Silje Mæland

Professor Silje Mæland is affiliated with the Department of Global Health and Community Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Norway. Her research focuses on work and health, including sick leave, work ability, and return-to-work strategies. She leads the National Council for Work and Health, the Professional Forum in the Alrek Health Cluster, and the Research and Development Group in the Sports Cluster West. Mæland is also the research manager at the Sunnaasstiftelsen.

Her educational background includes an

• MSc (2007) from the University of Bergen
• PhD (2013) from the University of Bergen/NORCE

She is a qualified physiotherapist from the University of Bradford, UK.

Mæland’s research projects include the Bergen in Change – COVID-19 study, which investigates pandemic impacts on health and employment. Her work extends to patient assessment in sick leave cases, with a focus on conditions like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Vestibular disorders, and Cerebral Palsy. She employs both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Her recent publications highlight trends in

• peer mentorship for brain injury recovery
• menopause-related work capacity decline
• virtual environment gait training
• emotional eating during the pandemic
• medical evaluation of sick leave
• work capacity disparities across Europe

Scientific awards include

• 2014: Outstanding Teaching Award at Western Norway University of Applied Sciences
• 2020: Meritorious Lecturer status at the University of Bergen

She actively communicates research findings through

• media appearances (24 times in 2020, 61 times in 2021)
• public lectures at Litteraturhus and academic institutions
• contributions to national reports like the Women’s Health Committee (NOU)