Job description

Position as PhD Research Fellow in Information Systems available at the HISP Center, 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, 2023.

The fellowship period is three (3) years. A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

More about the position

The effects of climate change touch every part of life on our planet, including human health. Global food security has suffered severely from climate events, with a wide body of research evidencing the effect of extreme weather events (including drought; floods; erratic rainfalls; dry spells) on local, country-level and international agricultural production. Urgent action is needed to protect at-risk communities and prevent negative health effects and food insecurity, which requires accurate and actionable data. Evidence shows that digital platforms are able to integrate large climate datasets, on whose basis it is possible to map climate-health relations that are of direct relevance to global health outcomes.

The objective of this PhD-project is to explore ways to make climate health data actionable through Information Systems (IS). Through a qualitative, field-based study of the National Agricultural Management Information Systems (NAMIS) based at the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Malawi, the project will explore the status of current data use practices in climate health, especially in relation to the integration of climate and food security data. On this basis, the project will research how the necessary climate data can best be integrated and visualised in order to support climate health action.

This position will be located in the Health Information Systems Programme (HISP) centre at University Oslo and its Information Systems (IS) group. The HISP centre is based on a global action research project considered as one of the University of Oslo's greatest international successes. HISP has developed and hosts the DHIS2 software - an IT system for collecting, validating, analysing and presenting data for health information management activities. The DHIS2 is the world's largest health management information system (HMIS) platform, in use by more than 80 low and middle-income countries. The HISP centre is a thriving research and innovation environment, with about 25 PhD candidates and 40 Master students, considered as a leading Information Systems (IS) and ICT for Development (ICT4D) research group on a world scale.

The project aims to:

• Consolidate and extend the existing body of empirical and theoretical knowledge on climate health data
• Contribute to theorising climate health data
• Conduct in-depth empirical research on climate health data, with a focus on data use/information use practices
• Explore ways to make climate health data actionable
• Disseminate existing and new knowledge to the research community (information systems, ICT for Development, etc.), practitioners, and policy makers.

The successful candidate could expect a future career in the health sector or academia. Our PhD alumni hold positions in academia globally as well as ministries of health and international organizations. The Department of Informatics, as well as the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, of which it is part, has a strategic ambition informed by its position as a leading international research faculty. Publication of research results in top discipline journals, and dissemination of research through conferencing and active participation in the IS academic community, as well as dedicated ICT4D symposia, is at the core of the Department’s work. We will select candidates for the fellowship in accordance with this.

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 this fellowship will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent in Information Systems or a discipline relevant for the position.
• Foreign completed degree (MSc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system.
• Applicants must have experience with qualitative research methods.
• Documented research experience related to information systems and/or ICT4D is a strong asset.
• Documented, multi-method experience on climate health data and/or food security is a strong asset.

Candidates without a Master’s degree have until 30 June, 2023 to complete the final exam.

Grade requirements:

The norm is as follows:

• 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
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see:

• http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/
• http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

We offer

• Salary NOK 501 200 – 544 400 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

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, transcripts of records and
• Three letters of recommendation
• 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)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “Apply for this job”). Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Applicants will be called in for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

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.

Contact information

For further information please contact: Silvia Masiero, phone: +47 94713041e-mail: silvima@ifi.uio.no

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

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