Job description

The Department of Political Science is recruiting a PhD Research Fellow (SKO 1017) with specialisation in political science. The successful applicant will be part of the research program Oslo Nuclear Project, which is funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Defence. The person appointed may be given either a three year-appointment with no teaching requirement, or an appointment for a period of four years with a 25 per cent teaching requirement, depending on how the candidate’s competence fits in with the Department’s teaching portfolio.

More about the position

The PhD Fellow will be working on the project Strategic Stability in the High North: Geopolitics, Technology and NATO expansion.

This project explores the future of strategic stability in the High North in the coming decade. The current transformations in the security environment in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine has several implications for the high north region. Russian military developments and growing Chinese interest in Arctic trade routes increase their presence and prioritization of this region. Rapid and transformative changes in the geopolitical regional context following the war in Ukraine and NATO expansion redefine the strategic balance in the High North. Both sets of developments affect Norwegian and allied security and highlight existing vulnerabilities.

This project will explore the drivers and consequences of these developments for strategic stability in the High North across three themes: geopolitics, technology, and alliances. The project proposal must explicitly address each of these themes.

The successful candidate will be part of the Faculty’s PhD programme. The work is expected to lead to a PhD in political science.

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)
• A demonstrated interest in nuclear weapons and security studies is desirable
• An ability to apply novel methodological approaches to research on nuclear weapons is desirable

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

We offer

• Salary according to “SKO 1017 PhD fellow”, pay grade 54 - 59, NOK 532,200 – 575,400 per year
• Personal research funds (currently NOK 30,000 per year)
• 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)
• PhD Fellows may acquire pedagogical competency upon agreement

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. Career breaks, including parental leave, that are noted in the CV will be taken into consideration when evaluating applicants’ academic production.
• 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 1 July 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 1. October 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 Målfrid Braut-Hegghammer, Director of the Oslo Nuclear Project.
• Professor Bjørn Erik Rasch, Head of the Department of Political Science

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