PhD Research Fellowship in innovation – DeafBlindness and communication
Deadline: 29.02.2024
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences (INN University) is home to over 16,000 students and 1,500 employees, and has campuses in Lillehammer, Hamar, Elverum, Rena, Evenstad and Blæstad.
INN University aspires to build strong and enduring academic and research environments that will spearhead regionally, nationally and internationally. We are developing a new and better institution with high academic and pedagogical quality, aiming at achieving university accreditation.
Our vision is "Stronger Together".
Inland School of Business and Social Sciences invites candidates to apply for a PhD Research Fellowship in innovation – DeafBlindness and communication
The 4-year position includes 25% teaching duties. Depending on the faculty`s needs, and the candidate`s competence and desires, employment can be made for a 3-year position, 100% without teaching duties.
The purpose of the PhD Research Fellowship for the admitted candidate is to undergo a research training programme that leads to the successful completion of a doctoral degree. The candidate must apply to the PhD programme INSEPP and is expected to participate actively in INSEPP’s activities.
Congenital DeafBlindness (CDB) is a rare sensory disability that results from the combined loss or impairment of both hearing and vision to different degrees from birth on. Persons with CDB are some of societies’ most vulnerable but also most interesting citizens because the combined sensory impairment uniquely affects communication, social interactions, development, and education.
A child with congenital DeafBlindness and the child´s interaction partners are in a radically atypical situation in that they are deprived of visual and auditory mutually recognized experiences from the very beginning of the child´s life. Social participation is different compared to the typical population since the child is primarily bodily-tactile from birth and will need to perceive and experience participation in the surrounding culture in proximal space—that is, the child must be incorporated in culture, with and on the child´s own body. This atypicality also affects interactions with public and private service providers and must be accommodated within service provisions.
Studying congenital DeafBlindness is not only important for persons belonging to this heterogenous group, but also because it can be fertile for studying language, the nature of communication, and social interaction. The case of the DeafBlind can furthermore serve as a lens to investigate the points of contention between disability and state and between an all-inclusive welfare state ideology and reality. The case raises questions of how public and private service providers must innovate for serving the needs of citizens with atypical forms of communication in general.
There is currently need for further research on communication and social interactions between persons with congenital DeafBlindness, their families, other interactants and service providers. This need is felt both in terms of theory development in the realm of communication, social interactions, and ethics, but also empirically and institutionally there is a need for studies that chart existing service provisions and that try to innovate new ethically sound forms of communication- and interaction- between persons with CDB, families and professionals.
Relevant research topics can be:
Interventions in communication and interactions with persons with CDB.
How bodily tactile communication can foster cultural learning.
Communication between service providers and families and persons with congenital CDB.
Studies of innovations in communication and service provisions for persons with CDB, their families, or professionals working with children or persons with CDB.
We are looking for candidates who can develop and pursue a PhD project concerning these and similar research questions/areas.
Qualification requirements
A Master's degree or equivalent in e.g. philosophy, psychology, linguistics, political science, education, special education, sociology, deafblind studies or other relevant masters degrees. The Master's degree must have been obtained and the final evaluation must be available by the application deadline.
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
Personal suitability and motivation for the position.
Experience in interactions with persons with CDB is desirable, but not necessary.
To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, applicants must, as a minimum, have completed a five-year graduation course (Master’s degree or equivalent), including a Master’s thesis of at least 30 ECTS. Applicants with a master’s degree from a university abroad, have to attach “Recognition of foreign higher education” from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education ans Skills. For instructions on how to get a master’s degree assessed and approved, please see here.
In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on:
The project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation
The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to complete the project within the time frame
The applicant’s ability to complete research training
Good collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic communities
Evaluation of candidates for the position will be based on a total assessment of educational background, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation and other eligibility requirements, as defined in the advertisement. In addition, the following will be emphasized: quality of the project description, documented independent research and development work or experience relevant to the project.
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 Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. Necessary approvals must be maintained throughout the employment relationship.
How to apply
The application and all attachments are to be submitted electronically and should include the following:
The applicant must submit a project proposal with a progress plan (in English or Norwegian, 4-6 pages) that explains how the research work will be carried out and addresses academic relevance, challenges and possibilities within the project. The project description must present a feasible progress plan. It is expected that the applicant will be able to complete the project during the period of appointment. The PhD research fellow admitted to the programme will, in collaboration with a supervisor, prepare a complete project proposal creating the basis for admission to the PhD program. The project proposal plays an important part in evaluating applicants and must show how the project will lead to a successful completion of a doctoral degree within three years.
Application letter
CV (summarizing education, job positions, and academic work)
If possible, an academic writing sample of up to 8000 words (in English or Norwegian)
Certified copies of transcripts and diplomas for the whole bachelor and master’s degree. An English translation of all education documents is required unless the documents are in Norwegian.
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.
Applications will be considered by an expert committee. Relevant applicants will be invited to an interview.
We offer
An academically stimulating and supportive work environment at a developing institution.
Possibility of professional development in an exciting academic research environment.
Position is paid and placed in position code 1017, PhD candidate in the Government Salary Scale
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.
General information
HINN 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 assistance 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.
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.
