Gro Mjeldheim Sandal

Gro Mjeldheim Sandal is a full Professor in the Department of Social Psychology at the University of Bergen, where she leads the Society and Workplace Diversity Research Group. She serves as a member of the Human spaceflight and Exploration Science Advisory Committee (HESAC) at the European Space Agency and has established herself as a leading researcher at the intersection of clinical psychology, refugee studies, and extreme environment research.

Professor Sandal's research spans three interconnected domains:

• Mental health, well-being, and integration of displaced populations in urban and camp settings, with focus on culturally appropriate mental health services for refugees
• Workplace diversity, leadership approaches to diversity management, and biases in recruitment processes
• Psychological adaptation in extreme environments, including space missions, polar expeditions, and isolated settings

Her recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate continued productivity across all three areas, with particular emphasis on refugee mental health during and after the pandemic period. A notable trend is her work on 'peer refugee helpers' - examining both their mental health challenges and the benefits they provide to their communities. Her space psychology research continues to inform understanding of psychological adaptation in extreme isolation.

Professor Sandal teaches courses including Personality Psychology, Theory of Science, Psychological Treatment, and Cultural Diversity in Society and Working Life. Her clinical background as a psychologist informs both her research and teaching approaches.

Her Society and Workplace Diversity Research Group serves as an interdisciplinary hub connecting refugee mental health, organizational psychology, and extreme environment research. Through her ESA membership and international collaborations, Professor Sandal bridges academic research with practical applications across multiple domains.