Anders Meland

Anders Meland serves as Head Engineer at the Department of Sport and Social Sciences at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH), maintaining a unique professional distribution across three institutions: 20% at NIH where he leads concept development in the sports psychology lab, 20% as a sport psychology consultant at Olympiatoppen (Norway's elite sports center), and 60% as a senior advisor at Norges Bank Investment Management. His interdisciplinary career bridges sports psychology, military applications, and financial sector advisory work with expertise in cognitive performance optimization.

Meland earned his PhD in Sports Psychology from NIH in 2016 and completed higher military officer training at the Norwegian Naval Academy. His prior decade-long tenure as a human factors specialist at the Norwegian Institute of Aviation Medicine established his foundation in high-stakes performance environments before transitioning to his current multifaceted roles.

His research program centers on attention, cognition, executive functioning, fatigue management, and mental training in high-performance contexts. Key research themes include: mindfulness applications for stress reduction, attentional training techniques across elite sports and military settings, cognitive performance under physiological stress, and digital interventions for psychological well-being. His work demonstrates a distinctive blend of theoretical psychology and practical implementation in demanding real-world environments where optimal cognitive functioning is mission-critical.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals three prominent research trajectories: (1) breast cancer survivorship research focusing on quality of life, digital stress-management interventions, and pandemic impacts; (2) military psychology investigations examining mindfulness effects in aviation units and sleep patterns in search and rescue personnel; and (3) physiological studies on cognitive performance during hypoxia and high-altitude operations. This portfolio demonstrates increasing emphasis on digital mental health solutions and cross-context applications of psychological principles.

• Extensive publication record in reputable journals including Journal of Patient-Reported Outcomes, Cancers, JMIR Formative Research, and Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance
• Collaborative research spanning oncology, sports psychology, military medicine, and digital health domains
• Development of evidence-based interventions for stress management and cognitive optimization

Meland teaches courses in Perception, Cognition, Psychophysiology, Simulation, and Mental Training Strategies at NIH, translating his research into educational content. His cross-institutional work suggests involvement in multiple research grants spanning sports science, military human factors, and healthcare innovation. While specific student names aren't documented, his research areas likely attract graduate students interested in applied sports psychology and performance optimization.

At NIH, Meland leads concept development for the sports psychology laboratory, driving innovation in research methodologies and equipment. His Olympiatoppen consultancy connects him directly to Norway's elite athletic community, while his military background maintains links to defense-related human factors research. The Simulation Training Project in Alpine Skiing represents a key initiative applying psychological principles to enhance athletic performance through advanced simulation technology.