UiT The Arctic University of Norway

The Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE) consists of Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NFH) and School of Business and Economics. The main task of BFE is to conduct teaching and research dissemination at a high national and international level within all relevant fields. Prioritized research areas are aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, climate, life in the arctic, marine bioprospecting, fish health, seafood products, business and macroeconomics, resources and environment, markets and management of marine resources.

The interdisciplinary profile of the faculty provides good opportunity to develop research projects involving several research groups at the faculty according to its strategy.

Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics

The position

UiT The Arctic University of Norway, The Facuty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE) has a position available for a PhD in fisheries innovation and development. The position is affiliated with The Norwegian College of Fishery Science (NCFS) and the research groups BRIDGE and HARVEST. The successful applicant is expected to start the employment as soon as possible after the acceptance of the job offer, and within six months after receiving the offer of appointment.

Work place is in Tromsø.

The position is a fixed term position for a duration of 3 years.

The PhD position is for a fixed term, with the objective of completion of research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD program is a prerequisite for employment, and the program period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD Candidate shall participate in the faculty’s organized research training, and the PhD project shall be completed during the period of employment. Information about the application process for admission to the PhD program and regulations for the degree of Philosophae Doctor (PhD) are available at the following address Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics PhD web pages.

NCFS undertakes research and research-based teaching of high national and international quality in a multi- and interdisciplinary environment. Research activity is provisionally organized into groups focusing on social and cultural aspects of fisheries, living marine resources, seafood science, fish health, marine drug discovery, technology, resource management, and resource economics.

The research group BRIDGE carries out research within the following main areas: social and cultural aspects of fisheries, fisheries / living marine resources management; fisheries biology; marine ecology and oceanography; technology.

The research group HARVEST carries out research within the following main areas: selectivity and bycatch issues (with focus on Arctic fisheries); experimental designs (on board research and commercial vessels); developing new models and data-analyses (i.e. novelty in statistics); testing of modified and new designs of fishing gears.

The project/The position's field of research

This position is connected to the project AFO-JIGG: Service design thinking to improve welfare and product quality in the Norwegian small- scale fishing fleet (funded by the Norwegian Research Council, project number 302635).

The AFO-JIGG specific objectives are:

(1) Develop preliminary framework to evaluate different fishing operations in terms of their technological, human capacity, and economic potential for automation/(semi-)autonomy;

(2) Use service design thinking to explore the possibilities of redesigning fishing operations, gear, and vessels with increased automation/(semi-)autonomy as a working hypothesis;

(3) Assess the required changes in organization forms, business models, human capacity, and regulatory environment, and the acceptance by society of the benefits of modernized small-scale fisheries;

(4) Critically evaluate socio-economic and cultural implications of changes towards (semi) autonomous fishing to enable preparation for possible failures prior to implementation.

This position will look at the skills and competences of the present work force; skills and competences required in the future; the acceptance by fishers and society at large of the new technology; possible socio-economic and environmental implications; changes in practice, imaginaries and the framing of the new technology; as well as at future markets and business models. Automation/semi-autonomisation of certain tasks, including navigation and fish handling, may raise legal and ethical issues that must be taken into consideration at early stages of development. Assessment / simulation of impacts of increased automation/semi-autonomy on a variety of contexts is part of the study. The project involves activities in which the successful applicant is required to participate: fieldwork on fishing boat(s) and in fishing communities; organization of and participation in stakeholders’ events; science communication/education; project management.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact:

Associate Professor Melania Borit:

• Phone: +47 77 62 09 34
• E-mail: melania.borit@uit.no

or Head of office Tone Osnes:

• Phone: +47 77 64 60 23
• E-mail: tone.osnes@uit.no

We offer

• A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund

More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here: Welcome to UiT!

Qualifications

Master degree in marine or maritime related studies (fisheries management, natural resource management, ocean studies etc.), social sciences, science and technology studies, media- and documentation studies, law, futures studies, organizational/business management, labour or industrial or organizational psychology/sociology, or similar.

Emphasis will be attached to the applicant’s potential for research as shown by:

Master thesis or any other academic works, and research plan description.

Advantage:

• knowledge of fishing operations, business models, and/or markets
• knowledge of ethics of technological development
• knowledge of futures studies techniques
• knowledge of social science research methods
• knowledge of science and technology research methods
• knowledge of Norwegian fisheries
• knowledge of modelling, preferably Agent-Based Modelling
• experience with multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary research
• experience working with both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis
• knowledge of autonomous (marine) systems
• experience working with stakeholders
• experience with science communication/education or training activities

Documented knowledge of English as stated here is required, and working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language is desirable.

Emphasis will be put on the candidates potential for research, motivation and personal suitability for the position.

The position requires admission to the Faculty's PhD programme. Information about requirements is available here.

Application

The application must be submitted electronically via www.jobbnorge.no and shall include:

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV
• Diplomas, diploma supplements and transcripts (all degrees)
• Documentation on English proficiency. This website states how English profiency shall be documented.
• Written references
• Contact information to 1-3 references
• Master thesis, and any other academic works
• Project description

The documentation has to be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. UiT will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to Offentleglova information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.

Apply for position