About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in Interaction Design of Welfare Technologies available at the Department of Informatics.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than October 1, 2025.

The fellowship period is three (3) years.

An extension of the appointment by up to twelve months may be considered, which will be devoted to career-enhancing compulsory work duties, e.g. teaching or supervision. This will be dependent on the qualifications of the applicant and the specific teaching needs of the department.

Job description

The PhD research will be part of the ongoing efforts of the DESIGN group and will contribute to advancing the group’s agenda of improving everyday life through digital technologies. The group has a long-standing tradition of employing Participatory Design (PD), root-ed in the Scandinavian and democratic tradition, which emphasizes end-user participation in decision-making processes for design and development: individuals affected by technology can influence both the process and the outcome. A critical perspective on the role of technology within public service offerings characterizes the group’s research. It utilizes a qualitative approach, consistently including end-users in all design phases, even during the development of fully functional prototypes. More information about the group can be found here.

A key research goal for the candidate will be to contribute to digitalization efforts within public services. This involves highlighting challenges and opportunities for actively involving end-users in the design, development, and deployment of welfare technology to enhance well-being and promote independent living.

The candidate is expected to address both research and design through a PD process. They should contribute by (1) developing strategies for successfully incorporating end-user perspectives in the design and development of welfare technology, and (2) demonstrating improvements and alternatives to current welfare technology services through developing functional physical design examples. Additionally, the candidate should effectively participate in the ongoing design and development of functional and independent physical prototypes. These prototypes should utilize emerging technologies such as generative AI services and physical computing with microcontrollers. As such, the position requires a clear technical profile where the candidate can document experience with software and/or hard-ware development of functional prototypes beyond sketches and conceptual prototypes.

The candidate's key research contributions may be theoretical or methodological, based on their research interests. However, they are also expected to include a practical component through self-developed design results.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in HCI, Interaction Design, Informatics, Computer Science or a related field relevant to the position.
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written English communication skills
• Documented experience with design processes involving the development of functional prototypes.

Candidates without a master’s degree have until 30 June 2025 to complete the final exam.

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with inclusive design processes, e.g., Participatory Design
• Experience working with physical prototyping involving microelectronic components
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in a Scandinavian language

Grade requirements:

• the average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• the average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• the Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system

Language requirements:

• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/EEA/EFTA countries and exemptions from the requirements

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see here.

Personal skills

• Highly self-motivated and good organizational skills
• Social skills such as being able to collaborate with a diverse and international team

We offer

• Salary NOK 536 200 – 575 400 per year depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017). 
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Career development programmes.
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

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

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• Short research proposal (3 pages max, excluding references), making it clear how the applicant interprets and plans to address the announced area of research
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, transcripts of records
• Documentation of English proficiency
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
• If available: Letters of recommendation

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 original transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Foreign applicants should attach an official explanation of their University's grading system.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “Apply for this job”). 

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 can't, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

UiO/ Anders Lien

Contact persons

For further information please contact Associate Professor Suhas Govind Joshi, phone: +47 95 75 90 61 or +47 22 85 24 16, e-mail: joshi@uio.no. 

For questions regarding the recruitment system Jobbnorge, please contact HR Adviser Therese Ringvold, e-mail: therese.ringvold@mn.uio.no

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