Body of Cooperation between the Health and Education sector in Norway [Nasjonalt samarbeidsorgan for helsesektoren og utdanningssektoren (NSHU)].

2010–present   Editor-in-chief, Scandinavian Journal of Optometry and Visual Science

2005–present   Peer-review work for the following journals: Retina, Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Vision Research, Journal of Vision, Eye, Acta Ophthalmology, JOSA A, Visual Neuroscience

2011–2018      Topical Editor for Journal of the Optical Society of America A feature issue on Color Vision (JOSA A Vol. 29, Iss. 2, 2012, JOSA A, Vol. 31, Iss. 4, 2014, Vol. 33, iss. 3 2016, Vol. 35 , iss. 4 2018).

2013–2016      Selected by the Board of Directors of the Optical Society of America (OSA) to serve as a member of the Edgar D. Tillyer Award Committee.

2012–2016      Member of the International Colour Vision Society (ICVS) and elected member of the society’s Directors Committee.

2013–2014      Member of working group AG4–The municipal sector in HO21 Norwegian National Research and Innovation Strategy Process on Health and Care for the 21st Century 

2011                Member of ARVO working group with focus on the strategy surrounding the ARVO annual meeting as well as the quality of science in ARVO meetings as part of their long range plan.

MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

2014–present   Member of the Norwegian Neuroscience Society (NNS) and Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS)

2005–present   Member of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

2000–present   Member of the Optical Society of America (OSA)

1999–present   Member of the International Colour Vision Society (ICVS)

1994–present   Member of the Norwegian Association of Optometrists (NOF)

COLLABORATIONS

Maureen Neitz, PhD, Genetics of eye diseases, University of Washington, Department of Ophthalmology, Seattle WA, USA

Joseph Carroll, PhD, Vision research, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee WI, USA

Alfredo Dubra, PhD, Adaptive optics retinal imaging, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Stanford CA, USA

Christine F. Wildsoet, Myopia, University of California Berkeley School og Optometry, Berkeley, CA, USA

Michael Larsen, PhD, Eye disease, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Tor P. Utheim, PhD, Eye disease, Oslo University Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway

Jan Kremers, PhD, Retinal physiology, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

Mark Mon-Williams, PhD, Cognitive psychology,  Immersive technologies, University of Leeds, UK