We created a memorial to celebrate the life of Per Jensen. Collecting your stories and memories here will offer us great comfort. Thank you for contributing to this lasting memorial.
OBITUARY
Born in Hjørring, Denmark, he studied chemistry and physics atAarhus University, where he also received his doctorate in 1983 forwork done at the National Research Council of Canada under thesupervision of Philip Bunker. He then worked as a researchassociate at the University of Gießen, starting as an Alexander vonHumboldt Fellow. At Gießen he was awarded the Franz Vogt Prize in1992. In 1994 he moved to the Bergische University where... see more
Born in Hjørring, Denmark, he studied chemistry and physics at Aarhus University, where he also received his doctorate in 1983 for work done at the National Research Council of Canada under the supervision of Philip Bunker. He then worked as a research associate at the University of Gießen, starting as an Alexander von Humboldt Fellow. At Gießen he was awarded the Franz Vogt Prize in 1992. In 1994 he moved to the Bergische University where he spent the rest of his scientific career, although he did have short duration guest professorships in Spain and Japan. His research focused on the development and application of methods for the simulation and analysis of the high-resolution spectra of small molecules. He is one of the founders of the field of computational molecular spectroscopy and his variational programs MORBID and RENNER, written in FORTRAN, paved the way for modern nuclear motion calculations from first principles. In 2002 Prof Jensen received the Sir Harold Thompson Memorial Award, together with T. E. Odaka, W. P. Kraemer, T. Hirano and P. R. Bunker for their work on the Renner effect in triatomic molecules. He was coauthor with Philip Bunker of two books on molecular symmetry and spectroscopy, and co-editor with Bunker of the book ‘Computational Molecular Spectroscopy’.
Per Jensen was a dedicated participant over many years in the organisation of the biennial International Conference PRAHA on High Resolution Molecular Spectroscopy. In recognition of his contribution to the PRAHA conferences, and to molecular spectroscopy in general, he received the prestigious Johannes Marcus Marci Medal of the Czech Spectroscopic Society in 2008.
Prof. Jensen was always concerned about communicating his science to students. To this end, he developed a widely used internet course on molecular symmetry. In addition, he was committed to the international networking of Bergische university. At the university he was Erasmus representative for the chemistry and biology department and country representative of the university for Japan and Korea. On his initiative, a cooperation was founded in 2001 between the Bergische University and the Ochanomizu University, one of the two state women's universities in Japan. For his commitment he received the Equal Opportunities Prize and the “World Lion” from the Bergische University. Many members of the spectroscopic community owe their scientific and academic careers to the Research Training Networks, SPHERS and QUASAAR, which he led in 2000-2009.
Per Jensen was a wonderful colleague, friend and mentor. His expertise, advice and humour, coupled with a very modest demeanour, will be sorely missed.
I miss Per Jensen very much. He was a very nice and kind person. But he also enjoyed fun and sharing anecdotes.
He could always explain difficult and complex topics in such way that everybody really had to understand. He is a big inspiration for my own... moreI miss Per Jensen very much. He was a very nice and kind person. But he also enjoyed fun and sharing anecdotes.
He could always explain difficult and complex topics in such way that everybody really had to understand. He is a big inspiration for my own way of teaching nowadays.
I also admire the precise and patient way of his scientificic work. His programe codes are really enjoyabke to read and follow.
Until now I feel as a kind of "privileged lucky person", that I could spend a few months with him in Wuppertal. less
I miss Pers ideas, his open mind and his relaxed view on the world.
I remember when I went to a conference with him and someone literally asked him to give an autograph in his book, which the guy brought with him only for that reason! And Per did it and... moreI miss Pers ideas, his open mind and his relaxed view on the world.
I remember when I went to a conference with him and someone literally asked him to give an autograph in his book, which the guy brought with him only for that reason! And Per did it and was not even surprised...
Thanks for your humor, all the discussions and open words!
We miss Per's wit. I am very happy that other group members and I shared a long lasting collaboration on applying group theory to the spectroscopy of protonated methane and other examples which go beyond what you find in the excellent books by him and... moreWe miss Per's wit. I am very happy that other group members and I shared a long lasting collaboration on applying group theory to the spectroscopy of protonated methane and other examples which go beyond what you find in the excellent books by him and Phil Bunker. Per was a great scientist and teacher. We all learned so much from him.
We miss Per's mellowness. He was so forgiving those who honestly tried to follow his knowledge.
We miss Per's special humor. He had such a fine irony and we all enjoyed how he applied this to science, academic life and the rest.
We miss Per as a friend. I hardly know somebody else being so honest. Not only in this respect he was a great example to all of us. It was so good and pleasing to be with him.
I was postdoc in Wuppertal under the supervision of Per in 2001-2002. Since then, we have been friends and been in touch. Per has been an outstanding person and researcher, a reference for many researchers by their studies and approaches. Per stood out... moreI was postdoc in Wuppertal under the supervision of Per in 2001-2002. Since then, we have been friends and been in touch. Per has been an outstanding person and researcher, a reference for many researchers by their studies and approaches. Per stood out by his humanity and modesty, and by his clear talks, teachings and all his research. We are going to miss you a lot, Per! less
That's a very sad new. I knew Per in the mid of '90s when I was visiting the group of Robert J. Buenker in Wuppertal. Along different lines, both of us were involved in the ab initio, non-adiabatic spectroscopy of triatomics, and I was strongly... moreThat's a very sad new. I knew Per in the mid of '90s when I was visiting the group of Robert J. Buenker in Wuppertal. Along different lines, both of us were involved in the ab initio, non-adiabatic spectroscopy of triatomics, and I was strongly appreciating and studying his Hamiltonians and book on Molecular Symmetry and Spectroscopy with Philip R. Bunker. More important, I remember and thank again his collaboration, friendship, and humanity when Per helped me in my stdudy of the Renner spectroscopy and dynamics of NH2.
Carlo Petrongolo less
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