Two positions are available at the PROMENTA Research Center, Section for Health, Developmental and Personality psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo. PROMENTA is a newly established interdisciplinary research center focusing on mental health, drug use and wellbeing. Generally, we examine sources of mental health and wellbeing on a variety of levels, such as genetic risk, neurocognitive development, the psychosocial environment, and the socio-cultural context. For more information about PROMENTA, please visit www.promenta.no.

The positions are funded by a grant from the Research Council of Norway for the project “Homo sociabilis and genomics of the good life. Rethinking wellbeing and social relations – the role of genetic and environmental processes”.

The fellowships are for a periods of three years. A fourth year can be considered with the addition of a 25% teaching requirement, depending on the competence of the applicant and the needs of the department. The PhD-candidate and postdoc will work with PROMENTA supervisors and colleagues to generate knowledge about the nature and development of human wellbeing, including life satisfaction, happiness, resilience and mental health. In particular, the project aims to expand our understanding of the social ingredients in wellbeing, and the role of genetics and environmental factors.

Central questions that form the basis of the project:

• In what ways are social relations associated with wellbeing. Which social factors influence wellbeing, and does wellbeing influence social relations?
• Are there patterns of multi-wellbeing and what is their underlying genetic and environmental architecture?
• To what extent are genetic influences on wellbeing mediated by social relations? Do genetic factors create and shape social environments that promote wellbeing. What are the environmental causal processes involved?
• How do genetic and environmental factors interact in the complex associations between wellbeing and our social world?

The project will primarily use longitudinal data from the Norwegian Twin Registry, including a new data collection among adult twins. Data from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) will also be available.

The project is led by Professor Espen Røysamb (PI) and Senior researcher Ragnhild Bang Nes (co-PI), and involve collaborations between the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, and international researchers.

PhD position: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/207683/phd-fellowship-available-at-the-promenta-research-center

Postdoc position: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/207708/postdoctoral-fellowship-available-at-the-promenta-research-center