Ion’s path to DTU was quite unusual. He initially studied agronomy at the University of Copenhagen, where he caught interest in machinery for farming purposes and eventually ended up getting his MSc degree in mechanical engineering from DTU in 2000.
After this he continued as a PhD student graduating in 2003 with a thesis on “Lubrication and wear in diesel engine injection equipment fuelled by dimethyl ether” (DME).
After his PhD, he was employed at Novo Nordisk as a specialist in tribology and there he contributed substantially to the mechanical development of insulin pumps and injection pens.
Ion continued to have an interest in the more fundamental issues concerning tribology and lubrication. This led to a collaboration with international experts such as Professor Bo Persson, Forschungszentrum Jülich alongside with being appointed Associate Professor at DTU.
In connection with this, Ion established a high-level PhD course in nanotribology in which he managed to attract international lecturers as well as PhD students from around the globe.
Ion was particularly interested in the sometimes neglected interplay between deformable materials and lubricants. This resulted in additional industrial activities together with e.g. LEGO as well as ECCO.
In 2018 Ion was diagnosed with a necrotizing soft tissue infection which prevented him from intake of food and fluids, orally. Even so, Ion managed in an admirable way to keep his spirit high and still contribute to both DTU and Novo Nordisk.
During the last year, Ion’s condition increasingly worsened and he sadly passed away on May 22nd, 2025.
Ion will be highly missed not only by his students and colleagues, but also by the international research community.
In honor of his memory.
