RITMO Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion

Job description

A Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships (SKO 1352) in Rhythm and Musical Form 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 the performance history of Western art music. A main objective is to study relationships between musical detail (i.e., rhythm, timing, articulation in performance) and the experience of large-scale form in musical recordings of orchestral works from the Western art music tradition (late classicism, late romanticism, modernism). The research will ideally draw on perspectives from hermeneutics, phenomenology and the philosophy of time and consciousness. Performance analysis and score-based analysis may be combined with aesthetic reflection and/or computational techniques. Comparative studies of different performances/recordings of the same piece of music are encouraged. All applications must include a research outline. The postdoctoral fellow will have a main affiliation with the Structure and time cluster at RITMO.

The appointment is for a period of three years, starting 1 September 2021. 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 theory, music philosophy, or other relevant field. The applicant is required to document that the degree corresponds to the profile for the post.
• Academic expertise in Western art music
• Experience with music analysis of both scores and performances
• Experience with working across disciplines is an advantage
• Excellent skills in written and oral English
• Knowledge/understanding of German sources and language is an advantage
• 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. No one can be appointed for more than one postdoctoral period at the University of Oslo.

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 NOK 526 000 – 608 200 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• 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 (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.

Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian Language.

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

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

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.

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

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