"Maritime Modernities: Formats of Oceanic Knowledge"

Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas

Job description

A Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) in history of ideas/history of knowledge is available at the Department of philosophy, classics, history of art and ideas, University of Oslo. The fellowship is part of the research project Maritime Modernities: Formats of Oceanic Knowledge, funded by the Research Council of Norway.

The project investigates the history of knowledge and environmental awareness in, around and beyond the Atlantic Ocean, from the expansion of human activities at sea in the seventeenth century to contemporary initiatives to aggregate knowledge about the oceans’ resources, ecology and impact on climate. In particular, the project explores how records, maps and models have inscribed, arranged and transported knowledge and awareness of the seas, and how these “formats of ocean knowledge” have shaped how the oceans have been used, perceived, appropriated and regulated.

The PhD fellow will join an international and interdisciplinary group of established scholars from different fields (history of science and technology, media theory, the history of knowledge and cartography, maritime and environmental history and environmental humanities) led by Ellen Krefting, professor of history of ideas. The project collaborates with partnering institutions such as The Map Centre at the National Library of Norway, which also holds material that is important for the project’s research design.

More about the position

To apply you must submit a research proposal that relates to the description and organizational structure of the Maritime Modernities-project. In assessing the applications, we will consider the alignment between the proposal and the aims, methods and material of the main project and its work packages. Please find instructions and template for the obligatory project proposal in the link under “How to apply”.

The person appointed will participate in the Faculty's organized 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. The successful candidate is expected to join the existing research milieu at the instituteand 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 history of ideas/intellectual history or other relevant disciplines (such as history/history of knowledge/history of science/cultural history/media history). 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 and material
• 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), including a Master’s thesis of at least 30 ECTS. In special cases, the Faculty may grant admission on the basis of a one-year Master 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

Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.

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 the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• 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)
• Project description, including a detailed progress plan for the project (3 - 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

See also regulations as well as guidelines for the application assessment process and appointments to research fellowships.

Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, demographic information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants even if the applicant opts out from the entry in the public application list.

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

• Professor and Project Leader Ellen Krefting, e-mail e.m.krefting@ifikk.uio.no
• HR Officer Anders Rykke, e-mail anders.rykke@hf.uio.no

Apply for position