Strengthening the focus on welfare and working life: Seeking more senior researchers

Outsiders. Researcher Ragnhild Holmen Waldahl presents the YOUTH project - which will find out who is outsiders in Norway. A large, long-term project starting in 2026 and funded by the Research Council of Norway. Photo: Tarjei Abelsen

After a year of strong project input and high activity, Nordland Research Institute now new senior researchers for the Welfare and Working Life research group, to strengthen research on key social themes that will be important for society and the institute in the years to come.

Text: Tarjei Abelsen

– We have had high activity for several years and are experiencing strong demand for research-based knowledge within welfare, working life and social transformation. Therefore, we now want to build an even stronger professional environment, says CEO André Wallann Larsen.

Will build a stronger professional environment

In 2025 secured Nordland Research Institute new projects with a total contract value of approximately NOK 58 million, of which several are multi-year projects starting in 2026. After a period of targeted work to strengthen the institute's finances and capacity, the time is now ripe to strengthen the research group for welfare and working life.

– As a research institute, we must deliver on current projects while developing new ideas, applications and collaborations. This requires strong academic environments and good capacity over time, especially when the level of activity is high, emphasizes Larsen.

In the first half of 2026, the research group has started the major Research Council projects YOUTH, on young exclusion , and SELFDRIVE , which investigates how self-managed teams can contribute to better health and care services in rural municipalities.

At the same time, the group has delivered research on, among other things, school absenteeism , school closures and the use of artificial intelligence in municipal health and care services .

Selfdrive - innovation in health and care

Researcher Raj Kumar Thapa at the startup seminar for Selfdrive.

Important societal challenges ahead

The projects illustrate both the breadth of the research the group is working on and the societal challenges it faces. Nordland Research Institute want to help solve.

Larsen believes that the topics the research group is working on will only become more important in the years to come, and that these are strategic areas for the institute to further strengthen.

– Whether it is about exclusion, inclusive working life, welfare services or public restructuring, this is a field where we can both make a difference and deliver high-quality research. Our goal is not necessarily new records every year, but stable and strong academic and financial deliveries over time, he says.

You can read more about the advertised positions and apply here: Researcher | FINN.no