About the position

The Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX) is recruiting a PhD Research Fellow (SKO 1017) with specialisation in political science, sociology, social anthropology, or a related field. The successful applicant will be part of the doctoral network Coping with Varieties of Radicalisation into Terrorism and Extremism (VORTEX), which is funded by the EU Horizon Europe’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The appointment is for a fixed period of 3 years with no teaching obligations, starting August 2023.

VORTEX represents an innovative and integrative doctoral network of practitioners and academics for training of doctoral candidates in radicalisation studies. It brings together eight universities and research institutes who will employ ten doctoral candidates, as well as 14 associated partners (law enforcement, judiciary agencies, providers of welfare services, state security, civil society organisations, and research institutes). The project’s overarching aim is to develop new evidence-based innovative strategies to counter and prevent ideological and behavioural radicalisation. VORTEX will provide an integrated and meaningful research programme not only but primarily for doctoral candidates to pursue their research in a fruitful and meaningful dialogue among relevant disciplines and in a dense web of supervision, training and interaction to jump start both successful and relevant careers. Practice-based research with the associated partners, connecting doctoral candidates to future job markets and audiences, will offer the opportunity to investigate radicalisations on several levels, ranging from local to global and from cognitive to behavioural. Read more here.

The topic of the PhD project must be on Deradicalisation, Disengagement and Reintegration: Approaches of security agencies, social service agencies and civil society. C-REX’ doctoral candidate will be expected to investigate policies, programmes and projects for promoting “deradicalisation”, “exit” or “rehabilitation” of (former) violent extremists and terrorists. Such activities have often suffered from simplistic understandings of the complex processes involved, unclear goals regarding what the desired outcomes should be, and contradictory methods to achieve them. The project will study different approaches to the reintegration of former extremists in the Nordic countries, as carried out by programmes run primarily by security-oriented services (Denmark), municipal agencies (Norway), and civil society organisations (Finland), with varying degrees of interagency collaboration. Primary data will be collected through field observations and interviews with practitioners and clients at these three programmes. By identifying strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to reintegrate former extremist, findings may inform and improve ongoing and future exit and reintegration programmes.

More about the position

The primary supervisor will be prof. Tore Bjørgo, Director of the Center for Research on extremism (C-REX), University of Oslo. The candidate is expected to live in Norway and take part in C-REX activities on a daily basis. There are also planned secondments:

2 months in first year: The Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, PRIF (co-supervisor: Julian Junk). Purpose: co-supervision, research design development, complementary research environment.

1 month each in second year: The Deaconess Foundation (Finland), Oslo Municipality (Norway), and the Danish Prison and Probation Service (Denmark). Purpose: Fieldwork with observation, interviews and other empirical research, on-the-job-training, presentation of research design and preliminary findings to practitioners.

Depending on the project proposal and the candidate’s educational background, the candidate will be enrolled in a disciplinary PhD programme at the University of Oslo.

Qualification requirements

Formal qualifications:

• Education equivalent to five years at university level in Norway, with two years (120 credits) at Master’s level in a relevant field. The MA thesis must be equivalent to at least half a year’s workload, i.e. 30 ECTS.
• The Master’s degree must include relevant education in research methods.

Other qualifications:

• English language skills (written and oral)
• Sufficient understanding of at least two of the three relevant Nordic languages (Norwegian, Danish and/or Finnish) to be able to conduct field observations and interviews

Eligibility

• The MSCA is set up to enhance researcher mobility, and the applicant cannot have had residence or main activity (work, studies) in Norway for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the recruitment date.
• The applicant cannot be in possession of a doctoral degree.

The evaluation of applicants is based on documented, academic qualifications and the research plan. Personal suitability and motivation is also considered. The most promising candidates are invited to an interview.

We offer

• Salary according to “SKO 1017 PhD fellow”, NOK 501,200 – 534,900 per year.
• Candidates who document a legal relationship (marriage or equivalent) or dependent children will receive an additional Family Allowance of approx. NOK 6,700 per month
• Personal research funds
• A stimulating and international research environment with multiple research groups and seminar series
• A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance
• Access to Norway’s excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave provisions and affordable and accessible childcare (including the university’s kindergartens)
• Norway’s capital with its rich cultural life and easy access to beautiful nature
• Financial and practical support for international staff moving to Norway (international staff may also benefit from tax cuts in their first years)

How to apply

The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “Apply for this job”. The online application must include the following items, which are to be submitted before the deadline (all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language):

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages), including a statement of motivation
• A research proposal (maximum 3,000 words including references). The proposal should clarify the research theme, main research questions, how the research contributes to existing literature and the project, theoretical approach, methodology, and a timeline. A final research plan must be developed in cooperation with the project leader within three months of the start date
• A CV summarising education, positions, research and pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities
• Copy of Master’s thesis
• Copies of transcripts: All applicants must submit their Master’s degree diploma and transcript(s), preferably together with a class distribution of grades. The transcript must specify the grade achieved for the Master’s thesis
• Official explanation of the grading and credit system at your university (foreign applicants)
• Names and contact details for 2-3 reference persons (name, relationship to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letters are not needed

The application deadline is January 31, 2023. The screening and evaluation of candidates will begin immediately. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer being made, to take 5-8 weeks, depending on the number of applications. The expected start date is August 2023.

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. 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

• Professor Tore Bjørgo, Director of Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX), University of OsloE-mail: Tore.bjorgo@c-rex.uio.no

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