The International Network for Well-Being is a community of researchers, along with students, who share a passion for the Science of Well-Being. Our goal is to promote health, health equity, and to study biopsychosocial resilience during the challenges of the 21st century.
About the Network
Our research spans the entire field, encompassing diverse populations such as healthcare professionals, teachers, social workers, young adults, children, the elderly, refugees, and the long-term unemployed.
We adopt the biopsychosocial model of health, which integrates physical, psychological, and social well-being as the foundation of our research. Our methods are person-centered, focusing on the non-linear characteristics of complex adaptive systems, including human personality and other health determinants. Our work is conducted within multidisciplinary research and innovation teams including divisions, see presentation below.
Currently, our network hosts two active labs:
- Promotion of Health and Innovation (PHI) Lab
- Lab for Biopsychosocial Personality Research (BPS-PR Lab)
Join us as we explore and advance the Science of Well-Being, studying and fostering health and resilience and preventing and reducing stress.
Directors of the Network
The International Network of Well-Being is led by Associate Professor Danilo Garcia, UiS, together with the renowned psychiatrist and geneticist C. Robert Cloninger, Washington University in St. Louis, and Dr. Kevin M. Cloninger, Anthropedia Foundation.
Danilo Garcia, PhD
Dr. Garcia is a Senior Associate Professor of Personality and Well-Being.
As a co-founder of the International Network for Well-Being, he leads the Promotion of Health and Innovation (PHI) Lab and the Lab for Biopsychosocial Personality Research (BPS-PR).
Dr. Garcia's research encompasses a broad range of topics, including the genetics and epigenetics of personality, well-being, resilience, virtues, free will, organizational psychology, and the application of Artificial Intelligence to integrate quantitative and qualitative research methods.
He has authored over 400 publications, including scientific articles, book chapters, encyclopedia entries, conference presentations, and books.
C. Robert Cloninger, MD, PhD
C. Robert Cloninger is a renowned psychiatrist and geneticist known for his significant contributions to the study of personality genetics, particularly in relation to schizophrenia.
One of Dr. Cloninger's major achievements is his development of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), a psychometric tool that assesses personality traits. This inventory has been influential in understanding how genetic factors contribute to individual differences in personality. Through his work with the TCI, Cloninger proposed a biopsychosocial model of personality that integrates genetic, neurobiological, and developmental factors.
In the realm of schizophrenia research, Dr. Cloninger has made notable contributions by investigating the genetic basis of this complex psychiatric disorder. His studies have elucidated the role of genetic predispositions in the development and manifestation of schizophrenia, underscoring the importance of both genetic and environmental factors in its etiology.
More recently, Cloninger's work has focused on the genetics of personality traits, well-being, and resilience. His research has employed advanced genetic methodologies, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), unsupervised machine learning techniques, etc. Dr. Cloninger's most recent findings underscore the polygenic nature of personality, suggesting that multiple genes of small effect collectively contribute to the heritability of different personality traits. This research has advanced our understanding of the biological basis of personality and its implications for mental health and well-being.
Read more about Dr. Cloninger on his profile page of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Kevin M. Cloninger, PhD
Dr. Kevin M. Cloninger holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. He has conducted extensive quantitative and qualitative research across various fields, including Personality Theory, Identity and Moral Development, Curriculum Theory, Development and Evaluation, Coaching Theory, Moral Education, Teacher Beliefs, and Gifted Education.
Dr. Cloninger is the Executive Director of Anthropedia, a non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting well-being through health and education initiatives.
Anthropedia is guided by an institute of experts from medicine, psychology, art, education, and public health. Leveraging the Institute's findings, Dr. K. M. Cloninger has developed personal development resources and well-being education programs, both digital and face-to-face.
These innovative multimedia resources, such as the psycho-educative interactive video series “Know Yourself,” are designed for individuals, professionals, and organizations seeking effective approaches to achieving and maintaining physical, mental, and social health.
Assessment and Measurement
Get an overview of the researchers within the network division of Assesment and Measurement.
- Sverker Sikström, PhD – Professor of Cognitive Psykology at Lund University, Sweden
- Mohammad Taghi Kheirkhah, PhD – Postdoctoral researcher at the Promotion of Health and Innovation (PHI) Lab within the International Network for Well-Being at Linköping University, Sweden
- Maryam Kazemitabar, PhD – Postdoctoral Associate at Yale University's Department of Internal Medicine, USA
- Maryam Moghadasin, PhD – Associate Professor in Psychometrics at Kharazmi University, Iran
- Um i Lela, PhD – Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Psychology at the School of Art & Social Sciences at GIFT University, Pakistan
Social Well-Being
Get an overview of the researchers within the network division of Social Well-Being.
- Claudia Chiarolanza, PhD - assistant Professor of Dynamic Psychology, specializing in Couple and Family Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
- Elisabetta Sagone, PhD - Associate Professor of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the University of Catania, Italy
- İsmail Seçer, PhD – professor at the Department of Psychological Counseling and Guidance at Atatürk University, Turkey
- Milgen Sánchez-Villegas, MA – psychologist, lecturer and researcher at the Universidad Simón Bolivar in Barranquilla, Colombia
- Patricia Rosenberg, MA, Teacher and well-being coach interested in school health, free will, religion, and resilience at schools.
Developmental Well-Being
Get an overview of the researchers within the network division of Developmental Well-Being.
- Ricardo Sanmartín, PhD – Associate Professor in the Developmental Psychology and Didactics Departmentat at University of Alicante, Spain
- JohnBosco Chika Chukwuorji, PhD – postdoctoral research associate at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, USA
- Niloufar Jalali-Moghadam, PhD – specialist in clinical psychology at the District Psychiatric Center Østfold Hospital, Norway
Physical Well-Being
Get an overview of the researchers within the network division of Physical Well-Being.
- Thiago Daniele, PhD – Assistant Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Public Health at the University of Fortaleza, Brazil
- Matheus van Tol Guerra, MIH – 15 years of experience in public health and health promotion and now pursuing a doctoral degree at Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry
Get an overview of the researchers within the network division of Clinical Psychology.
- Thomas Westerberg, Phd student – pursuing a PhD at the Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Daniela Morato Parada, educator and psychologist (text in Spanish) – educator and psychologist with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Private University of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
- André Coelho Haviaras – psychiatrist specializing in general psychiatry from the Institute of Psychiatry of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- Maede S. Etesami – clinical psychologist pursuing a PhD in Neuropsychology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway
- Erik Monasterio, MD – Forensic psychiatry specialist with over 25 years of experience in New Zealand’s public health system and Senior Clinical Lecturer at the Christchurch School of Medicine.
- Marko Mihailovic, MA -licensed clinical counselor with over 15 years of clinical experience. He conducts clinical research and runs his own private practice Chicago Center for Wellbeing in Chicago, USA.
Personality Psychology
Get an overview of the researchers within the network division of Personality Psychology.
- Nobuhiko Kijima, PhD – Associate Professor at Keio University, Japan
- Paulo A. S. Moreira, PhD – clinical psychologist and teaches at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Portugal
- Soo Jin Lee, PhD – Associate Professor of Psychology at Kyungsung University and a licensed clinical psychologist and cognitive behavioral therapist in South Korea
- Han Chae, MD PhD – Professor at Pusan National University, South Korea
- Nafiseh Kananifar, PhD – Post Doctoral Research Fellow at faculty of Social Sciences in Stavanger University, Norway
- Erica Schütz, PhD – Assistant Professor of Psychology, specializing in Health Psychology at Linnaeus University in Kalmar, Sweden
PhD and Postdoctoral Researchers Divisions
PhD Researchers Division
- Matheus van Tol Guerra, MIH – 15 years of experience in public health and health promotion and now pursuing a doctoral degree at Karolinska Institute, Sweden.
- Thomas Westerberg, Phd student – pursuing a PhD at the Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- Alexandre Granjard, Phd student – pursuing a PhD at the Department of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Postdoctoral Researchers Division
- Thiago Daniele, PhD – Assistant Professor in the Postgraduate Program in Public Health at the University of Fortaleza, Brazil. Postdoctoral researcher at the Lab for Biopsychosocial Research (BPS-PHI) Lab within the International Network for Well-Being at University of Stavanger, Norway.
- Mohammad Taghi Kheirkhah, PhD – Postdoctoral researcher at the Promotion of Health and Innovation (PHI) Lab within the International Network for Well-Being at Linköping University, Sweden and at the Lab for Biopsychosocial Research (BPS-PHI) Lab within the International Network for Well-Being at University of Stavanger, Norway.
- Um i Lela, PhD – Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Psychology at the School of Art & Social Sciences at GIFT University, Pakistan. Postdoctoral researcher at the Lab for Biopsychosocial Research (BPS-PHI) Lab within the International Network for Well-Being at University of Stavanger, Norway.
- Nafiseh Kananifar, PhD – Post Doctoral Research Fellow at faculty of Social Sciences in Stavanger University, Norway
- Pedro Lopez-Merino, PhD – Postdoctoral fellow at Université Côte d’Azur, France, specializing in territorial food systems, circular economics, and the interplay between well-being, personality, and sustainability.
Student Research and Innovation Hub
- Thea Hagtvedt, Student – Pursuing and master’s degree at the Department of Social Studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
- Elina Björk, Student – Pursuing and master’s degree at the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
- Paula Lykke Ospina Carvajal, Student – Pursuing and bachelor’s degree at the Department of Social Studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.