LEDIG STILLING VED UNIVERSITETET I AGDER

PhD Research Fellow in Responsible Data Science

Deadline: 30.09.2021

University of Agder

The University of Agder has more than 1400 employees and 13 000 students. This makes us one of the largest workplaces in Southern Norway. Our staff research, teach and disseminate knowledge from a variety of academic fields. Co-creation of knowledge is our common vision. We offer a broad range of study programmes in many fields. We are situated at two modern campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad respectively.


We are an open and inclusive university marked by a culture of cooperation. The aim of the university is to further develop education and research at a high international level.

About the position

The University of Agder, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Information Systems, invites applications for one full-time PhD Research Fellow in Information Systems for a period of three years, alternatively four years with 25% of the time assigned to tasks at the Faculty’s discretion. The position is located in Kristiansand, Norway.

This position is linked to the AI4Users project, which focuses on the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in the public sector. Specifically, the position is related to responsible data science.

The Department of Information Systems provides teaching and research at the intersection of technology, organisation and business administration. With around 45 employees (Professors, Associate Professors, Post-docs, Research Fellows and administrative staff), the department is one of the largest information systems research groups in Norway and highly regarded in the AIS community. The department’s activities include work related to eHealth, Integrated Emergency Management and Digital Transformation. The candidate will be involved with activities in the Centre for Digital Transformation (CeDiT).

Responsibilities

This research position aims to investigate the responsible and efficient use of data from citizens´ interactions with the public sector for AI development. This PhD project will develop insights about new types of data infrastructures and the requisite governance mechanisms. The responsible use of AI entails control over the ways for collecting, processing and storing data. Advances in data science allow the development of systems through which diverse types of data can be used together to provide a basis for discovery. These systems determine what data get incorporated into artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and whose perspective is incorporated or excluded from data-driven knowledge systems. AI can improve the efficiency of public service delivery and limit issues associated with human bias, but only if due care is focused on the data used by those systems and the infrastructures used for collecting, processing and storing the data needed.

This research position aligns with the UN sustainability goal “Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation”. Infrastructures provide the systems and structures essential to the operation of societies and enterprises. The information systems of public service organisations are core parts of contemporary infrastructures. The responsible use of data for Artificial Intelligence contributes to enhancing the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of public information infrastructures supporting human well-being. The project aims to advance the public infrastructures and contribute to introducing trustworthy AI in practice.

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who takes an interest in developing research on responsible AI from an Information Systems perspective. We ask applicants to provide a proposal aligned with AI4Users´ overall scope and design. More information about the project is available upon request. Interested candidates are encouraged to check also the project´s website.

Required qualifications

Further provisions relating to the positions as PhD Research Fellow can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

The applicants must qualify for admission to the faculty PhD Programme in the Faculty of Social Sciences, with a specialisation within Information Systems, and must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant area of study, with an average grade of B or better. Applicants who are in the process of finishing their master’s thesis are also welcome to apply for this position.

More details to be found here.

Specific qualifications for the project are the following: background in Information Systems, knowledge and experience of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

Applicants must submit a proposal whose scope lies within the scope of the abovementioned project. The proposal should comprise a maximum of seven pages in length, including the reference list. The proposal must contain a preliminary presentation of the problem area, theoretical foundation, methodological approach and planned progression for the doctoral project. The quality of the project proposal will receive a high level of consideration during the application assessment process. Fluency in written and oral English is a prerequisite.

The University, on its side, is committed to securing good supervision for the successful applicant.

Desired qualifications

  • Knowledge and experience in Data Science and Machine Learning techniques is an advantage
  • Knowledge and ability to apply design research approaches is an advantage
  • Knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is an advantage

Personal qualities

The appointee must have the ability to work in a goal-oriented, organised, focused and independent manner. During the assessment process, emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s examination results as well as any previous research and development work. Relevant practical experience, personal suitability and good teamwork skills will also be emphasised.

We offer

  • professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
  • a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
  • modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers
  • membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 491 200 gross salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.

General information

UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV.

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions.

Read more about the employment process.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interviews.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right.

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for the position".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:

  • Certificates with grades
  • Master’s thesis, or, for those who are near to completion of their Master´s degree, an extended abstract combined with a statement about plans to complete the thesis
  • References
  • Academic work and R&D projects, as well as a list of these
  • Project description with a maximum scope of 7 pages, including the reference list.

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. We draw your attention to the fact that we cannot, unfortunately, include you in the assessment process if attachments are missing. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English.

Application deadline: 30. September 2021

Contact

For questions about the position:

  • Professor Polyxeni Vassilakopoulou, Dept of Information Systems, e-mail: polyxenv@uia.no
  • Professor Bjørn Erik Munkvold, Head of the PhD specialisation in information systems, e-mail: bjorn.e.munkvold@uia.no

For questions about the application process:

Apply for the position

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