Job description

Scholars with an interdisciplinary orientation are invited to apply for a position as Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Gender Research at the University of Oslo. The successful applicant will work on the European Research Council Consolidator grant project ‘Innocent Children or Security Threats? European Children Born of War (EuroWARCHILD)”. It is preferable with candidates with a background in social science studies with knowledge and experience with qualitative interview and text analyses. Scholars in law and /or humanities may also, however, be considered depending on the fit of the project description with the aims and methodologies of EuroWARCHILD project.

The appointment is for a fixed, non-tenured term of 4 years with 25% of the time set aside for required duties such as teaching and project management. This means that 75 % of the working time over four years is devoted to research.

EuroWARCHILD will be the first project to examine different groups of war children in the European context; namely across different conflicts, security settings and generations. The project will present findings, which have the potential to have direct impact on policy concerns in many European countries today. This project, therefore, aims to contribute to creating a better future for a new generation of war children in Europe by disseminating findings to scholarly and policy audiences alike. EuroWARCHLD aims to do so by asking one overarching question, namely how does a child born of war become a security concern, and what does it entail for the child who does? The primary objective is to provide a significant contribution to the development of both theoretical and empirical knowledge about children born of war: understanding and theorizing resistance to, and adoption of security discourses, surrounding these groups. The geographical and empirical focus is Europe because we have an opportunity to study different age groups of war children. The secondary objective of this research is to contribute to policy development and increase global attention, and policy responses, to children born of war, in Europe and beyond. To this end, the EuroWARCHILD project has three distinct objectives. First, to develop a theory of securitized child identities. Second, to document how conceptualizations of security frame mobilization for social, legal and political recognition for children born of war across European contexts and generations. Third, to analyze how children born of war narrate life histories along a security continuum and its impact on identity formation across European contexts and generations. Qualitative empirical data collection will include 3 groups of participants who will be approached for interviews: children fathered by German soldiers in Norway and Denmark during World War II, children fathered by Red Army soldiers with German mothers in Germany during and after WW II, children conceived through conflict-related sexual violence during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992 -1995.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will be part of the sub-study of children fathered by Red Army soldiers with German mothers in Germany during and after WW II. This entails gathering new interview data, as well as gathering and analyzing existing documents about this group of war children in Germany. Further, the Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to take part in theory development and inter-generational analyses in the overarching project with the rest of the project team. The Postdoctoral study can be framed in different ways, but must include the elements outlined in the study of children fathered by Red Army soldiers with German mothers in Germany during and after WW II, as a minimum.

The EuroWARCHILD is lead by Professor Inger Skjelsbæk and runs from 2021 to 2026.

In assessing the applications, emphasis will be placed on the quality of the research proposal, previous publications, method and theory skills. In addition, we will take into account any documented teaching skills. Further, it is also important that the candidate can prove good and quality assured administrative and communicative skills with policy and practice communities on national and international levels, as well as project management. The candidate must have excellent oral and written English and German language skills. Working knowledge of a Scandinavian language is also an advantage, but this is not a requirement.

More about the position

Postdoctoral fellows who are appointed for a period of four years are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency in the course of their fellowship period within the duty component of 25 %.

The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in social science, humanities or law.
• For applicants who have yet to receive their PhD degree, the Doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation before the application deadline, 24 May 2021. Such applicants must note the date of submission of their PhD in the cover letter. Appointment depends on successful defense of the doctoral thesis.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and German.

The following qualifications will also count in the assessment of the applicants:

• Personal suitability and ability to cooperate, as well as general motivation for the project
• Prior research experience on one or more of the topics covered in EuroWARCHILD
• Skills related to the design and implementation of interviews and text analyses
• Experience with ethical reviews or ethical evaluation
• Experience and engagement with general academic dissemination
• Documented project management experience, or similar
• Documented teaching experience and competence

We offer

• salary NOK 535 200 – 608 200 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• An academically stimulating working environment
• A friendly and inclusive workplace
• attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• A short cover letter (max 2 pages, that can include statement of motivation, research interests, and how the applicant will contribute to the project/Centre)
• A 2-4 page summary of your relevant information in this form
• A research proposal (maximum 4000 words including references). The proposal should clarify the main research questions, the theoretical approach, research design/methodology, how the research contributes to the existing literature, and how the research plan fits with the EuroWARCHILD project. It should also include a time-line and publication plan.
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• A complete list of publications (if not included in the CV)
• 2-4 numbers of academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

Depending on the number of applicants, we may use a sorting committee before sending the applications to the Expert Committee for a full academic evaluation and ranking of the best qualified applicants. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged. We aim for interviews in late June or mid August (subject to change).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description, and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow 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.

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

• Professor, Center for Gender Research (STK), Inger Skjelsbæk, inger.skjelsbak@stk.uio.no (or +47 93802492) Project leader
• Head of Office, Center for Gender Research (STK), Andrew Feltham, a.j.feltham@stk.uio.no (or +47 90520426)

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