Overview

My PhD supervision focuses on hybrid analysis & modeling, digital twins, physics-guided machine learning, corrective source term approaches, reduced order modeling, operator learning, and safe reinforcement learning. I welcome strong applicants with backgrounds in machine learning, control theory, computational fluid dynamics, or applied mathematics.

Research topics span from fundamental algorithm development to industrial applications in energy, maritime, built environment, and process industries.

Current PhD Students

NN

NN

Predictive digital twin for condition monitoring of cable infrastructures
2026-2029

Developing hybrid modeling approaches for real-time condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of electrical cable networks. Focus on data assimilation, uncertainty quantification, and sensor fusion techniques.

Bjørnar Kaarevik

Bjørnar Kaarevik

Pore pressure prediction using hybrid modeling (BigPressure)
2024-2028

Combining physics-based models with machine learning for accurate pore pressure estimation in subsurface formations. Part of the BigPressure project (5 MNOK) focused on drilling safety and efficiency.

Oluwaleke Yusuf Umar

Oluwaleke Yusuf Umar

Future mobility solution
2023-2026

Investigating AI-driven approaches for autonomous mobility systems, including trajectory prediction, path planning, and multi-agent coordination in urban environments.

Mehmet Altindal

Mehmet Altindal

Hole Cleaning Monitoring
2023-2026

Developing real-time monitoring and predictive models for hole cleaning operations in drilling. Using sensor data, hybrid modeling, and digital twin frameworks for improved operational efficiency.

Alberto Mino

Alberto Mino

Explainable AI
2020-2025

Research on interpretable machine learning methods for industrial applications. Focus on developing XAI frameworks that balance model performance with transparency for safety-critical systems.

Completed PhD Theses

Mohammed Ayalew Belay

Mohammed Ayalew Belay

Unsupervised Anomaly Detection for Digital Twins
2025

Supervisors: Pierluigi Salvo Rossi (Main), Adil Rasheed (co-supervisor)

Project: Digital Twin Anomaly Detection

Developed unsupervised anomaly detection methods for digital twin applications, including clustering, autoencoders, and novelty detection techniques. Research focused on real-time anomaly identification without labeled data for complex industrial systems.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Unsupervised learning algorithms for anomalies

Highlight 2

Autoencoder-based detection framework

Highlight 3

Clustering methods for pattern discovery

Highlight 4

Digital twin integration architecture

Highlight 5

Real-time detection deployment

Wanwan Zhang

Wanwan Zhang

Predictive Maintenance and Decision Support
2025

Supervisors: Jørn Vatn (Main), Adil Rasheed (co-supervisor)

Project: Intelligent Maintenance Systems

Research on predictive maintenance frameworks, decision support systems, and ML-driven operational optimization for industrial assets. Developed algorithms for remaining useful life prediction and optimal maintenance scheduling under uncertainty.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Predictive maintenance framework design

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Decision support system development

Highlight 3

Remaining useful life prediction models

Highlight 4

Maintenance scheduling optimization

Highlight 5

ML-driven operational strategies

Supervisors: Main: Adil Rasheed, Co-sup: Trond Kvamsdal, Kjetil Andre Johannessen, Omer San

Project: Wind Energy Digital Twins

Developed enabling technologies for digital twin frameworks in wind energy applications. Focus on reduced order modeling, data assimilation, and real-time prediction capabilities for wind farm optimization and control.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Reduced order models for wind turbines

Highlight 2

Data assimilation framework

Highlight 3

Real-time prediction system

Highlight 4

Wind farm digital twin architecture

Highlight 5

Operational optimization strategies

Supervisors: Main: Adil Rasheed, Co-sup: Damiano Varagnolo

Project: Safe RL for Autonomous Systems

Developed safe reinforcement learning frameworks for autonomous systems operating under resource constraints. Introduced predictive safety filters and constraint-aware policy optimization methods. Published in leading AI and robotics journals.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Predictive safety filter framework

Highlight 2

Constraint-aware policy optimization

Highlight 3

Resource-constrained RL algorithms

Highlight 4

Safety verification methods

Highlight 5

Real-world deployment case studies

Supervisors: Main: Adil Rasheed, Co-sup: Anastasios Lekkas, Edmund Brekke

Project: Digital Twin for Autonomous Vessels

Created a comprehensive digital twin framework for autonomous surface vessels, integrating sensor fusion, state estimation, and model predictive control. Demonstrated real-time situational awareness capabilities and adaptive control strategies.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Digital twin architecture for the maritime domain

Highlight 2

Real-time predictive condition monitoring using high dimensional data: Fully interpretable method

Highlight 3

RSafe reinforcement learning: Can enable safe training of RL agent in the realworld

Highlight 4

Fusion of AIS and LEDAR data for multitarget tracking

Highlight 5

Digital Twin Assurance: Keep the digital and the physical asset in sync.

Supervisors: Main: Frank Wetad, Co-sup: Adil Rasheed, Damiano Varagnolo

Project: ML for Financial Crime Detection

Applied ML methods for financial crime detection, fraud prevention, and risk assessment. Developed novel approaches for imbalanced datasets and explainable models in regulatory contexts. Co-supervised research with industry partners.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Financial crime detection algorithms

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Imbalanced data handling techniques

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Explainable AI for compliance

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Fraud prevention models

Highlight 5

Risk assessment framework

Supervisors: Main: Adil Rasheed, Co-sup: Damiano Varagnolo

Project: Trustworthy ML for Control Systems

Research on trustworthy ML methods for control systems, including verification, robustness analysis, and safety guarantees for neural network controllers. Developed piecewise affine representations for neural network verification.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Neural network verification methods

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Piecewise affine representations

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Robustness analysis framework

Highlight 4

Safety guarantee mechanisms

Highlight 5

Controller certification tools

Supervisors: Main: Jan Tommy Gravdahl, Co-sup: Adil Rasheed, Ivar

Project: Data-Driven Dynamical Modeling

Developed data-driven methods for dynamical system identification under limited data scenarios. Introduced transfer learning and physics-informed approaches to overcome data scarcity in system modeling.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Data-limited system identification

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Transfer learning for dynamics

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Physics-informed modeling approaches

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Sparse data techniques

Highlight 5

Model validation under uncertainty

Supervisors: Main supervisor TBD, Adil Rasheed (co-supervisor)

Project: Turbulence Modeling for Bridge Design

Research on turbulence modeling in complex terrain for bridge engineering. Combined field measurements with CFD simulations for wind load assessment in fjord environments.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Turbulence characterization methods

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CFD simulations for complex terrain

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Field measurement campaigns

Highlight 4

Wind load assessment framework

Highlight 5

Bridge design recommendations

Supervisors: Main supervisor TBD, Adil Rasheed (co-supervisor)

Project: Ship Performance Monitoring

Created frameworks for ship performance monitoring using onboard sensor data and big data analytics. Developed performance benchmarking and optimization recommendations for maritime operations.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

Ship performance monitoring system

Highlight 2

Big data analytics framework

Highlight 3

Performance benchmarking methods

Highlight 4

Optimization recommendations

Highlight 5

In-service measurement integration

Supervisors: Main supervisor TBD, Adil Rasheed (co-supervisor)

Project: Wind Turbine ROM Development

Developed high-fidelity CFD models for wind turbine simulations and created reduced order models for real-time prediction. Pioneered ROM techniques for wind farm optimization and control strategies.

Research Highlights
Highlight 1

High-fidelity CFD simulations

Highlight 2

Reduced order modeling framework

Highlight 3

Real-time prediction capabilities

Highlight 4

Wind farm optimization techniques

Highlight 5

Control strategy development

PhD Co-supervision

Valentin Antoine Formont

Co-supervised PhD research in applied machine learning and data analytics.

2021-2024
Muhammad Tsaqif Wismadi

Co-supervised PhD research in computational methods and modeling.

2023-2026
Karl Johan Haarberg
Industry Ph.D.

Industry PhD focused on applied data science and process optimization in industrial settings.

2022-2025
Florian Wintel

Co-supervised PhD research in computational modeling and simulation.

2023-2026
Even Klemsdal
Multiagent reinforcement learning

Research on multi-agent RL systems, coordination strategies, and distributed decision-making frameworks.

2020-2024
Håvard Bjørgan Bjørkøy
Big Data Cybernetics

Research on large-scale data analytics, cybernetics principles, and systems modeling for complex socio-technical systems.

2020-2023
Hans A. Engmark
Big Data Cybernetics

Research on big data methods, feedback systems, and adaptive control for large-scale systems.

2020-2023
Roya Doshmanziari
Biofeedback

Research on biofeedback systems, physiological signal processing, and human-machine interaction.

2020-2023
23+
PhD Students Supervised
15+
PhD Co-supervisions
100+
Journal Publications
5
Active Research Projects