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Hans Fredrik Sunde, PhD
Postdoctoral researcher
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8797-5422
Oslo, Norway | hafsunde@gmail.com | www.hansfredriksunde.com | +47 995 88 824

Updated 20 October 2026. Professional activities and teaching listed through June 2025, with selected later additions.

Education

  • PhD in Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, 2024.

    • Sunde, H. F. (2024). Reproduction of socioeconomic differences and mental health across generations [Doctoral dissertation, University of Oslo]. Oslo, Norway. http://hdl.handle.net/10852/110758

    • Main Supervisor: Dr. Fartein Ask Torvik.

    • Co-Supervisor: Dr. Espen Moen Eilertsen.

  • MSc in Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, 2019.

    • Supervisor: Dr. Robert Biegler.

  • BSc in Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, 2017.

Positions Held

  • 03.2025 – 03.2026: Researcher (20%), Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

  • 10.2023 – present: Postdoctoral Researcher, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.

  • 05.2023 – 06.2023: Researcher, Department of Special Needs Education, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

  • 08.2020 – 09.2023: Doctoral Researcher, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.

  • 06.2019 – 06.2020: Research Assistant, Department of Psychology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.

Awards

  • 2024: Outstanding Associate Member Poster Presentation Award (formerly the Rowe Award), Behavior Genetics Association, London. Awarded annually for the best poster by a doctoral or other associate member; recognised my work on indirect assortative mating.

  • 2023: Outstanding Associate Member Oral Presentation Award (formerly the Thompson Award), Behavior Genetics Association, Murcia. Awarded annually for the best talk by a doctoral or other associate member; recognised my work on genetic evidence for assortative mating and increasing genetic variance across generations.

Publications

First- and last-author publications

Preprints

  • Malawsky, D.S., Hegemann, L., Wootton, O., Havdahl, A.K., Sunde, H.F., & Martin, H.C. (2026). Phantom genetic nurture: assortative mating accounts for most of the apparent association between parental genotypes and childhood cognitive performance. bioRxiv. [Preprint]. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.09.01.748516 Joint last author.

Journal articles

  • Sunde, H.F., & Dierker, P. (2026). Are Spouses Similar in Divorce? Investigating Spousal Similarity in Couple-Shared Outcomes. Twin Research and Human Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1017/thg.2026.10050

  • Sunde, H.F., Eilertsen, E.M., Kinge, J.M., Kleppestø, T.H., Nordmo, M., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E., & Torvik, F.A. (2026). Parental income and psychiatric disorders from age 10 to 40: a genetically informative population study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70022

  • Sunde, H.F., Eilertsen, E.M., & Torvik, F.A. (2025). Understanding indirect assortative mating and its intergenerational consequences for educational attainment. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60483-0

  • Skirbekk, V., Blekesaune, M., & Sunde, H.F. (2025). Personality and fertility dynamics in Norway across four decades – Findings from the HUNT survey. Personality and Individual Differences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2024.112862

  • Sunde, H.F., Eftedal, N.H., Cheesman, R., Corfield, E.C., Kleppestø, T.H., Seierstad, A.C., Ystrom, E., Eilertsen, E.M., & Torvik, F.A. (2024). Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46939-9

  • Sunde, H.F., Kleppestø, T.H., Gustavson, K., Nordmo, M., Reme, B.-A., & Torvik, F.A. (2022). The ADHD deficit in school performance across sex and parental education: A prospective sibling-comparison register study of 344,152 Norwegian adolescents. JCPP Advances. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12064

Other co-authored publications

Preprints

  • Bjørndal, L.D., Valstad, M., Ayorech, Z., Eilertsen, E.M., van Jole, O., Sunde, H.F., Grande, T.J.M., Torvik, F.A., Kendler, K.S., & Ystrom, E. (2026). Family genetic risk scores for major psychiatric and neurodevelopmental diagnoses in the Norwegian population. PsyArXiv. [Preprint]. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/4qtu5_v2

  • van Bergen, E., Sunde, H.F., Rowland, C.F., Melby-Lervåg, M., & Torvik, F.A. (2025). Why educational inequality runs in families: Genetics matter more than environment. PsyArXiv. [Preprint]. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/rehdj_v1

Journal articles

  • Aczel, B., et al. (2026). Investigating the analytical robustness of the social and behavioural sciences. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09844-9

  • Andersen, M.L., Sunde, H.F., Hart, R.K., & Torvik, F.A. (2026). Parenthood and mental health throughout the life course: A total population study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-026-03091-7

  • Andersen, M.L., Hart, R.K., Sunde, H.F., Davies, N.M., & Torvik, F.A. (2026). The cost of caring: Gendered health and labor market effects of grandparenthood. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2535409123

  • Reme, B.-A., Sunde, H.F., Torvik, F.A., Kinge, J.M., Strand, B.H., & Wörn, J. (2026). Parental income in childhood and health outcomes across age groups: a register-based study from Norway. BMC Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-026-04735-w

  • Landmark, L., Sunde, H.F., Fors, E.A., Kennair, L.E.O., & Reme, S.E. (2026). Prevalence of Bodily Distress Syndrome and Prediction of Patient Outcomes: Cohort Study of 3762 Individuals With Persistent Pain. European Journal of Pain. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.70212

  • Eilertsen, E.M., Eftedal, N.H., Cheesman, R., Ayorech, Z., Ebeltoft, J.C., Sunde, H.F., Tandberg, A.D., Torvik, F.A., & Ystrom, E. (2026). Multivariate maternal effects across the internalizing–externalizing spectrum in childhood: results from the Norwegian mother, father, and child cohort study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70111

  • Kleppestø, T.H., Bendixen, M., Sunde, H.F., Zietsch, B., Harper, K.T., Karlsen, H., Stavang, M., Eftedal, N.H., & Kennair, L.E.O. (2026). The attractive personality: Like me, but better. Evolution and Human Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106811

  • Nordmo, M., Sunde, H.F., Kleppestø, T.H., Nordmo, M., Caspi, A., Moffitt, T.E., & Torvik, F.A. (2025). Cognitive Abilities and Educational Attainment as Antecedents of Mental Disorders: A Total Population Study of Males. Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976251347221

  • Eftedal, N.H., Eilertsen, E.M., Sunde, H.F., Kleppestø, T.H., Ystrom, E., & Czajkowski, N.O. (2025). Beyond additive genetic effects: Explaining family resemblance in school performance across millions of pairs of Norwegian relatives. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2419627122

  • Torvik, F.A., Sunde, H.F., Cheesman, R., Eftedal, N.H., Keller, M.C., Ystrom, E., & Eilertsen, E.M. (2024). Non-random mating patterns within and across education and mental and somatic health. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54966-9

  • Caspi, A., Houts, R.M., Moffitt, T.E., Richmond-Rakerd, L.S., Hanna, M.R., Sunde, H.F., & Torvik, F.A. (2024). A nationwide analysis of 350 million patient encounters reveals a high volume of mental-health conditions in primary care. Nature Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00310-5

  • Nordmo, M., Kleppestø, T.H., Reme, B.-A., Sunde, H.F., von Soest, T., & Torvik, F.A. (2024). The diminishing association between adolescent mental disorders and educational performance from 2006–2019. JCPP Advances. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcv2.12239

  • Landmark, L., Sunde, H.F., Fors, E.A., Kennair, L.E.O., Sayadian, A., Backelin, C., & Reme, S.E. (2024). Associations between pain intensity, psychosocial factors, and pain-related disability in 4285 patients with chronic pain. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-64059-8

  • Kleppestø, T.H., Eilertsen, E.M., van Bergen, E., Sunde, H.F., Zietsch, B., Nordmo, M., Eftedal, N.H., Havdahl, A., Ystrom, E., & Torvik, F.A. (2024). Intergenerational transmission of ADHD behaviors: genetic and environmental pathways. Psychological Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329172300315X

  • Nordmo, M., Kleppestø, T.H., Sunde, H.F., Flatø, M., Demange, P., & Torvik, F.A. (2023). The association between parental internalizing disorders and child school performance. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-023-00182-x

  • Lisøy, R.S., Pfuhl, G., Sunde, H.F., & Biegler, R. (2022). Sweet spot in music—Is predictability preferred among persons with psychotic-like experiences or autistic traits? PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0275308

Professional activities

Research Stays

  • September – November 2024: Complex Trait Genetics Lab, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU Amsterdam (Host: Prof. Dr. Dorret Boomsma).

Workshops

  • International Statistical Genetics Workshop 2024 (Boulder, CO).

  • VU Amsterdam Summer School 2022: Nature and Nurture: Twin Research and Human Genetics.

  • International Statistical Genetics Workshop 2021 (Online).

Conference presentations

  • Sunde, H.F., (2026) Are spouses similar in divorce? Investigating spousal similarity in couple-shared outcomes. Behavior Genetics Association Annual Meeting (Amsterdam 2026). Oral presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2025) Is divorce a male or female trait? BIOSFER Conference: Fertility, Childlessness, and Reproductive Aging: Bio-social Perspectives (Villa Vigoni, Menaggio, 16 September 2025). Oral presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2025) Combining genetic and phenotypic data in extended families to investigate indirect assortative mating and gene-environment correlations. Behavior Genetics Association Annual Meeting (Atlanta 2025). Oral presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2025) Understanding indirect assortative mating and its intergenerational consequences. European Social Science Genetics Network (Bristol 2025). Oral presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2024) Rethinking partner similarity: Understanding indirect assortative mating and its consequences for educational attainment. Behavior Genetics Association Annual Meeting (London 2024). Poster presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2024) Rethinking indirect assortative mating. International Statistical Genetics Workshop (Boulder, CO 2024). Poster presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2024) Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating. Human Behavior and Evolution Society (Aarhus 2024). Oral presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2023) Assortative mating increases genetic similarity among distant relatives: Evidence from polygenic scores. Behavior Genetics Association Annual Meeting (Murcia 2023). Oral presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2023) Parental income and mental disorders from age 10 to 35: a genetically informative population study. Norwegian Social and Community Psychology Conference (Trondheim 2023). Oral presentation.

  • Sunde, H.F., (2022) Skoleforløp blant barn med ADHD. En prospektiv register-og søskenstudie av norske tenåringer. ADHD Forskningsnetverk NevSom (Trondheim 2022). Oral presentation.

Invited talks

2025

  • 19/05/2025: Phenome-wide analysis of half siblings suggests maternal effects on adult health are common. BIOSFER Scientific Seminars (Online).

  • 15/05/2025: Phenome-wide analysis of half siblings suggests maternal effects on adult health are common. 8th Annual CeFH Symposium (Oslo).

  • 28/01/2025: How to give better presentations: tips, tricks, and some guiding principles. CeFH Internal Seminar (Norefjell).

  • 17/01/2025: The theory crisis. CeFH Friday Seminar (Oslo).

2024

  • 09/12/2024: Å forstå indirekte assortativ pardannelse og dets intergenerasjonalle konsekvenser, Lab Meeting, Sexual Conflict Research Group (Trondheim).

  • 09/12/2024: Parental income and mental disorders from age 10 to 40, TTiT Lab Meeting (Trondheim).

  • 20/11/2024: Partnerlikhet og sosial ulikhet, REMENTA Sluttesminar (Oslo).

  • 18/11/2024: Understanding indirect assortative mating and its intergenerational consequences. FlaDD Lab Meeting (Nijmegen).

  • 07/11/2024: Understanding indirect assortative mating and its intergenerational consequences. GENE Amsterdam Research Meeting (Amsterdam).

  • 24/09/2024: Parental income and mental disorders from age 10 to 40: a genetically informative population study. BioPsy colloquium (Amsterdam).

  • 11/09/2024: Understanding indirect assortative mating and its intergenerational consequences. CNCR Seminar (Amsterdam).

  • 29/08/2024: Assortative mating: Genetics and partner selection. Genetics and Social Sciences Conference (Oslo).

  • 14/06/2024: ADHD og skoleprestasjoner. ADHD Norge fagråd (Oslo).

  • 29/05/2024: Understanding indirect assortative mating and its intergenerational consequences. BIOSFER workshop (Sandbjerg).

  • 15/05/2024: Understanding indirect assortative mating and its intergenerational consequences. 7th Annual CeFH Symposium (Oslo).

  • 16/02/2024: Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating. PsychGen Friday Seminar (Oslo).

2023

  • 06/12/2023: Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating. Social Science Genetics Seminar (Online).

  • 01/12/2023: Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating. CeFH Genetics Friday (Oslo).

  • 21/09/2023: Genetic similarity between relatives provides evidence on the presence and history of assortative mating. BIOSFER workshop (Rostock).

  • 12/05/2023: ADHD and school performance. SpedAims Fagprat på Fredag (Oslo).

  • 05/05/2023: Assortative mating strongly increases genetic similarity between distant relatives. CeFH Genetics Friday (Oslo).

  • 09/03/2023: Kjønn, ADHD, og skoleprestasjoner. Health Gap Sluttseminar, Litteraturhuset (Oslo).

  • 02/03/2023: Correlation does not imply causation, even for genetics…. FHI Fagforum (Oslo).

  • 15/05/2023: Assortative mating strongly increases genetic similarity between distant relatives. 6th Annual CeFH Symposium (Oslo).

2022

  • 18/11/2022: Parental income and mental disorders: Using children-of-twins to distinguish genetic and social transmission. CeFH Genetics Friday (Oslo).

  • 04/10/2022: ADHD og karakterer i ungdomsskolen. ADHD Norge: Lærerkonferansen 2022 (Bergen).

  • 27/09/2022: ADHD and school performance across sex, parental education, and school subjects. ACAMH Around the Campfire (Online).

  • 04/05/2022: Mendelian Randomization: Symphony Orchestra or School Band? – Demonstrating breach of assumptions in IV analysis with simulations. CeFH Instrumental variable & Mendelian Randomization seminars (Oslo).

  • 26/04/2022: The Theory Crisis. Research Seminar: Personality, Genetics, and Mental Health (Oslo).

  • 08/04/2022: ADHD and school performance across sex, parental education, and school subjects. CeFH Friday Seminar (Oslo).

2021

  • 16/12/2021: Demonstrating common pitfalls with statistical control. PhD Network at NIPH Seminar (Oslo).

  • 19/11/2021: What is up with statistical control: When to use, when not to use, and when it’s not enough. CeFH Friday Seminar (Oslo).

  • 29/09/2021: Are highly educated parents good for your mental health?. 4th Annual CeFH Symposium (Oslo).

Other activities

Co-organised the 2025 Oslo Conference on Social Science and Genetics (15th and 16th of June 2025).

Teaching Experience

Supervision

  • 2024 – present: Co-supervisor of a PhD candidate, Language Development Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, the Netherlands, with Caroline Rowland and Elsje van Bergen.

  • 2026: Co-supervisor of a master’s student in psychology, University of Oslo, Norway.

Invited teaching

  • 24–26 March 2026: Invited lecturer, European Social Science Genetics Network methods workshop, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. With Espen Eilertsen, taught two sessions: heritability and genetic correlations; and gene–environment correlation and assortative mating. Workshop and lecture slides.

External Examiner / Grader, miscellaneous clients

Miscellaneous lectures

Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, 2020 – 2021.

  • Introduction to Behavior Genetics, Personality Psychology 1, March 2020.

  • The Replication Crisis, Research Design, March 2020.

  • Statistical Power, Research Design, March 2020.

  • The Replication Crisis and Statistical Power (3 lectures), Research Design, January-February 2021.

Teaching Assistant / Seminar Leader

Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, 2018 – 2020.

  • Weekly seminars, Quantitative Methods (master’s level), Fall 2018.

  • Weekly seminars, Quantitative Methods (master’s level), Fall 2019.

  • Full day seminar, Introduction to Stata (for employees), November 2019.

  • Teaching assistant, Bachelor’s project in developmental psychology, Spring 2020.

Media and public engagement

Podcasts and television