Doctoral Research Fellowship - Bodies in Translation: Science, Knowledge and Sustainability in Cultural Translation

Job description

A Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) in cultural history and cultural translation is available at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo.

Natural history and ethnography in early modern descriptions of the «New World».

The person appointed will form a part of the research project “Bodies in Translation: Science, Knowledge and Sustainability in Cultural Translation”, funded by the RCN. In this project, we investigate various cultural and epistemic translation practices where the sustainable health and the human body serve as a boundary object between natural and cultural inquiry. By experimenting with different models of translation, we hope to devise new approaches to the problem of commensurability between cultures and epistemic orders. We aim to reach this objective by analyzing a sample of early modern and cross-cultural cases designed to explore the historiography and translatability of the nature-culture distinction. Our cases thus revolve around cutting-edge issues in the history of knowledge, cultural history, cross-cultural studies and translations studies. The person appointed will work closely with the PI John Ødemark on WP 1. This explores the history and historiography of the nature-culture distinction, and the notion that the divide between nature and culture, humanities and natural sciences originated in early modernity, and assist the PI in WP 2.1, which relates the early modern part of the project to contemporary cultural theory.

The person appointed will be affiliated with 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 or network 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 cultural history, intellectual history or the history of science or other relevant fields. 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
• 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, 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, please follow the link “Apply for this job”.

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 John Ødemark

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

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