Job description

Kristine Stifjells (formerly M. Bratland) is a sociologist and researcher on the project Targeted Communication about Vaping to Adolecents (URØYK - Healthy Choices and the social gradient (WP5) and a lecturer in health literacy and qualitative methods. She specializes in evidence synthesis and reviews, qualitative research, teaching, innovative research communication, and workshop methodology. Her work centers on health communication, online information-seeking behavior, health literacy, and young adults. She will defend her doctoral thesis in health communication in December 2026. Kristine is a "yes"-person, a dedicated teacher, and loves a challenge.

Her Ph.D.-project focuses on mapping where young adults (18+) find health information online and how they incorporate it into their daily lives. The multi-method study aims to map young adults' online health information seeking behavior (OHISB) and users' needs for targeted communication. The findings aim to help reduce health inequality by supporting informed choices. She is particularly interested in exploring the specific informational needs expressed by users in their digital interactions.

 

Alongside her doctoral fellowship, Kristine worked 50% as a researcher at the Department of Community Medicine on URØYK. She was responsible for building the project's evidence base through literature reviews, qualitative interviews, focus groups, and presenting results, leading to four independent publications (in progress/review). Kristine was also principal investigator (PI) for the research-art-communication pilot UniVerse – A Space to Think: Physical Activity (2024). The pilot brought together upper secondary school students, UiT health researchers, and local artists to develop tailored ways of communicating research through the performing arts [Link to final report]. She also designed a Health Literacy Escape Room (2025) for use in workshops and teaching [Link]. Kristine has actively disseminated her research through seminars, conferences, and webinars. She has been used in many different projects, conferences, and communications to facilitate workshops.

Kristine will defend her Ph.D. in December 2026. Until 1 November 2026, she holds a fixed-term teaching and research position at ISM, before transitioning to a new research role at IHO/SOF Nord.
 

 

 

 

#HealthInformation #SciComm #HealthBehavior #Internet #SoMe #AI #PublicHealth