The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.
The Department of Sociology and Human Geography is Norway's leading department for both Sociology and Human Geography. The Department offers four Bachelor's and three Master's programmes. Research, teaching and dissemination activities within both fields are of the highest level. The Department is renowned both for the breadth of topics and methodologies employed and for its highly qualified researchers. Gender balance among the academic staff is an important distinguishing feature. The Department has 35 permanent academic staff, 35 doctoral and post doctoral research fellows and 13 administrative staff members. There are approximately 60 PhD. candidates and 1000 students enrolled in the Department.
About the position
We invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (SKO 1352) in sociology at the Departmentof Sociology and Human Geography, University of Oslo. The position is for a period of three years orfour years with 25 % compulsory work (primarily teaching).
The department is ranked as the premier academic research institute in sociology in Norway,conducting top international research while offering high quality education for students. Thedepartment is renowned both for the breadth of topics and methodologies employed and for itshighly qualified researchers.
More about the position
The postdoctoral research fellow will be part of the research project The Salmon Elite: Its politics, self-understanding, networks, and wealth (SALELITE), which is financed by the Research Council of Norway and headed by Katharina Sass (UiB) and Maren Toft (UiO). The fellow is expected to pursue independent research in collaboration with the project participants within the scope of the SALELITE-project.
The project aims to examine the politics, self-understanding, networks, and wealth of the Norwegian salmon elite; meaning the owners and top executives of the companies in the field of fish farming in Norway. The project builds on theoretical contributions from political economy, focusing on the role of business in policymaking, and on contributions from elite sociology, focusing on the wealth, networks, and political self-justifications of elites. The project is organized into three work packages. WP1 analyses the tax politics of the salmon elite based on publicly available qualitative data (such as documents published by salmon companies, media coverage, and party manifestos). WP2 focuses on the salmon elite’s self-understanding and self-justifications, based on qualitative interviews with entrepreneurs, heirs, and top executives of the salmon industry. WP3 examines the economic power, kinship structures, and social networks within the salmon elite, based on data from the Brønnøysund Register Centre and on party financing. The successful candidate is expected to develop a research agenda and contribute to the project’s WP3.
We seek candidates with the potential to contribute to the development of sociology as a discipline at the department. The fellow is expected to pursue independent research, as outlined in their submitted project proposals. We value the contribution of young scholars to the academic environment and study programmes in the department and encourage candidates with a desire to participate actively in departmental life to apply.
Applicants who are hired with teaching duties who have little or no prior pedagogical competence will be encouraged to acquire basic formal teaching competence by participating in pedagogical training provided by UiO.
Residence in Norway is expected, but postdoctoral fellows are also encouraged to spend time abroad during the fellowship period if feasible.
Qualification requirements and assessment criteria
Applicants will be assessed on the quality of the project proposal, the quality of the PhD dissertation and publications, the applicant’s personal prerequisites and motivation to carry out the project and teach at the department. The hiring process will include an interview.
Required Qualifications
Ph.D. in sociology or equivalent. The doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation by the closing application date. Appointment is dependent on the dissertation and public defense of the doctoral dissertation being approved. Only candidates who received their PhD within the last five years will be considered; family leave etc, should be accounted for in the CV.
Proficiency in spoken and written English and/or Norwegian or a Scandinavian language.
Applicants should have experience with social network analysis and demonstrate knowledge of the Norwegian economy, and preferably also of the fish-farming industry.
How to apply
Applicants must submit:
Application letter (max 2 pages). Please describe your motivation for applying for this position and explain how your background, research, and experience is relevant to the project. Applicants are expected to demonstrate through their application letter and project proposal how they will contribute to the development of sociology at the department. Applicants from other disciplinary backgrounds must demonstrate in their application letter that their educational background, scientific production and project proposal fall within the scope of sociology.
A tentative project proposal (5-10 pages), clearly situated in the SALELITE-project’s WP 3. The proposal must include the topic, relevant theory and methods and timeline. The proposal must include a paragraph declaring if and how AI was used in the development of the proposal. Applicants are expected to be able to complete the project during the appointment period.
CV summarizing education, positions, research experience, and other qualifying activities.
A complete list of publications.
Copies of educational certificates (MA, Ph.D. diplomas, academic transcripts). Applicants submitting transcripts from institutions outside the ECTS grading system are advised to include an explanation of their university's grading system. This may be uploaded as an “Attachment.”
Copies of up to three academic works to date. This can include unpublished manuscripts. If a paper/article is co-authored, you must additionally submit a declaration of co-authorship specifying your individual contribution. A doctoral dissertation or monograph counts as three papers/publications.
Names and contact information for 2-3 reference persons (name, relationship to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letters are not needed.
Applicants who have completed their education outside of the EU/EEA-area and who do not have English as a native language, must document English language skills:
TOEFL – with a minimum result of 550 on the Paper-based Test (PBT), or 80 on the Internet-Based Test (iBT) OR
IELTS – International English Language Testing Service, with the result 6.0.
The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
The final hiring decision is the responsibility of the department’s board and will be based on an evaluation of the overall qualifications of the shortlisted candidates as well as the department’s needs.
We offer
A central role in an NFR-funded project with high scientific ambition.
Salary for the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 595 000–672 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities.
A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance.
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.
General information
Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.
No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.
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.
The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.
The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.
Contact persons:
Questions regarding the content of the project and the project proposal should be directed to Maren Toft. Other enquiries should be directed to Head of Administration Inger-Lise Schwab.
