Two Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in East Asian Religions
Deadline: 31.08.2026
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.
Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (abbreviated IKOS from its Norwegian name) is one of the seven departments at the Faculty of Humanities.
The Department has a broad competency in the study of religion and culture and in language based area studies of South Asia, East Asia and the Middle East and North Africa. IKOS also hosts the Oslo School of Environmental Humanities. The Department has several study programmes at both BA and MA levels. Among the Department's 110 employees about 40 are PhD and Postdoctoral Fellows.
Job description
Two Postdoctoral Research Fellowships (SKO 1352) are available at the Department of Culture, Religion, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (IKOS), University of Oslo.
These positions are part of the project “Maritime Goddesses: Transnational Connections, Blue Environments, and Ritual Care in East- and Southeast Asia” (MARGO), funded by the European Research Council (ERC). MARGO studies some of the most popular deities in the world and the ways in which people relate to them: Guanyin, Mazu, Benzaiten, and several other goddesses to whom people pray for protection and support. These goddesses are often associated with bodies of water (seas, oceans, rivers, and deltas). They can move, change shape, and transcend political and ontological boundaries. Although these goddesses are central to the ritual lives of billions of people, there has been little research on the ways in which people relate to them in everyday life.
MARGO offers a large-scale comparative, transnational, and multidisciplinary approach to goddess worship in Asia, focusing not on a single deity or tradition but comparing different practices across time and space. Its overarching questions are: 1) How have people in East and Southeast Asian places related to their goddesses in everyday life; 2) How do these goddesses relate to the larger maritime and riverine environments in which they are embedded; and 3) How have they travelled and changed in response to changes in their devotees’ lives and environments?
Two work packages
The postdoctoral research fellows will each be responsible for one of the MARGO work packages. Applicants should choose one of the two and indicate clearly which of the two they apply for. The positions are as follows:
Postdoc 1: “Maritime Mazu, Maritime Guanyin: Recentring their Histories” This work package focuses on the transnational history of two deities often associated with the sea, Guanyin (especially her two maritime incarnations, Fish Basket Guanyin and Guanyin of the South Sea) and Mazu. It investigates how these goddesses have moved across China, as well as maritime East and Southeast Asia more broadly, and how they have changed shape in the process. This is a historical work package, based primarily on archival and textual research. The focus should lie on popular devotional practices, investigating topics such as pilgrimage, miracle tales, or sisterhood alliances. In their research proposals, candidates should specify the main source materials, historical period, and geographical sites on which they will focus. They may choose between writing a monograph or several journal articles, depending on their preferences.
Postdoc 2: “The River, the Snake, and the Lute: The Changing Meanings of Benzaiten”
This work package focuses on the popular Japanese goddess Benzaiten, who is often associated with the Indian river goddess Sarasvatī. It investigates some of the transformations of Benzaiten in premodern or modern Japanese history. Possible topics of inquiry include Benzaiten’s association with animals, environmental disasters, the impact of shinbutsu bunri on Benzaiten worship, early modern or modern pilgrimage/tourism practices, and prosperity rituals. The project may consist of archival research, ethnographic fieldwork, or a combination of both. In their research proposals, candidates should specify the main source materials, historical period, and geographical sites on which they will focus. They may choose between writing a monograph or several journal articles, depending on their preferences.
Applicants are required to upload a research proposal (hf.uio.no) stating their research questions, theoretical and methodological approaches, main sources, and proposed publications, as well as a feasible progress plan.
More about the position
The positions are available for a period of 3 years. There is a 10 % component of each position that is devoted to teaching and administrative duties.
The successful candidate is expected to become part of the research environment of the department and contribute to its development. The purpose of a postdoctoral position is for the employee to develop a research profile and competence that qualifies them to apply for an Associate Professor position. The position may also provide other competencies relevant to the postdoctoral fellow's future career.
MARGO is a group project that involves regular team meetings, seminars, and other collaborative work, including co-editing a handbook. We are looking for candidates who are supportive and collegial, and who enjoy being part of a team. All MARGO members are expected to reside in the Oslo region for the duration of their appointment, except when conducting fieldwork.
Start date: 1 December 2026 or soon thereafter.
Qualification requirements
Mandatory requirements
PhD or equivalent academic qualifications with a specialization in Chinese studies, Japanese studies, religious studies, anthropology, history, or a related discipline
The candidate's application must be closely related to and contribute to the overall objectives of MARGO
Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
Excellent command of the Asian language(s) needed to read relevant source materials and/or to conduct fieldwork
Relevant research experience (textual, archival, and/or ethnographic) in East Asia
Personal suitability and motivation for the position
The doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation by the application deadline. Appointment is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.
Desired qualifications/competence
Experience with academic publishing
Experience with editorial and/or translation work
Organisational skills (e.g., experience with conference organisation)
Potential contribution to the overarching objectives of MARGO
Familiarity with relevant primary and secondary literature
Feasibility of the proposed research and dissemination plans
Suitability of the proposed methodological and theoretical approaches
Personal skills
Collaboration skills and willingness to work with others
Good communication and social skills
Creativity, flexibility, and collegiality
Good time management skills and the ability to work independently
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, 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).
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More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.
We hope you will apply for the position with us.
We offer
Salary in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK from 595 000 to 677 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.
Exciting opportunity to participate in and contribute to an innovative, state-of-the-art research project, at one of Scandinavia’s leading departments for East Asian studies, religious studies, and environmental humanities.
Application letter describing your qualifications and motivation for the position. Please mention in the subject line or first paragraph of the letter for which of the two postdoc positions you are applying.
Curriculum Vitae with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications.
Copies of diplomas and educational certificates (PhD and MA)
Two academic writing samples written by the candidate (max. 10,000 words each). These can be journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, or dissertation chapters, written within the last five years.
Do not submit other certificates, recommendation letters, and the like unless specifically requested. If further documentation is wanted for assessment, you will be asked to submit it later.
Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
The letter and proposal must be written by the candidate themselves. The use of AI-generated text is not allowed.
The application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge.
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.
