University of Bergen

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.

There are seven departments and three centres at Faculty of Social Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments.

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

Through robust and close interaction with the world around us – globally, nationally and locally – we shall be instrumental in building a society based on knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Do you want to take part in shaping the future?

The Digital Social Science Core Facility (DIGSSCORE)

The Digital Social Science Core Facility at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Bergen is currently advertising a permanent position as Associate Professor in Political Science specializing in the subfield of political behavior and/or survey/lab methodology. The successful candidate will serve as co-director for the Digital Social Science Core Facility (DIGSSCORE) at the University of Bergen and be associate professor at one of the two political science departments at the University of Bergen, the Department of Comparative Politics or the Department of Administration and Organization Theory.

DIGSSCORE is a new digital infrastructure, which comprises the research-purpose internet panel established at the University of Bergen in 2012 (the Norwegian Citizen Panel) and a fully equipped on-site social science computer lab (the Citizen Lab). In addition, DIGSSCORE is part of the national coordinator team for the European Social Survey (ESS) at the University of Bergen. DIGSSCORE also leads the national social science research infrastructure initiative, KODEM (Coordinated online panels for the study of democratic governance). In addition to a panel of citizens, it comprises a panel of elected representatives, a panel of administrators, a panel of journalists, and a panel of judges.

We are looking for:

• An established, or aspiring, research leader who will initiate, develop, and lead ambitious research initiatives that take advantage of the DIGSSCORE facility. These planned initiatives should be competitive for external grants (ERC, Horizon Europa, the Research Council of Norway or equivalent).
• An ambitious scholar who will conduct research using the DIGSSCORE facility to be published in high impact scientific outlets.
• A good colleague with an excellent record of collaboration and cooperation who will contribute to the development and coordination of the DIGSSCORE infrastructure and further it as a national social science initiative both in Norway and internationally.
• A dedicated university supervisor and teacher who will participate actively in the training of junior scholars and students, for example by adding to or strengthening the current teaching portfolio in the subfield of political behaviour or survey methodology or laboratory methodology.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must have a PhD in either (a) political science (i.e. in comparative politics, public administration or any other relevant subfield in political science) or (b) survey/lab methodology in the social sciences.
• Applicants ought to display an ability to publish research at a high international level. The evaluation of the applicant’s scientific work will focus primarily on research published the last five years. Years will be added in cases of leaves of absence, such as parental leave in accordance with ERC practice.
• Applicants ought to display research leadership experience and further ambitions.
• Personal aptitude will be of great importance. Future plans for research, insight into infrastructure development, coordination and use, and relevant teaching and supervision experience will be considered.
• The survey language used in DIGSSCORE is Norwegian. It is an advantage if the candidate has excellent command of either of the Scandinavian languages. It is a requirement that the candidate have excellent command of the English language.
• Educational competence as outlined below

The teaching language will normally be Norwegian. The successful applicant will be required to teach in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language within two years of being appointed.

Educational competence

Basic teaching training and experience in the supervision of students at university level is a requirement for the position as associate professor (link). This implies completed formal pedagogical training, as well as basic skills in planning, implementation, evaluation and development of teaching and supervision. Should the successful applicant not have such competence at the time of appointment, he/she will be required to document such training within two years of the date of appointment.

Educational competence must be documented in a portfolio which should include a documented overview of practical experience and competence, a two-page summary of a BA or MA-level course that the candidate can teach in the subfields of political behavior/survey methodology/laboratory methodology, as well as a brief reflection statement. The statement should primarily describe the applicant’s own teaching philosophy and an evaluation of own teaching in relation to his/her knowledge of students’ learning at a higher education level.

We can offer:

• An attractive permanent position with generous provisions for research.
• A vibrant and ambitious research community.
• Salary at pay grade 68 - 75 (code 1011/ Pay range 24) in the state salary scale. This currently amounts to an annual salary of NOK 615 900 – 704 900 before taxes. Further increase in salary will depend on seniority. A higher salary may be considered for a particularly well qualified applicant.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund and good welfare benefits.
• The city of Bergen – a welcoming and well-connected European city with a unique mix of vibrant life and extraordinary nature.

Your application must include:

• A cover-letter stating the motivation for applying for the announced position with emphasis on how the candidate will contribute to the development, coordination, and use of the DIGSSCORE infrastructure.
• A two-page statement of plans for leadership of future research initiative(s) and how they will benefit from and be of benefit to the DIGSSCORE initiative.
• Educational portfolio.
• A complete CV, including a complete list of publications, research project leadership experience, teaching and supervision experience.
• Between five and ten publications to be considered in the assessment. The evaluation of the applicant’s scientific work will focus primarily on research published during the last five years. Please note that years will be added in cases of documented ordinary leaves of absence, such as parental leave, in accordance with ERC rules.
• Declarations of co-authorships where it is necessary to clarify your contribution to publications.
• Certifies copies of diplomas and certificates
• The contact details of two references

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge.

The closing date is November 30, 2020. The application has to be marked with reference 20/6633

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting:

• Professor Elisabeth Ivarsflaten, elisabeth.ivarsflaten@uib.no

Practical questions about the application process should be directed to HR-adviser Even Michal Endresen, even.endresen@uib.no

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times. Reference is made to the general University regulations that stipulate that, as part of the normal duties of the position and within his/her academic field, the successful applicant may also be required to teach, supervise and carry out examination related tasks outside the organisational unit to which the position belongs.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

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