Monica Bjerklund is a senior researcher and professor. She works part-time at Telemarksforsking. Her research experience is extensive and includes areas such as public health work, education, childhood, family diversity, child welfare, social work, psychosocial health, socioeconomic living conditions, culture, ethnicity, diversity, Indigenous peoples, sustainability, violence and abuse, participation and inclusion, as well as immigration and migration. Monica has several years of experience in leading research groups.

She has a solid background as a project manager. Monica led the evaluation of a pilot project aimed at strengthening traffic safety among youth in Telemark. She is also the project manager of a project that explores belonging in Sámi culture among Norwegian-speaking Sámi. Furthermore, she led the national kindergarten project “Sámi Kindergartens as Health-Promoting Arenas” during the period 2019–2022. This project was supported by the Sámi National Competence Service – Mental Health and Substance Use (SANKS).

Monica led the evaluation of the public health project *Sammen Mot* in Vestfold and Telemark, a project aimed at preventing violence and abuse among children and youth. Monica has worked on developing knowledge about early intervention and public health work in kindergartens and schools.

Monica has a 25-year career as a scientific employee at universities and colleges and is now a professor at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. Monica has experience in academic leadership of educational programs and courses.

Monica has extensive scientific publications both nationally and internationally.