Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) at the Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History

Job description

A Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) in history is available at the Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo.

The position is associated with the Critical Historiography research group, whose members work on cross-chronological, problem-driven subjects with a strong emphasis on conceptual reflection.

More about the position

Applicants should propose a research project within the larger framework of the group’s focus project, “Good Work. The Value of Work in the long 20th Century”. “Good work” is a historical project, with a keen interdisciplinary interest, that enquires into the fundamental transformations global working conditions underwent since c. 1870, with a particular emphasis on perceptions and discourses in which these changes were reflected. It asks how large secular trends such as (de)industrialisation, tertiarisation, digitalisation, and globalisation affected working lives in Norway, Europe, and beyond, and how notions of value of, in, and through work changed in the process. The project thus endeavours to shed light on a key dimension of social and economic life in the twentieth century while also analysing the politically and culturally contentious issue of labour’s valuation. Its main aim is to provide critical interpretations of contemporary notions of “quality work” and explore its historically contingent meanings in different industrial and national contexts.

The project is broad and allows for different types of research, including case studies on individual industries, comparative perspectives between countries, analyses of transnational flows of ideas and information, and conceptual histories of key terms.

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 history, sociology, law, or other pertinent disciplines with a strong historical focus. 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, 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.

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

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

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

• Head of Department Jon Vidar Sigurdsson, e-mail: j.v.sigurdsson@hf.uio.no, phone number: +47 22841955
• HR Adviser Hilde Kristine Sletner, e-mail: h.k.sletner@hf.uio.no

Apply for position