Manzur Kader

Universitetslektor | Medical Researcher | Licensed Physiotherapist

Universitetslektor (full-time), Researcher, and Licensed Physiotherapist working at the intersection of clinical practice and academia in Sweden and internationally.

Background

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (selected):
◆ 2026-current: Universitetslektor (full-time) in Public Health Sciences at Mid Sweden University.
◆ 2026: Licensed Physiotherapist, Region Sörmland.
◆ 2021-2025: Lecturer/Assistant Professor in Public Health Sciences/Physiotherapy at Karlstad University, Sweden, and JUST, Bangladesh.
◆ 2025: Coordinator, SWEAH (Swedish National Graduate School on Ageing and Health)
◆ 2024-2025: Researcher (UDDGait™ project), Dalarna University, focused on developing a tool for early detection of dementia risk.
◆ 2018-2023: Postdoctoral Researcher, Karolinska Institutet. Conducted two independent research projects investigating:
1) Impact of Shift Work on the Health of Swedish Healthcare Professionals (2018-2022), and
2) Risk of Neurodegenerative and Psychiatric Disorders in Elite Swedish Footballers Later in Life (2022-23) (details below).
◆ 2014-2028: PhD in Medical Science with specialization Physiotherapy, Lund University, Sweden.
◆ 2013-2014: Research Officer (Forskningshandläggare), Karolinska Institutet and Region Stockholm, Sweden.
◆2013: Research Assistant, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
EDUCATION
2014-18: PhD in Medical Science, Lund University, Sweden.
2010-11: Master in Public Health Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm.
2008-09: Master in Global Health, Uppsala University, Sweden.

Area of interest

SKILLS AND INTERESTS
◆ Research Leadership: Over 12 years of experience leading large-scale research projects, including cohorts, national surveys, and clinical trials, with strong expertise in epidemiological study design, systematic reviews, Psychometrics, and Swedish national register data for population-based studies, resulting in 55+ peer-reviewed publications (35+ as first/senior author).
◆ Research Interests: Broad expertise covering Public/Global Health, Epidemiology, Occupational Health, Ageing&health, Sports Medicine, Physiotherapy, and the psychometric analysis of questionnaires.

Research

◆ UDDGait™: Uppsala-Dalarna Dementia and Gait project; Dalarna University, Sweden (Jan 2024-Dec 2025).
- Role: Working as a researcher and co-investigator within the project "UDDGait™" focusing on the early identification of dementia development risk.

◆ Studies based on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) (Jan 2014-Present).
- Role: Principle investigator/Principle author. Over the past 12 years, I have used DHS data to study maternal and child health in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal.

◆ Activity limitations and participation restrictions among individuals with spinal cord injury; CRP, Bangladesh (Mar 2017-Dec 2024).
- Role: Principle investigator/Principle author.

◆ Psychosocial Wellbeing and Risk Perception of Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria: Perspectives on the Role of Social Workers; collaboration with Monash University, Australia, and University of Nigeria, Nigeria (2024-2025).
-Role: Principle investigator/Senior author.

◆ Associations between playing football on the elite level and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders later in life; Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Mar 2022 -Jun 2023).
- Role: My second postdoctoral position.

◆ The health effects of shift and night work among healthcare professionals, focusing on cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and pregnancy outcomes (ATOHS); Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm (Dec 2018 – Dec 2024)
- Role: My first postdoctoral position.

◆ Night work, working hours, and common mental disorders among healthcare professionals (PATOHS); Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm.
- Role: Co-investigator / Co-recipient, FORTE research grant (period 2022-2024).

◆ Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Health-Seeking Behaviour in Traumatic Brain Injury Across Vulnerable Populations: A Prospective Cohort Study in Bangladesh (2024-2025).
-Role: Co-worker/co-author.

◆ Health-related quality of life among stroke survivors in Bangladesh; Bangladesh (Jan-Nov 2022).
- Role: Principle investigator/Senior author.

◆ Breathing exercise intervention in patients with COVID-19; Bangladesh (June 2020-Aug 2022).
- Role: Principle investigator/Principle author

◆ Walking difficulties, mobility devices and activity avoidance in people ageing with Parkinson's disease; Lund University, Sweden (2014-2018).
- Role: PhD project.

Teaching and tutoring

Currently teaching, including course leadership, in 10 different courses at Mid Sweden University at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels during Autumn 2026:

Bachelor’s level courses-
1. Theory and Methods in Science (Vetenskaplig teori och metod), FH034G, 7.5 credits.
2. Project Management (Projektledning), FH031G, 7.5 credits.
3. Public Health Science BA (A), Common Diseases. (Folksjukdomar), FH035G, 7.5 credits
4. Public Health Science BA (C) (Folkhälsovetenskap GR (C)), FH038G, 30 credits.
5. Migration and Health (Migration och hälsa), FH036G, 7.5 credits.

Master’s level courses-
1. Course leader – Global Health (Global hälsa), FH025A, 7.5 credits.
2. Strategic Public Health Work (Strategiskt folkhälsoarbete), FH027A, 7.5 credits
3. Public Health and the Determinants of Health (Folkhälsa och hälsans bestämningsfaktorer), FH026A, 7.5 credits
4. Community Planning and Risk Assessment (Samhällsplanering och riskbedömning), FH035A, 7.5 credits.
5. Independent Project I (Självständigt arbete I), FH037A, 22.5 credits.