Job description

A Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) Asia area studies is available at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo. The fellowship is part of the project ‘Strongmen of Asia: Democratic Bosses and how to understand them’ – funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

In the Strongmen of Asia project we closely investigate a set of more or less democratically elected strongmen – including presently ruling, fledgling, or former strongmen. The aim is to compare and understand a political style increasingly dominant in South and Southeast Asian electoral democracies. This strongmen style will be explored through a number of methodologies, including fieldwork, online ethnography and media analysis of original language sources. The style will be explored through cross-cutting themes, including media dynamics (new media, fake news, social media, conspiracy theories), ideas of popular sovereignty (e.g. religious authority, nationalism, identity politics) or sense of crisis (alienation, resentment, or threat – e.g. from abroad). For more on the project, see here.

To apply you must submit a project proposal that focuses on one or a small number of strongmen from South and Southeast Asia.You should outline material, access to the sources, and methodological choices, and also identify the cross-cutting theme you see yourself contributing to.

As a fellow you will be affiliated with the Faculty’s organised research training. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty with a view to obtaining the degree of PhD. You will be expected to join the existing research milieu and contribute to its development. Read more about the doctoral degree.

The appointment is for a duration of 3 years. All PhD Candidates who submit their doctoral dissertation for assessment with a written recommendation from their supervisor within 3 years or 3 ½ years after the start of their PhD position, will be offered, respectively, a 12 or 6 month Completion Grant.

Qualification requirements

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in any relevant discipline (anthropology, political science, religious study, history, area studies, or other). The Master’s degree must have been obtained and the final evaluation must be available by the application deadline.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English, see Language requirements.
• Competency in the language relevant to the chosen topic.
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Oslo, applicants must, as a minimum, have completed a five-year graduation course (Master’s degree or equivalent) that includes a Master’s dissertation of at least 30 ECTS. In special cases, the Faculty may grant admission on the basis of a one-year Master’s course following an assessment of the study programme’s scope and quality.

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on:

• The project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation
• The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to complete the project within the time frame
• The applicant’s ability to complete research training
• Good collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic communities

We offer

• Salary NOK 491 200 – 534 400 per annum depending on qualifications
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Attractive welfare benefits

How to apply

The application must include:

• Application letter describing your qualifications and motivation for the fellowship
• Curriculum Vitae (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications)
• Transcript of records of your Bachelor’s and Master's degrees. Applicants with education from a foreign university must attach an explanation of their university's grading system
• Documentation of Language requirements (if applicable)
• A project description including a progress plan (approx. 5 pages, maximum 14,000 characters. See Template for project descriptions)

Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Educational certificates, master theses and the like are not to be submitted with the application, but applicants may be asked to submit such information or works later.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, jobbnorge.no.

Short-listed candidates will be invited 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 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 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. We also want to have employees with diverse expertise, combinations of subjects, life experience and perspectives. We will make adjustments for employees who require this.

If there are qualified applicants with special needs, gaps in their CVs or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant in each of these groups to an interview.

Contact information

For questions about the position: Professor Arild Engelsen Ruud

For questions on how to apply: HR-Officer Steffen Remvik

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