Tenna Jensen

Research Interests

Research Profile

I specialize in humanistic health research. My work has particularly focused on the historical and cultural analysis of topics at the intersection of health and social research within the Greenlandic and Danish welfare states.

Since 2016, my research has explored health, well-being, and aging in the Greenlandic welfare state. I have led and participated in various research projects on topics including hearing loss, experiences of birthing locations, children's safety, and inclusion in sports. From 2023 to 2025, I served as the investigation leader for the Independent investigation of the "IUD case" and the broader contraception practice in Greenland and at Danish boarding schools with Greenlandic students during the years from 1960 to 1991.

I am currently a research leader for The Historical investigation of the relationship between Greenland and Denmark at Ilisimatusarfik, and I am involved in the Ataatsimoorluta Aalasa project.

Background

I hold a Ph.D. in History from the University of Copenhagen (2011), where I was first employed as a postdoc and from 2016 to 2021 as an associate professor in humanistic health and aging research at the Saxo Institute. During my time at the University of Copenhagen (KU), I helped establish, operate, and briefly lead the Center for Humanistic Health Research. I was involved in a number of projects at the center, including the research and development project Arctic Aging (AgeArc), which I led. I also taught and supervised students in Ethnology and History.

In 2021, I co-founded the Ilisimatusarfik Center for Arctic Welfare with Steven Arnfjord. In 2022, I transitioned to my current position as a Senior Researcher.