Kerstin Nilsson is professor of public health at Kristianstad University. Her research is based on an interest in reducing suffering and increasing well-being among individuals, in organisations and businesses, and in society as a whole. She hold a PhD in public health science, epidemiology, and is also associate professor of public health science, epidemiology at the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University. Additionally, she hold a PhD in work science, and an associate professor of work science at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Kerstins research is interdisciplinary and assume several contexts and areas in which efforts to increase health and well-being in society can be applied. Individuals spend a large proportion of our lives in our workplaces, which makes work an important context for prevention and health promotion. Striving to prevent ill health in working life is important for society, organisations and businesses as well as for private individuals. A tree needs good soil in order to bear fruit. In a workplace, good soil means a good physical and mental work environment with a workload and recuperation time beneficial to individuals' health, which provide a sufficient living, support and fellowship with managers and colleagues, work tasks that feel meaningful and stimulating, and where the individual's skills match the task. Kerstin Nilsson has since 2002 primarily researched healthy workplaces and how to create a sustainable working life för all ages. Based on this research, she has created the well-known SwAge-model (Sustainable Working life for all Ages)