PhD Research Fellowship in governance and crisis preparedness
Deadline: 02.08.2026
Publisert
Universitetet i Innlandet har om lag 15 000 studenter og 1 450 ansatte. Vi har studiesteder i Lillehammer, Hamar, Elverum, Rena, Evenstad og på Blæstad, og tilbyr også noen utdanninger på Kongsvinger, Tynset og i Oslo.
NOKUTs styre godkjente Høgskolen i Innlandets søknad om universitetsakkreditering den 12. september 2024. 8. november besluttet kongen i statsråd at høgskolen ble Norges 11. universitet. Universitetet i Innlandet er kjent for sterke og solide utdannings- og forskningsmiljøer som setter spor etter seg regionalt, nasjonalt og internasjonalt.
Visjonen vår er «Sterkere sammen - vi bygger universitetet i tverrfaglig fellesskap, sammen med samfunns- og arbeidsliv.»
The purpose of the PhD Research Fellowship for the admitted candidate is to undergo a research training programme that leads to thesuccessful completion of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment. The candidate isexpected to participate actively in INSEPP’s activities. After commencement, the candidate must apply for admission to the PhDprogramme within three months. An agreement for admission to the PhD programme must be in place within six months aftercommencement.
The candidate will be part of the Department of Organisation, Leadership and Management and relevant research groups. In additionto INSEPP, these environments represent a valuable resource for PhD studies.The workplace is Campus Lillehammer or Campus Rena.
Contact information:Associate Professor, Martin S. Time, phone number: +47 400 13 495, e-mail: martin.time@inn.noHead of PhD programme Marit Engen, phone number: +47 61 28 81 07, e-mail: marit.engen@inn.no
About the project
The topic of this PhD project is the management of cyber resilience and vulnerability towards hybrid threats during prolonged crises andheightened geopolitical tensions. Illustrations of such vulnerabilities are, but not limited to, telecommunications networks and state-leveldigital platforms, which have potentially far-reaching consequences for governance, national security, and public service continuity. Theproject is placed within a broader context of innovation, with a particular emphasis on organizational and institutional innovative changebased on the concept of total preparedness. A basic assumption of the project is that crisis conditions can be critical drivers of suchinnovation. Empirically, the project employs a comparative case study design, examining Norway’s highly digitized (but) peacetimecontext with other more volatile contexts. One relevant context in particular is the Ukraine’s experience of sustained cyber-attacksrelated to the war with Russia. Ukraine’s experience since 2022 provides a unique setting for studying cyber resilience under prolongedcrisis, where continuity has been sustained through innovative state practices, expanded roles for private actors, internationalpartnerships, and reliance on multinational technology providers. The case study will moreover take into account the multi-levelgovernance aspects of total preparedness, including NATO, the EU, the Nordics, in addition to national levels of governance. Theproject is interdisciplinary and opens for a variety of scientific methods being used, such as interviews, surveys, fieldwork and documentanalysis.
We are seeking a candidate both with interests in and being highly motivated for doing research related to governance, organization,international relations and security policies, and for contributing to a collegium of researchers focusing on crisis preparedness and crisismanagement.
A master's degree or equivalent education in political science, international relations, comparative politics, public administration andpublic policy or other disciplines relevant to the position.
The master's degree must normally constitute 120 ECTS credits, including a master's thesis of at least 30 ECTS credits.
A strong academic background from your previous studies. The average grade should normally be B or better from the master'sprogram or equivalent education.
If you have an education from abroad, please attach documentation of recognition of foreign higher education from the NorwegianDirectorate for Higher Education and Skills. If the requested documentation is not possible to obtain within the application deadline, anequivalent assessment can be made by INN University in connection with the recruitment process.
Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the applicant's:
Academic and personal qualifications to complete doctoral education within the employment period.
Ability to work independently and purposefully, as well as to collaborate on research, publishing and, potentially, teachingtasks.
Being structured and having a high work capacity.
Demonstrating solid theoretical insight and interest.
Language:
Good proficiency in English, both oral and written. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must document their Englishproficiency in accordance with the Supplementary Regulations for Admission to the PhD Programme at INN University.Preferably, the candidates should also have good proficiency in one of the Scandinavian languages, as the project requiresbeing able to read and analyze Norwegian documents.
In the evaluation and ranking of qualified applicants, emphasis will be placed on:
The quality of the project proposal
Documented independent research and development work or experience relevant to the project
It is mandatory to attach a project proposal of 2000 words (see the section on "How to Apply" below).
The assessment of which candidate is best qualified will be a comprehensive evaluation of education, experience, and personalsuitability, as well as motivation and other qualification requirements as formulated in the job advertisement.
The position and associated tasks must be carried out in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations for government employees, including also the Act on Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology, etc. Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, come into conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to take up the position at University of Inland Norway. Necessary approvals must be maintained throughout the employment relationship.
We offer
An academically stimulating and supportive work environment at a developing institution.
Possibility of professional development in an exciting academic research environment.
The position’s salary follows position code 1017 PhD candidate in the state's wage regulations.
Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension, with among other things, good pension and insurance schemes
For more information about INN University as an employer, please see here.
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How to apply
Relevant applications will be considered by an expert committee. The application and all attachments are to be submitted electronicallyand should include the following:
The applicant must submit a project proposal with a progress plan (in Norwegian or English, 2000 words) that explains how theresearch work will be carried out and addresses academic relevance, challenges and possibilities within the project. Theproject proposal should also outline the theories and methods intended to be used. The project proposal plays an importantrole in evaluating applicants and must demonstrate how the project will lead to the successful completion of a doctoral degreewithin three/four years. The PhD research fellow hired will, in collaboration with a supervisor, prepare a complete projectproposal that will form the basis for admission to the PhD program.
Application letter with a brief overview of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
CV (summarizing education, job positions, and academic work)
Certified copies of transcripts and diplomas. An English translation of all education documents is required unless the documentsare in Norwegian.
Other work that is relevant for the application
Names and contact information of at least 2 reference persons.
A copy of the master thesis (in PDF)
Attachments must be uploaded as separate files. If the attachments exceed 30 MB, they must be compressed prior to upload. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all attachments are uploaded. Documents submitted after expiry of the deadline will not be considered in the evaluation of your application.
General information
INN believes that there is strength in inclusion and diversity. We desire employees with different competencies, professional combinations, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to an even better way of solving problems. We will facilitate for employees who need assitance to realise their goals. Relevant adaptations can be, for example, technical aids, adapting furniture or adjusting routines, work tasks and working hours.
If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in the CV or immigrant background, we shall call at least one applicant in each of these categories for an interview. In order to be considered as an applicant in these groups, the applicants must meet certain requirements. You can read more on this here: https://arbeidsgiver.difi.no/positivsaerbehandling.
We encourage applicants to tick in Jobbnorge if they have a disability, a gap in their CV or immigrant background. The ticks in the jobseeker portal form the basis for anonymised statistics that all state-owned enterprises report in their annual reports
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.
