Silje Eikanger Kvalø is an Associate Professor at the University of Stavanger, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Humanities, within the Department of Primary and Secondary Teacher Education, Sports and Special Education. Her research focuses on integrating physical activity into school curricula to enhance children's health and cognitive development. Research emphasizes physically active academic lessons Investigates links between aerobic fitness and academic performance Collaborates on curriculum development for extended education pedagogy Her work includes the Active School study, a cluster randomized controlled trial examining physical activity's impact on children's aerobic fitness and executive function. She has contributed to understanding implementation barriers for active learning methods and has presented findings at international conferences like ICSEI and WALS. Recent publications highlight curriculum development initiatives in Norway and multinational comparative analyses of extended education policies. She partners with institutions such as Linköping University and Zurich University to advance pedagogical practices.
Kari Risnes is a Professor and Chief Physician at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), and serves as Head of the National Ethics Committee for Clinical Trials of Drugs and Medical Devices (KULMU-A). She holds senior consultant roles at St Olavs Hospital and has significant board memberships in organizations like Nepalimed Norway and the Norwegian Medical Association. Her research focuses on pediatric respiratory infections, asthma development, long-term outcomes of preterm birth, global health systems improvement, and pediatric brain injury rehabilitation. Key research areas include viral triggers for asthma, antibiotic use impacts, neonatal care, and global emergency medicine. She leads projects like the CAIR group (Child Asthma and Infection Research) and the DHECARE study in Nepal. Notable contributions include studies on adult mortality in preterm-born individuals and the epidemiology of respiratory viruses in children. Risnes has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work focusing on interventions for pediatric brain injury fatigue, neonatal inotropic therapy, and the global burden of non-communicable diseases. Her work bridges clinical practice, public health policy, and international healthcare system improvements.
Daniel Radoslaw Sokolowski is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Sciences , Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), with affiliations to the National Competence Service for Functional MRI at St. Olavs Hospital HF. His work focuses on neuroimaging and cognitive neuroscience. Institution : Norwegian University of Science and Technology Department : Neuromedicine and Movement Sciences Collaborations : St. Olavs Hospital HF, University of Amsterdam, University of Leiden His research explores: Cognitive control mechanisms through advanced neuroimaging (7T MRI) Sex differences in verbal memory and learning Development of digital cognitive screening tools Impact of handedness on cognitive functions Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends in Neuroscience , Psychology , and Medical Imaging , with subfields spanning functional connectivity, executive function mapping, and behavioral genetics. His work connects clinical applications (e.g., cognitive impairment screening) with fundamental research on brain networks. Projects: Active contributor to the HUNT4 Brain Training Study (NTNU-led)
Olena Vasylenko is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Her research focuses on cognitive neuroscience of aging, particularly examining the interplay between motor function, sensory processing, and cognitive decline in older adults. She is a member of the Behavioral Neuroscience, Aging and Dementia research group, contributing to studies on mild cognitive impairment and healthy aging. Her work explores topics such as manual dexterity decline, gait asymmetries under dual-task conditions, and white matter integrity associations with cognitive-motor performance. She has collaborated extensively with researchers like Marta Maria Gorecka and Claudia Rodriguez-Aranda on projects involving aging populations and neurodegenerative biomarkers. Key research interests include: Cognitive-Motor Interactions Healthy Aging Mechanisms Neuroimaging Correlates of Aging Dual-Task Paradigms Sensory-Motor-Cognitive Triad Her recent articles highlight advancements in understanding how motor function decline relates to cognitive impairments, with a focus on clinical applications for early detection of neurodegenerative conditions. Advising and grants: While specific grant details are not listed, her collaborative projects suggest involvement in interdisciplinary aging research initiatives. She contributes to teaching modules like 'Cognitive Neuroscience of Aging' and 'Development in Older Adults' at UiT. Labs/teams: Active member of the Behavioral Neuroscience, Aging and Dementia group, focusing on translational research bridging clinical and experimental neuroscience.
Ingunn Størksen is a Professor in the Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioral Research in Education at the Faculty of Arts and Education , University of Stavanger. Her research focuses on Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) , Child Development , Self-Regulation , and Social Development , with specialized interests in parental divorce impacts and the application of Q Methodology . Størksen leads major projects such as SELMA (2021–2025), examining social-emotional learning in ECEC, and the Agder Project (2014–2019), which developed play-based curricula. Her work integrates Quantitative Research Methods to assess educational interventions and child outcomes, including the Ani Banani Math Test and School Readiness studies. Recent publications highlight the role of Executive Functions in academic achievement and the impact of Parental Socioeconomic Status on child development. She supervises PhD candidates studying topics like social competence, optimism, and classroom quality assessments. Størksen has authored books on playful learning and child wellbeing, including Livsmestring og livsglede i barnehagen and Lekbasert læring .
Ragnhild Lenes is an Associate Professor at the University of Stavanger, Faculty of Arts and Education, and a key researcher at the Norwegian Centre for Learning Environment and Behavioral Research in Education. She is based at the Læringsmiljøsenteret in Stavanger and actively contributes to national and international research on early childhood development and educational practices. Her research focuses on early childhood education and care (ECEC) , with emphasis on children's self-regulation, executive function, social-emotional development, play-based learning, and the influence of family background on cognitive, academic, and socioemotional outcomes. She investigates how early skills and environments shape children’s trajectories from kindergarten through elementary school, often using longitudinal and experimental designs. The trends in her recent publications reveal a strong commitment to evidence-based interventions such as the Playful Learning Curriculum and the SELMA social-emotional program. Her work spans disciplines including educational psychology, developmental science, and policy evaluation, frequently employing mixed methods and cross-cultural comparisons (e.g., Norway vs. USA). She collaborates widely with scholars like Ingunn Størksen, Dieuwer ten Braak, and Megan McClelland. Scientific contributions and outreach: Extensive publication record in peer-reviewed journals such as Early Childhood Research Quarterly , European Early Childhood Education Research Journal , and Frontiers in Psychology . Author of influential book chapters and resource books for educators on play-based learning and social-emotional development. Regular presenter at major international conferences including AERA, EARLI, SRCD, and ISSBD. Active in public dissemination through media outlets like Utdanningsnytt.no and Forskersonen.no , addressing issues of educational equity and child well-being. Ragnhild Lenes is deeply involved in advising and leading research projects focused on improving learning environments and preventing bullying and exclusion. She conducts workshops, pedagogical analyses, and competency uplift programs for kindergarten staff and educational leaders across Norway. While specific grant details are not mentioned, her leadership in large-scale projects such as the Playful Learning Curriculum and SELMA indicates significant research funding and project management experience. She is a core member of research teams working on: The SELMA project (Social-Emotional Learning in Early Childhood), aiming to evaluate interventions that enhance children's well-being and school readiness. The Agder Project , which developed and tested the Playful Learning Curriculum. Studies on family background effects (income, education) on child development, often in collaboration with economists and developmental scientists.
Henrik Børsting Jacobsen is a Professor at the Department of Health, Developmental and Personality Psychology, University of Oslo, and a Psychologist at the Department of Pain Management, Oslo University Hospital. His research spans vagus nerve stimulation, chronic pain, pain psychology, sleep-pain interactions, work health, and stress prevention. PhD, Faculty of Medicine, NTNU (2014) Visiting Researcher, Harvard School of Public Health (2012-2013) Cand.Psychol, Department of Psychology, NTNU (2010) His work examines cognitive and psychological factors in chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and postsurgical outcomes, often employing cross-sectional and longitudinal registry studies. Recent projects include HypNoPain (hypnosis and VNS for pain testing) and PREVENT (psychological interventions for breast cancer surgery). Art trends highlight chronic pain , fibromyalgia , cognitive flexibility , and neurostimulation , with collaborations across neuroscience, psychiatry, and occupational health. Scientific Awards & Grants Fellow, KLINBEFORSK (2018-2023) Project leadership for grants from Norwegian Directorate of Labour and Welfare, Extra Foundation, South-Eastern Health, and Kraftak mot kreft He has contributed to return-to-work rehabilitation , chronic fatigue , and ICD-11 chronic pain categorization . His lab, the Psychedelics group , explores therapeutic applications like psilocybin acceptance.
Christian Krog Tamnes is a Professor at the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, where he leads research at the PROMENTA Research Center and is affiliated with the NORMENT Center for Excellence in Research. He also serves as a Researcher at the Clinic for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Diakonhjemmet Hospital. His work bridges clinical psychology, neuroscience, and developmental research with a focus on understanding brain development in relation to mental health outcomes. Dr. Tamnes completed his Cand. Psychol. at the University of Oslo (2000-2006) followed by a PhD in Psychology (2006-2010). He conducted postdoctoral research at the Center for Lifespan Changes in Brain and Cognition (2010-2014), including a Fulbright visiting researcher position at the Multimodal Imaging Laboratory, University of California San Diego (2011). He has held research positions at the Department of Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience (2014-2018) before becoming a Professor at PROMENTA and NORMENT in 2019. His research focuses on structural and functional brain development throughout childhood and adolescence, with particular emphasis on cognitive control, working memory, learning, and long-term memory. He investigates how social and emotional information affects cognitive processes, and examines predictors and risk factors in neurocognitive development. His work heavily utilizes multimodal brain imaging techniques including MRI, DTI, and EEG to understand typical and atypical developmental trajectories. Analysis of his recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on how early life experiences shape brain development and mental health outcomes. His research examines the impact of socioeconomic status, parental influences, pubertal development, and various forms of adversity on neurodevelopmental trajectories. He frequently collaborates on large-scale international projects, particularly through the ENIGMA consortium, investigating brain structure in relation to mental health conditions across diverse populations. Dr. Tamnes actively supervises students interested in developmental neuroscience and mental health research. His work is supported through major research projects including BRAINMINT (Brain function and mental health during life transitions) and LiN (Liten i Norge). He is a member of research groups focused on multimodal brain imaging and neurocognitive development, contributing to both methodological advances and clinical applications of developmental neuroscience.
Kjersti Mæhlum Walle is a Researcher at the Department of Health, Developmental and Personality Psychology at the University of Oslo . She works in the Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Lab , focusing on hormonal mechanisms (particularly oxytocin) influencing cognitive and behavioral flexibility, which are critical components of executive functions. PhD in Psychology (2018) Master's in Cognitive Neuroscience (2011) Bachelor's in Cultural and Social Sciences with specialization in Psychology (2004) Her research spans neurodevelopmental conditions, attention deficits, and cognitive rehabilitation, with interdisciplinary work on topics like synesthesia and neuroplasticity. She has previously taught Neuroscience and Perception at the Master's level. Key research projects include: Unraveling oxytocin's role in behavioral flexibility ADHD risk factors linked to maternal infections Eye movement analysis post-stroke Investigations of synesthetic phenomena
Tone Hellvin is a researcher affiliated with the Division of Mental Health and Addiction at Oslo University Hospital and the Institute of Clinical Medicine. Her primary research focuses on neurocognitive functioning in bipolar disorder, particularly examining cognitive impairments in early-stage patients compared to healthy controls. Primary Affiliation: Oslo University Hospital School: Institute of Clinical Medicine Research Unit: Psychosis Research Unit (TOP), Building 49 Her work evaluates multiple cognitive domains, including processing speed, attention, memory, executive functioning, and IQ in first-contact mania patients. She employs standardized neuropsychological tests such as the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II), Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-III), and Delis–Kaplan Executive Function System (D-KEFS) to assess these deficits. The study reveals that neurocognitive dysfunction is present even in early stages of bipolar disorder, with impairments worsening over time. This research contributes to understanding the progression of cognitive deficits and their relationship to clinical outcomes. Key findings from her work include smaller neurocognitive deficits in first-episode patients compared to multiple-episode groups, suggesting illness progression correlates with cognitive decline. These insights inform early intervention strategies for bipolar disorder.
Linda Ruth Wheeldon is a Professor of Experimental Linguistics at the Department of Foreign Languages and Translation, University of Agder, Norway. She leads the university's experimental linguistics research group and serves as PhD specialization leader for linguistics in the Faculty of Humanities and Education. Her academic journey includes positions at the University of Birmingham (Reader in Psycholinguistics, 2011; Associate Professor, 2000) and postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics. PhD in Experimental Psycholinguistics (University of Cambridge, 1989) MSc in Psychology and Linguistics (University of Edinburgh, 1985) Research Focus : Her work bridges experimental psycholinguistics and theoretical linguistics, investigating language structure representation and its influence on comprehension/production. Current research examines how bilingualism and physical fitness mitigate age-related language decline. Methodologically, she employs reaction time studies, eye-tracking, and EEG/MEG neuroimaging to analyze sentence production, phonological representations, and morphological processing. Publications & Collaborations : With over 85 publications and 3,124 citations, her recent work explores bilingualism's impact on attention networks, fitness interventions for language comprehension, and neural mechanisms of syntactic binding. Collaborators include Sam Lucas (University of Birmingham) and Katrien Segaert (University of Birmingham). British Academy grant recipient Leverhulme Trust Fellow Laboratory : Leads the Experimental Linguistics Lab (ELL) at UiA, focusing on bilingual processing, aging, and cognitive-linguistic interactions.
Igor Szczepan Babiak is a Professor at Nord University specializing in reproductive biology, genetics, and biotechnology of fish. His research focuses on molecular regulation of early development and germline development in fish, control of fish reproduction, and regulatory RNAs. Dr. Babiak has extensive supervision experience with 11 PhD students, 19 MSc students, 5 BSc students, and 10 postdoctoral researchers. He teaches courses including BI228F Biotechnology, BI210F Molecular Cell Biology, and BI132F Biochemistry and Cell Biology, demonstrating his commitment to education in molecular and cellular biology. His research centers on understanding how parental instruction contained in gametes executes into a complex multicellular organism, investigating the regulatory network consisting of genome, transcriptome and proteome. His work spans molecular developmental biology with applications in aquaculture and fisheries management, particularly using zebrafish, Atlantic cod, and Atlantic salmon as model organisms. Recent publications reveal strong focus on non-coding RNA functions, proteomics of embryonic development, and molecular tools for genomic analysis. Dr. Babiak has been actively involved in significant research projects including the NorthCod transnational project for sustainable development of cod farming, demonstrating his commitment to applied research with practical implications for the aquaculture industry. His work on egg quality indicators, sperm cryopreservation, and environmental effects on early development has direct applications for improving fish farming practices.
Terje Holsen is a Full Professor at the Department of Property and Law within the Faculty of Landscape and Society at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in Ås, Norway. His academic career centers on the intersection of property rights, land-use planning, and urban development within the Norwegian legal framework. His research focuses on urban planning , land use policy , spatial planning , and zoning regulations , with particular expertise in property rights theory, urban land readjustment, and densification strategies. Recent work examines Norway's shift from greenfield to brownfield development, analyzing how planning hierarchies function as governance tools in urban transformation and the implications for sustainable development goals. Holsen's publication trends reveal deep engagement with practical implementation challenges of the Norwegian Planning and Building Act, especially regarding property value distribution (§12-7), developer-authority negotiations, and the tension between area-based planning qualities and efficient project execution. His work spans theoretical legal analysis, empirical case studies of urban land readjustment, and educational innovations in spatial planning. His academic network includes key collaborators at NMBU such as Elin Børrud, Per Kåre Sky, Helén Elisabeth Elvestad, and Knut Boge, with research frequently addressing Scandinavian urban policy contexts. As an educator, Holsen has pioneered cross-disciplinary problem-based learning in planning education, investigating how digitalization and institutional pressures impact spatial planning pedagogy. His leadership in the Department of Property and Law drives research connecting property law with sustainable urban development challenges.
Hilde Mobekk serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Organisation and Management at Oslo Metropolitan University's Faculty of Social Sciences. Her office is located at Pilestredet 35, 0166 Oslo (Office PE523), with contact details including office phone +47 672 36 433 and email hilde.mobekk@oslomet.no. She maintains active academic engagement through Oslo Business School's research groups focused on Organisation and Management. Her research spans behavioral economics and organizational psychology, with particular emphasis on nudge theory applications in health interventions, decision-making processes, and executive education. Key investigations include social norm influences on hand sanitizer use in hospitals, probability discounting in IT projects, and prosocial behavior patterns in Norwegian 'dugnad' traditions. Her work bridges academic theory with practical organizational implementation through pracademic approaches. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals strong thematic continuity in behavioral interventions, with increasing focus on digital decision environments (2023-2025) and executive education design (2024). The research demonstrates methodological diversity across field experiments, systematic reviews, and theoretical frameworks, consistently applying behavioral science to organizational challenges in healthcare, fundraising, and professional development contexts. Mobekk actively disseminates findings through academic publications, research reports, and professional seminars including Fundraisingkonferansen, NITO events, and Prosperastiftelsen breakfast seminars. Her 2021 doctoral thesis 'Influencing choice behavior and improving well-being by applying behavior analysis and behavioral economics' represents a significant foundational contribution to the field. Current work shows expanding application domains from healthcare settings (2018-2020) toward broader organizational contexts including executive education, fundraising psychology, and digital decision-making. Recent projects emphasize emotional communication in growth contexts and practical implementation challenges in continuing education design.
