Job description

A Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships (SKO 1352) in Microrhythm is available at RITMO Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion at the University of Oslo.

RITMO is a Centre of Excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway. This interdisciplinary centre focuses on rhythm as a structuring mechanism for the temporal dimensions of human life. Methods from musicology, psychology, neuroscience, and informatics are combined to study rhythm as a fundamental property that shapes and underpins human cognition, behaviour and cultural expressions.

All RITMO researchers are co-located and work in a unique interdisciplinary constellation, with world-leading competence in musicology, psychology and informatics. It is expected that all members of the centre contribute to the general activities and collaborations within RITMO. The researchers have access to state-of-the-art facilities in sound/video recording, motion capture, eye tracking, physiological measurements, various types of brain imaging (EEG, fMRI), and rapid prototyping and robotics laboratories.

More about the position

The postdoctoral fellow will do research into rhythm at the micro level of groove-based music. The research should address timing in relation to one or more of the following topics: acoustic features, tempo, and body motion.

The research will ideally draw on perspectives from one or more of the following traditions: musicology, music cognition, and phenomenology. All applications must include a research outline. The postdoctoral fellow will be affiliated with the Structure and time cluster at RITMO, as well as the TIME-project.

The appointment is for a period of three years, starting 1 February 2022. There might be a possibility to extend to four years depending on the qualifications of the recruited candidate, the departments’ needs for teaching, and the centre’s need for assistance.

The successful candidate is expected to be part of the research environment of RITMO and contribute to strengthening the links between different research areas within the centre. The main purpose of postdoctoral research fellowships is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualification requirements

• A PhD degree or equivalent in musicology, music cognition, or another relevant field. The applicant is required to document that the degree corresponds to the profile for the post.
• A formal and/or practical background in music
• Knowledge of music perception and cognition
• Expertise in groove-based music
• Experience with developing experimental designs and statistical analysis is an advantage
• Excellent skills in written and oral English
• The candidate’s proposed research project must be closely connected to RITMO’s research profile
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position

The doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation before the application deadline, and have been approved by the time of appointment.

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on:

• The applicant’s scientific merit, innovation, and research-related relevance to the objectives of RITMO
• The quality of the research outline
• The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to carry out his/her research within an allotted time frame and contribute to the research objectives of RITMO
• Excellent collaboration skills and the ability to successfully join in academic teamwork within and across disciplines

We offer

• Salary level 534 400-615 800 NOK per annum, depending on qualifications
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Attractive welfare benefits

How to apply

Applications must include:

• Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (complete list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications with links to the full version of published papers)
• Research outline, including relevant research questions and theoretical and methodological approaches (approximately 2-3 pages, see the template for research outline)
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Diplomas, certificates, doctoral thesis and other academic works will be requested later.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, jobbnorge.no.

Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian Language and preferably in pdf format.

The short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview.

Formal regulations

See also guidelines and regulations concerning Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships.

No one can be appointed for more than one postdoctoral period at the University of Oslo.

Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, 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 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.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

• Head of Administration Anne Cathrine Wesnes, phone number: +47 22 85 44 89, e-mail: a.c.wesnes@imv.uio.no
• HR Adviser Hilde Kristine Sletner, e-mail: h.k.sletner@hf.uio.no

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