Job description

We are seeking to fund eight Ph.D. students who will play a central part in the institutional strategic research initiative “The Digital Society”. Are you one of them?

Østfold University College

Østfold University College is a state university college with about 7,500 students and 625 employees distributed between its two campuses in Fredrikstad and Halden, in the South-Eastern part of Norway. The university college is a provider of quality education, and we equip our students with the knowledge and skills needed in contemporary society. The University College is in the process of building a strong research profile focussed on ‘The Digital Society’.

"The Digital Society" aims to promote interdisciplinary research activities on how digitalization transforms and affects society. It has a broad focus ranging, for example, from the development of digital solutions that may change and influence societal functions, to consequences of digital solutions on aspects such as health, learning, politics and organisational issues.

The eight Ph.D.-students will work on various projects that develop unique knowledge about the digital society. At the same time, the Ph.D. candidates will participate in joint seminars and meetings to discuss and reflect upon academic issues, exchange experiences, and in so doing play a key role in building a strong and vibrant research culture in this area. The Research Administration Department at ØUC will be available to assist students with practical and administrative aspects related to the research process and their research candidature.

About the position

The Ph.D. position is a full time (100%) fixed term position for 3 years and fully funded by Østfold University College.

Starting date: First semester of the 2019-2020 academic year - exact details to be agreed upon.

Project title: The Interplay between Technology and Societal Change: Politics and Policy Formation

Project description: Political debates are increasingly dominated by discourses on how the challenges of digitalisation, cybernetics and artificial intelligence, affect society, culture, liberal democracy, shifts in geo-politics, human nature, and climate change. The research requires an interdisciplinary approach that aims at explaining and understanding policy formation in the contemporary social and political context. Studying the role of actors in civil-society, public and private sector in future decision-making processes will be emphasised. Furthermore, the research explores whether different political regimes have comparative institutional advantage in responding to the technological challenges societies face today.

Essential Criteria

• Completed a Master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) within the field of political Science, or in a subject with a strong background in fields such as political sociology, political economy, political philosophy, science and society or technology and society.
• Master thesis must have at least 30 study points
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in terms of the Norwegian grading scale.
• For international candidates (outside EU/EEA area and countries where English is not a main language) a proof of passed TOEL (550 point) or IELTS test (6.0) may be required
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Good knowledge in one of the Nordic languages

Emphasis will be placed on:

• Prior academic output and/or research performance
• Prior relevant job experience
• The applicant’s own ideas of research themes and research design that would be relevant for the project proposal
• Intellectual ability
• Leadership potential
• Experience or interest in conducting interdisciplinary research
• Commitment to team work

Admission and appointment

Currently ØUC does not offer a Ph.D.-programme. Consequently, the selected candidate must be admitted to a Ph.D.-programme at another institution. For each of the eight Ph.D.-projects, collaboration has been established with doctoral granting institutions, and the application process will be assisted by the ØUC Research Administration Department. Confirmed admission to a Ph.D.-program must be available prior to employment as a Ph.D. student, and at the latest six months after signing the employment contract.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the State Employees law, the act relating to Universities and Universities Colleges and the national guidelines for appointment as a Ph.D. student, a postdoctoral fellow or a research assistants.

Salary

Depending on qualifications and relevant experience, Ph.D. candidates will be placed in the Norwegian government pay scale position code “1017 Ph.D. student” (449.400, - 505.800 NOK per year) and follow ordinary meriting regulations.

The appointment process and the conditions of employment will follow national guidelines for University and University College PhD scholars.

Contact details

For further information about the project, please contact the project leader. For other information, please contact Human Resources or the Research Director.

• Project leader: Professor Ivar Jonsson, +47 696 08 163, ivar.jonsson@hiof.no
• Director of Research: Trine Eker Christoffersen, +47 922 93 881, trine.e.christoffersen@hiof.no
• Human resources senior advisor: Inger Lise Røsnæs, +47 696 08 022, inger.l.rosnas@hiof.no

Application

In order to apply, please click on the 'Apply for this job' button. You will need to create an account, if you do not have one already, in order to log on.

Application must include the following:

• letter of intent (one page) that includes your qualifications, skills and motivation.
• curriculum vitae
• list of publications (if applicable). Include a short description of your contribution in multi-authored publications.
• copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records (all certified and translated to English if not awarded in the Scandinavian region)

All attachments should be included electronically within the application deadline. The relevant ØUC faculty may require further documentation, e.g. proof of claimed English proficiency.

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