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 of Education was established in 1938 and is one of three departments at The Faculty of Educational Sciences which also has two permanent centers.
The research is based on traditions from both the social and the human sciences, the department thus accommodates great breadth in topics and perspectives. The department employs approximately 90 people; 40 scientific staff, 30 doctoral and post-doctoral students, and 20 administrative/technical staff. The number of students is approximately 700.
About the position / About the job
Applicants are invited for a three- or four- year position as PhD Research Fellow in the field of professional/workplace learning to be based at the Department of Education, University of Oslo. We are seeking a candidate interested in examining the interplay of emerging epistemic technologies and work practices, what kind of challenges and implications these technologies have for human expertise, and how professionals learn to work with these technologies in constructive and trustworthy ways.
Emerging epistemic technologies such as algorithmic or AI-powered technologies have the capacity to take an active role in generating knowledge, performing analytical processes, and acting upon the knowledge generated by coordinating, delegating or persuading actions to be taken. These capacities bring new opportunities, but also serious challenges to knowledge work and expert communities. In addition to transforming the epistemological foundation for work, emerging technologies typically affect social relations and agency in the work community. How these challenges manifest, and with what implications, will need to be studied in specific professional and technological contexts.
Applicants are asked to suggest and outline a PhD project within this frame of interest, preferably oriented to advanced knowledge work in the public sector. Empirical designs may span settings in a work process or organisation or be delimited to specific instances of human-technology interaction, such as in situations of decision-making. Different data types and methodologies may be relevant; however, it is important that the design allows for analysing the way professionals work with emerging technologies and how this work evolves. While access to empirical sites naturally will need to be negotiated and detailed at a later stage, applicants are asked to formulate and justify relevant research questions, outline the theoretical-analytical framing and indicate a research design for the PhD project. Please see general guidelines for the project description here.
The appointed candidate will be part of the Faculty research group KITE, which conducts research on knowledge work, collaboration and learning with emerging technologies in higher education and work. The group has an extensive national and international network of researchers and user partners and participates in the AI-centre TRUST.
More about the position
The fellowship is a fulltime position with three years devoted to research education. A fourth year as a PhD Research Fellow may become relevant. In this case, the position will include 25 percent of other career-promoting work such as teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This will depend on the candidate's qualifications and the needs of the institute.
The research fellow must take part in the faculty’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.
The appointed candidate will be part of a dynamic and interdisciplinary research environment and is expected to contribute to joint activities and collaborate with senior and junior researchers.
Qualification requirements
Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the faculty´s PhD programme. This includes:
Applicants must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in educational science or a related area relevant for the research field, such as workplace studies, organization studies, profession studies, HCI or human-centred technology studies.
A master’s degree (120 ECTS) with a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS, with a minimum grade B.
A bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade C (ECTS grading scale)
For 5-year integrated programs leading to a Master level degree, the average grade must be C or better for the first three years, and B or better for the last two years (ECTS grading scale). The Master thesis must have been graded with a minimum grade B.
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
Good professional writing skills
Preferred skills:
Fluency or very good skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is an advantage and often needed to analyse data from work settings in Norway
Sufficient knowledge of, and a strong interest in contributing to research on knowledge work and learning in contexts of technological change.
Personal skills
Strong ability to collaborate in teams while also working independently.
Flexibility and willingness to engage across disciplines.
Well-organised and able to structure own work.
Good capabilities for research work
Personal suitability and motivation for the position will be emphasized in the assessment
We need different perspectives in our work
UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.
We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?
We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.
If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).
The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.
We hope you will apply for the position with us.
We offer
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.
Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 550 800 - to 594 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.
How to apply
Your application must include:
Cover letter, including statement of motivation and research interests
A project description, including progress plan (5-7 pages) Please see our guidelines
CV (summarizing education, positions, and academic work)
Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only). Foreign applicants must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system.
A complete list of publications and academic works
List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number)
Incomplete applications will not be assessed.
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.
When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the project description and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Short-listed applicants will be called in 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.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.
The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.
