Field of work
I have an M.Phil. degree in Administration and Organisation Theory and a Dr. philos from Department of Health Promotion and Development at the University of Bergen (UiB). My doctoral degree was a study of the social reintegration of former girl soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, entitled A troublesome transition: Social reintegration of girl soldiers returning ‘home’.
I have previous experience as a researcher at NORCE Research Samfunn (2017-2019), at UiB (2015-2017) and at Centre for Intercultural Communication (2008-2014), and have since January 2020 held a secondary position at NORCE.
My research has to a large extent focues on children and youth who are or have been exposed to war, violence, abuse and neglect. I am the project manager of Home and (dis)continuity: Foster care for children with migrant backgrounds (HoMi)', which is funded by the Norwegian Research Council from 2020-2025. I'm also involved in 'Relational wellbeing in the lives of refugee young people in Finland, Norway and the UK (Drawing together)', a research project led by Prof. Ravi Kohli at the University of Bedfordshire and funded by NordForsk.
To learn more about my ongoing projects:
HoMi: https://app.cristin.no/projects/show.jsf?id=2473988
Drawing together: https://app.cristin.no/projects/show.jsf?id=2136209
Courses taught
- Social work
- Child welfare
Research areas
- Child welfare
- Child soldiers
- Social reintegration
- Refugees and relational wellbeing
- Foster care
- Children and migration
- Decision making
Research groups
- BARN210, Working with Interventions in Child Welfare Service, Fall 2025
- MAMET1SO, Philosophy of Science, Ethics and Research Methods, Spring 2026, subject responsible
- MASB520, Different Perspectives on the Child Welfare Service's Subjects and Professional Practice, Spring 2026
- MASO500, Social Inequality and Marginalistion, Spring 2026
- MASO591, Master's Thesis, Spring 2026
- MASO591, Master's Thesis, Fall 2025
- PHDH909, Health, Function and Participation, Fall 2025
Publications
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Navigating Family Relationships and a Sense of Home in Foster Care: The Experiences of Children With Migration Backgrounds
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The significance of religion when matching children with migrant background and foster carers − child welfare workers’ perspectives
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‘To Feel at Home Is to Feel Safe’: Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (Re)Creating a Sense of Home in Foster Care over Time
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Significant Considerations When Matching Foster Families and Children With Migrant Backgrounds: Reflections of Social Workers in Norway and Sweden
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Kontinuitet og kulturelle hensyn i valg av fosterhjem til barn med migrasjonsbakgrunn