PhD Research Fellowships: Artificial Intelligence Adoption, Sustainable Finance, and Twin Transition
Deadline: 20.06.2025
Publisert
University of Inland Norway is home to around 15,000 students and 1,450 employees. We have campuses in Lillehammer, Hamar, Elverum, Rena, Evenstad and Blæstad, and offer some courses at Kongsvinger, Tynset and in Oslo.
INN University is known for strong and enduring academic and research environments that will spearhead regionally, nationally and internationally.
Our vision is "Stronger together - we build the university in an interdisciplinary community, together with the communities and the industries"
The Inland School of Business and Social Sciences invites candidates to apply for three PhD Research Fellowships: Artificial Intelligence Adoption, Sustainable Finance, and Twin Transition
About the positions
Inland School of Business and Social Sciences, The PhD programme Innovation in Services in the Public and Private Sectors (INSEPP), invites candidates to apply for a fully funded 3-year PhD research fellowship. We have three available positions all within the broad field of innovation studies: 1) the impact of artificial intelligence(AI) on product process and environmental innovation 2) sustainable finance 3) twin transition. Depending on the department`s needs, and the candidate`s competence and preferences, the position may be transformed into a four-year position with 25% teaching duties.
The purpose of all three PhD Research Fellowships is for the admitted candidate to undergo research training programmes that lead to the successful completion of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment. The candidate is expected to participate actively in INSEPP’s activities. After commencement, the candidate must apply for admission to the PhD programme within three months. An agreement for admission to the PhD programme must be in place within six months after commencement.
A master's degree or equivalent education in relevant disciplines (artificial intelligence, innovation, business economics, finance, sustainability, geography) 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's program or equivalent education.
If you have an education from abroad, please attach documentation of recognition of foreign higher education from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. If the requested documentation is not possible to obtain within the application deadline, an equivalent 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 teaching tasks.
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 English proficiency in accordance with the Supplementary Regulations for Admission to the PhD Programme at INN University.
Applicants who cannot document skills in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 upon employment must complete language training equivalent to at least 15 ECTS credits during the fellowship period.
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 personal suitability, 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.
About the projects
1) Impact of AI on Firm-Level Innovation
The tentative title of the PhD project is “The impact of AI on Firm-Level Innovation in Norway: Analyzing Adoption, Productivity, and Transformation” and aims to empirically examine the adoption and impact of AI in Norwegian firms, addressing key gaps in existing research.
The study will utilize Norway’s dedicated AI survey, which offers comprehensive insights into AI adoptions and its effects., By examining AI adoption trends, the most commonly used AI methods, and their impact on firm-level innovation, productivity, performance, and sustainability, the project seeks to deepen our understanding of AI-driven transformation. Advanced statistical techniques will be employed to assesshow AI influences business operations, fosters innovation across sectors, and contributes to environmental sustainability. Furthermore, it will explore barriers to AI adoption and propose strategies to enhance AI-driven transformation. The findings will provide valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders, offering evidence-based recommendations to strengthen Norway’s AI innovation ecosystem and global competitiveness.
We are seeking highly motivated candidates with a strong interest in AI adoption, innovation, and sustainability, particularly its impact on firm performance, productivity, and transformation. The ideal candidate should possess strong analytical skills and expertise in quantitative methods to assess AI’s role in business and economic development.
Qualification Requirements (including but not limited to):
Good knowledge of artificial intelligence and knowledge of natural language processing.
Proficiency in statistical analysis, such as econometrics and machine learning for survey data analysis.
Experience with data integration, processing, and modeling.
Familiarity with research methodologies related to innovation and sustainability.
Competence in programming languages such as Python, R, or Stata.
Head of PhD programme Marit Engen, phone number: +47 61 28 81 07, email: marit.engen@inn.no
2) Sustainable Finance
The project, ESG Frameworks and Climate Transition, focuses on evaluating regulatory applications, transition instruments, and reporting impacts.
As ESG frameworks evolve, they provide greater transparency into corporate sustainability. ESG reporting standards, like the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), and others provide specific guidelines for reporting ESG issues. Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD focuses on climate-related financial disclosures, where requiring companies to publish climate change-related (CCR) risks and opportunities.
However, the connection between ESG reporting and the implementation of effective climate transition strategies remains fragmented. Businesses struggle to align their ESG disclosures with actionable climate solutions, such as carbon pricing mechanisms, green bonds, and renewable energy projects. Furthermore, a limited understanding of climate transition instruments and their integration into corporate sustainability strategies poses a significant barrier to achieving net-zero emissions goals.
We are seeking a candidate with a focus on sustainability in finance to explore the following possible research topics, such as:
1. How do ESG regulatory frameworks apply to corporations?
2. What are the most effective climate transition instruments, and how are they integrated into sustainability strategies?
3. How does ESG reporting affect a company’s access to climate transition instruments?
We are looking for candidates that are highly motivated for research in the field of sustainable finance, with the following preferred experience:
Research & analytical skills.
Understanding of ESG & climate instruments.
Quantitative & qualitative research methods.
Previous experience in fiscal policy on green investment, sustainability reporting, ESG analysis, or corporate sustainability is a plus.
Contact information:
Associate Professor Minh Thi Hong Dinh, phone number: +47 61 28 85 35, email: minh.dinh@inn.no
Head of PhD programme Marit Engen, phone number: +47 61 28 81 07, email: marit.engen@inn.no
3) Twin Transition
The theme of the PhD project is focused on the "twin transition". This concept has received increasing attention in recent years both in academia and among policy makers. Twin transition is the simultaneous, mutual influence between green and digital transformations. This dual transition represents a fundamental change in social development, where technological innovations and sustainability goals are integrated to shape a more sustainable. Although this is a rapidly growing research field, there are still knowledge gaps to fill. Most of the research so far is qualitatively oriented, and the regional dimension, including regional inequality, has been little illuminated.
The PhD candidate will have access to a rich source of data to illuminate the twin transition. The data is comprehensive and up-to-date, but far from fully utilized for research purposes. We have survey data from 2024, focusing on companies' actions related to sustainability, digitalization, and innovation in three Norwegian regions. Simultaneously, the PhD candidate will have access to the Community Innovation Survey (CIS). This is an innovation survey designed by the European organization Eurostat. The CIS surveys are conducted every two years in all European countries, with the national statistical organizations responsible for carrying out the surveys. Here we have up-to-date data, which can be linked to accounting data at the company level. This data is purchased from Statistics Norway (SSB), and the potential project will help keep this database updated.
Despite these data resources, there will be significant scope for the PhD candidate to influence the project's direction. This includes the choice of research questions, study object, methods, theoretical tools, and the specific areas the PhD candidate chooses to delve into. The successful candidate is familiar with the literature of sustainability transitions and will be able to analyse the data in such a theoretical context.
We are looking for candidates who are highly motivated for research innovation and sustainability, with the following requirements (including but not limited to):
Research & analytical skills.
Quantitative & qualitative research methods.
Being structured and having a high work capacity.
Demonstrating theoretical insight and research curiosity.
Head of PhD programme Marit Engen, phone number: +47 61 28 81 07, email: marit.engen@inn.no
How to apply
Please indicate in your application which of the three projects you are applying for.
Relevant applications will be considered by an expert committee.
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 Norwegian or English, 2000 words) that explains how the research work will be carried out and addresses academic relevance, challenges and possibilities within the project. The project proposal should also outline the theories and methods intended to be used. The project proposal plays an important role in evaluating applicants and must demonstrate how the project will lead to the successful completion of a doctoral degree within three/four years. The PhD research fellow hired will, in collaboration with a supervisor, prepare a complete project proposal 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 documents are 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.
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
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 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.
