I am an Associate Professor in Global Mental Health at the Global Health Section, Head of Study of the MSc Global Health programme, and Deputy Head of the Global Health Section. I have an academic background in Psychology (BA, Roskilde University, Denmark, 2006) and International Development (MA, New School, USA, 2010), and a PhD in Global Health from the Department of Public Health (University of Copenhagen, Denmark, 2018).

Acknowledging the social determinants of mental health and structures making life difficult, my research is directed towards how we can make people thrive and make lives worth living. Using participatory, qualitative methods a key research area of mine is to explore why individuals self-harm and die to suicide – and how we can prevent it. My research is also focused on exploring the well-being of health care providers, especially their opportunities to thrive in their work life and thereby being able to provide appropriate care. 

I am currently involved in the following research projects:

• Strengthening Capacity to manage and Cope with Pandemics in Ethiopia and Tanzania (SCCOPET) (Co-PI).
• NIHR RIGHT4: Preventing deaths from acute poisoning in low- and middle-income countries (Co-I). https://www.ed.ac.uk/cardiovascular-science/nihr-acute-poisoning/pesticides
• The CC-ANC study: Co-creating antenatal care (Co-PI). https://publichealth.ku.dk/about-the-department/global/research/partoma-project/

I am course leader of the MSc Global Health course 'Global Health and Diseases - an Introduction and Major Challenges'. I have teaching responsibility within qualitative methods and theory, global mental health, de-colonization of Global Health, and pre-departure training. I supervise thesis work in my areas of expertise, and I currently supervise two PhD students.

Education

2013 - 2018
PhD Fellow at Department of Public Health, Global Health Section,
University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2008-2010
MA in International Development
Milano School of International Affairs, Management, and Urban Policy,
The New School, USA

2003-2006
BA in Psychology
Roskilde University, Denmark

Work experience

2024-
Associate Professor at Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, 
University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2019-2024
Assistant Professor at Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, 
University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2018-2019
Post Doc at Department of Public Health, Global Health Section,
University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2013 - 2018
PhD Fellow at Department of Public Health, Global Health Section, 
University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2011-2013
Research Assistant at Department of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

2011 - 2013
Board member at Global Doctors, Denmark

2010
Communications Officer at Division of Communication, UNICEF, USA

2009 - 2010
Consultant at United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development, USA

2009
Liaison Assistant at United Nations World Food Programme, USA

2008
Intern at UNDP, Millenium Villages Project, USA

2007
Intern at African Refuge, USA

2007
Volunteer at Voluntary Action Ghana, Tamale, Ghana

2006 - 2007
Social Worker, Jobcenter Sygedagpenge København, Denmark

2005 - 2007
Volunteer, Red Cross Youth (Ung på Linje/Ung Online), Denmark