2 Doctoral Research Fellowships in Ancient Philosophy associated with the ERC funded project MatNat
Deadline: 0401.2026
Publisert
The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 26 500 students and 7 200 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.
The Department embraces four disciplines: Philosophy, Classical Languages (Greek and Latin), History of Ideas and Art History.
The Department is also responsible for the introductory philosophy courses, obligatory for all students attending study programmes at the University of Oslo. The Department has about 110 employees.
Job description
2 Doctoral Research Fellowships (SKO 1017) in Ancient Philosophy are available at the Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas, University of Oslo.
The positions are a part of the project ‘The Mathematization of Nature: The Origin of Mathematical Physics in Plato and Early Pythagoreanism’ (MatNat), funded by the European Research Council (ERC Advanced Grant, 101199790). More information about the project can be found here.
More about the position
The appointed candidates will work within the framework of the project on one or more of the following areas: Plato´s cosmology, mathematics and metaphysics; Presocratic philosophy, particularly the philosophy of the early Pythagoreans and early Greek theories of mathematics and harmony; the Early or ‘Old’ Platonic Academy.
The candidate must develop a project description, which should be submitted as a part of the application. The description should show how the candidate’s project will contribute to one or more of MatNat’s objectives. As well as stating research questions, the project should set out the candidate’s theoretical and methodological approaches.
IFIKK’s strong research group in ancient philosophy (The Society for Ancient Philosophy) provides the context for the project. The doctoral fellows will be encouraged to participate in the group’s regular activities, such as reading groups, workshops, and lectures. The large-scale project ‘Modelling Human Happiness’ focusing on ancient eudaimonism, is also currently hosted by IFIKK.
The person appointed will be affiliated with the faculty’s organized research training. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the faculty with a view to obtaining the degree of PhD. The successful candidate is expected to join the existing research milieu or network and contribute to its development. Read more about the Doctoral degree: PhD in the Humanities (hf.uio.no).
The appointment is for a duration of 3 years. All PhD Candidates who submit their doctoral dissertation for assessment with a written recommendation from their supervisor within 3 years or 3 ½ years after the start of their PhD position, will be offered, respectively, a 12 or 6 month Completion Grant (hf.uio.no).
Qualifications
Qualification requirements
A Master's degree or equivalent in in Philosophy, Classics, or other relevant subject. The Master's degree must normally have been obtained and the final evaluation must be available by the application deadline. In exceptional cases, we can consider applications from candidates who do not yet have an MA degree, but who are close to completing one. If so, the degree must have been awarded by the time the position is taken up.
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
Working knowledge of Ancient Greek.
Personal suitability and motivation for the position.
To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programs at the University of Oslo, 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. In special cases, the Faculty may grant admission on the basis of a one-year Master course following an assessment of the study program’s scope and quality.
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 contribute to a research group.
Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.
We offer
Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - to 595 800, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.
Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO
Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.
If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.
We hope that you will apply for the position.
More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.
How to apply
Your application must include:
Application letter describing your qualifications and motivation for the position.
Curriculum Vitae with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications.
Diploma and transcript of records of your Bachelor’s and Master's degrees.
If applicable: Documentation of English Language requirements (hf.uio.no). The appointed applicant will be asked to document these skills prior to admission to the PhD programme.
Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".
When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Do not submit other certificates, letters of recommendation, articles, master theses and the like unless specifically requested. If further documentation is wanted for assessment, you will be asked to submit it later.
Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.
General information
The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.
Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.
