LEDIG STILLING VED UNIVERSITETET I BERGEN

PhD position - Department of Social Anthropology

Deadline: 12.10.2022

University of Bergen

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.


There are seven departments at Faculty of Social Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments.

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PhD position

There is a vacancy for a PhD position at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Bergen, as part of the project «Automation shift in the maritime sector of the offshore oil and gas industry: assessing risk and safety, protecting labor» (ASMOG), which is funded by the Research Council of Norway (RCN, the MAROFF programme) and running from 2021 to 2025. The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years, with a possibility for an extra year with work duty for the Department (related to research, teaching and/or dissemination). A possible fourth year depends on the candidate’s qualifications vis-a-vis the Department’s needs. Application deadline is October 12, 2022.

About the project/work tasks:

«Automation shift in the maritime sector of the offshore oil and gas industry: assessing risk and safety, protecting labor» is a project that will examine the changing human relations with the ocean by focusing on current introductions of new technology, automation, and digitalization in the maritime sector. It asks how we can study, conceptualize, and operationalize ongoing automation from an anthropological perspective. The project will explore cases of automation with an emphasis on relational, spatial and socio-cultural dynamics of human-machine interaction; looking at initiatives by the industry, legislation, and responses by seafarers and society; as well as the changing roles and relations of seafarers, managers, and technicians. Through ethnographic studies on board on ships, on land during simulation trainings, in headquarters and control rooms, and in community settings in Norway and beyond, the project will examine changes of work relations, risk assessment, and ways of relating to the ocean through new technologies. The project aims to develop new anthropological understandings of automated technology and changing marine work relations through collaborative and experimental methods.

Applicants are requested to develop a research proposal, including descriptions of fieldwork and timeline, that addresses the issues outlined in the project’s overall research aims, available at: ASMOG: Automation Shift in the Maritime Sector of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry: Assessing Risk and Safety, Protecting Labor | ASMOG Collaborative Project | UiB

Qualifications and personal qualities:

  • The applicant must hold a Master's degree or the equivalent in social anthropology or related disciplines like human geography, qualitative sociology, science-and-technology studies or the like. The MA thesis must be submitted by the application deadline.
  • The Master’s degree must include ethnographic fieldwork.
  • The requirements are generally a grade B or better on the Master thesis and for the Master degree in total
  • As an applicant you should be able to work independently while also cooperating in a larger research group, have a considerable work capacity as well as an enthusiasm for research and communication of research results.
  • Fluency in English is required, while fluency in Norwegian or a Scandinavian language might be an advantage.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.

About the PhD position:

The duration of the PhD position is 3 years (with possibility for extension to 4 years with work duty to the Department (duties associated with research, teaching and dissemination of results). The employment period for the successful candidate may be reduced if he or she previously has been employed in a PhD position.

About the PhD training: As a PhD research fellow, you will take part in the PhD program at the Faculty of Social Sciences, UiB. The program corresponds to a period of three years and leads to the PhD degree. To be eligible for admission you must normally have an educational background corresponding to a master’s degree with a scope of 120 ECTS credits, which builds on a bachelor’s degree with a scope of 180 ECTS credits (normally 2 + 3 years), or an integrated master’s degree with a scope of 300 ECTS credits (5 years). Master’s degrees must normally include an independent work of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits. It is expected that the topic of the master’s degree is connected to the academic field to which you are seeking admission. Applicants whose education is in from another country than Norway, need to attach a certified translation of the diploma and transcript of grades to English or a Scandinavian language, if the original is not in any of these languages.

Project proposal: A project proposal of 3-5 pages must accompany the application. The proposal should present the topic, the research problem(s) and choice of theory and methods. These must align with the ASMOG project. The proposal should also include a progress plan for the different parts of the project. Admittance to the PhD program will be based on the research proposal. For more information.

We can offer:

  • Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment
  • Salary per year is NOK 501 200,- (Pay grade 54 upon appointment, code 1017, on the government salary scale). Further promotions are made according to length of service in the position
  • A good and professionally challenging working environment
  • Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
  • Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

  • A cover letter including a brief account of your research interests and motivation for applying for the position
  • A project proposal of 3-5 pages must accompany the application. The proposal should present the topic, the research problem(s) and choice of theory and methods. These must align with the ASMOG project. The proposal should also include a progress plan for the different parts of the project. Admittance to the PhD program will be based on the research proposal. Please read this information for the proposal
  • The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of them must be the main advisor for the master's thesis or equivalent thesis
  • CV
  • Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor's and master's degrees.
  • Relevant certificates/references
  • A list of academic publications (if applicable)
  • Academic publications that you want to submit for assessment (including your master’s thesis or equivalent)
  • If you have a master's degree from an institution outside of the Nordic countries, or a 2-year discipline- based master's degree (or the equivalent) in a subject area other than the one associated with the application, you may later in the application process be asked to submit an overview of the syllabus for the degree you have completed

General information:

Additional information about the position and the ASMOG project is obtainable by contacting Professor Cecilie Vindal Ødegaard, cecilie.odegaard@uib.no

Practical questions regarding the application procedures should be directed to Adviser – HR, Bodil Hægland, bodil.hagland@uib.no.

Appointed research fellows will be admitted to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Questions about the programme may be directed to Adviser-PhD: Hanne.Gravermoen@uib.no.

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

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