Research Interests
I received my Ph.D. in Human Geography from the University of Oslo in 2016. Today, I work as Senior Researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and associated researcher at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI).
My current work focuses on the local causes and consequences of armed conflict using spatial analytical methods of civil wars. While much of the previous literature focus on country-level analysis, my focus is on the sub-national and disaggregated quantitative studies. Spatial analytical methods are central in this work. I am also researching aspects related to protection of civilians and the interaction between society and its environment.
I have developed the PRIO-GRID dataset (
grid.prio.org), which is a spatial data framework for georeferenced data for the study of armed conflicts. In addition, I teach Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the University of Oslo. I have also carried out peer reviews for American Journal of Political Science, Political Geography, International Interactions, Journal of International Relations and Development, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Peace Research, Conflict Management and Peace Science and Norwegian Journal of Geography. Until 2016, I served as management committee member in the EU Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) network "European Network of Conflict Research" (ENCoRe).
Background
Working Experience
Senior Researcher, PRIO, 2016 - present.
Associated Researcher, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), 2016 - present.
Ph.D. Student, Human Geography, University of Oslo, 2011 - 2016.
Researcher, Centre For The Study of Civil War, PRIO, 2010 - 2016.
Research assistant, Centre For The Study of Civil War, PRIO, 2008 - 2010.
Education
Ph.D. in Human Geography, University of Oslo, Defended November 4, 2016. Title of the Dissertation: "Local Dynamics of Civil War". Download here: 
Tollefsen_PhD_Avhandling.pdf
M.A. in Geography, Norwegian University of Science and Technology and Peace Research Institute, Oslo, 2008 - 2010.
B.A. degree in Geography from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 2005 - 2008.
Awards
Stuart A. Bremer Graduate Travel Award 2009.