Antibiotics, Population Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Tuberculosis, Infectious Diseases,Public Health, Mathematical Modelling

My research focuses on the interplay between eco-cultural factors and child development. 

Among other aspects, I am interested in caregivers' (ethno)theories on childrearing and cultural norms and values. For instance, I have studied (mainly Indian) caregivers' theories on the expression of emotional warmth towards babies and baby massage. More recently we have explored Norwegian mothers' thoughts on infants' sleeping places. Currently, we are conducting research into Norwegian caregivers' resolution of everyday conflicts with their infants and children's emotional development.

I also study caregiving behaviors and infants'/children's experiences which are assumed to shape children's development. An important part of this research consists of observational studies. For example, we have observed which behaviors caregivers from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds prioritize when interacting with infants (such as body contact, playing with objects) or how mobile phone use is related to caregivers' responses to their children's signals. An aspect of these caregiving behaviors is also how infants are spoken to. 

A related topic of research that I am interested in is children's understanding of others (Theory of Mind, emotion understanding) and their emotion regulation. We try to understand how these developments are related to their caregivers' behaviors and values. 

Much of my research has been conducted with farming families in Gujarat, India and more recently with Hadza (hunter-gatherer) families in Tanzania. These experiences have led to an enhanced interest in research ethics and ecological validity of research methods.

Based on different theoretical and methodological perspectives, as well as thematic focus and data production, the majority of my scientific production falls into these areas:

• Recruiting and retaining health professionals in rural areas
• Organizing and financing healthcare
• Health and inequality

A large part of my research production is based in primary healthcare and a lot of it concerns general practice. I have broad methodological competence and skills that I have used to shed light on many different research questions. As a statistician, I have great insight into quantitative data collection and analysis methods. Through my research I have also acquired skills in qualitative data production and analyses. I also take responsibility for the development of the research fields I am involved in and do peer reviews for various journals.

For the time beeing, I'm member of the Editorial Board in the journal BMC Health Services Research.

Basic research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of selective autophagy and cell signaling and how these affect neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. Cells remove damaged, worn-out or surplus proteins, lipids and organelles through selective autophagy. When this process goes wrong, it leads to conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases and cancers. The selective removal of damaged or surplus mitochondria through autophagy or mitophagy is crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and prevent diseases. We discovered that the proteins NIPSNAP1/2 act as ‘Eat-me’ signals on mitochondria that determine their removal. We have also discovered that the protein SAMM50 act as receptor to remove worn-out or surplus mitochondrial parts through piecemeal mitophagy.

Several drugs used to treat cancer tend to damage the mitochondria in other to induce apoptosis and kill cancer cells. We have now discovered that cancer cells are able to turn on mitophagy quickly to removed damaged mitochondrial upon treatment, and this process contribute greatly to drug resistance. We are now studying the mechanism of drug-induced mitophagy in other to understand how we can target this pathway to allow for cancer drugs to be more effective.

Population survey

Tromsø survey

Public administration

Public policy

• Children and youth mental health.
• Anxiety and depression.
• School absence.
• Implementation and evaluation of interventions.