UiT The Arctic University of Norway

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus research university and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.

Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.

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 has a postdoctoral research position in games and critical futures studies available at The Norwegian College of Fisheries Science (NCFS), Faculty of Biosciences, Fisheries and Economics (BFE) within the CRAFT-Lab: Knowledge Integration and Blue Futures. The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer. The position is a fixed term position for a duration of three years. Appointment to the position of Postdoctoral Research Fellow is mainly intended to provide qualification for work in top academic positions. It is a prerequisite that the applicant can carry out the project over the full course of the employment period. No person may hold more than one fixed term position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the same institution. 

The project/position's field of research

These are the main tasks connected to this position:

1. Transdisciplinary development and use of methodologies for transmedia embodiment of critical narratives through which future humanoceans/waters relations can be represented. Such embodiments can be in the form of games (analog or digital), literature (short stories, graphic novels, choose your adventure stories, poetry etc.), video/movies, and/or photographs. The design of the imaginary worlds that will be embodied through these media involves working with researchers coming from various disciplines (biology, economics, law, political sciences etc.) and with various stakeholders (fishers, authorities, young adults). Critical theories (eco criticism, feminism, post-colonialism etc.) will be used throughout the design, development, and implementation process.

2. Interdisciplinary development and use of games-informed methodologies for critical futures studies participatory events that are focused on fisheries and aquaculture, natural resource management, and/or human-oceans/water relations.

3. Analysis of socio-technical imaginaries of the future of fisheries and aquaculture, natural resource management, and/or human-oceans/water relations as found in cultural expressions (e.g. games).

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• PhD degree in futures studies, games studies, literature, critical studies, migration studies, gender studies, decolonialism, ecocriticism, media studies, social science, economics, international relations, peace and conflict transformation/resolution, or similar.
• Experience with creative arts (writing, photography, or drawing/painting) with a focus on anticipation / imaginative and futuristic concepts.
• You must be fluent in English language.
• We are looking for candidates who participate actively in the activities of the research group (including connection with on-going projects and grant proposal writing) and are willing to get involved in the ongoing development of their department and the university as a whole.

In addition, it is considered an advantage to have

• knowledge of environmental issues
• knowledge of fisheries and aquaculture, human-water relations, marine / maritime issues or coastal issues
• knowledge of gender studies
• knowledge of decolonialism
• knowledge of migration studies
• knowledge of ecocriticism
• knowledge of critical theory of Artificial Intelligence
• experience with game design
• experience with transmedia worldbuilding (games, literature, movies etc.)
• knowledge of futures studies techniques (foresight, scenario building etc.)
• knowledge of and experience with of (critical) discourse analysis
• experience with inter/transdisciplinary research
• knowledge of Norwegian language (or a Scandinavian language)

In the assessment the main emphasis will be attached to the submitted works and the project proposal for the qualifying work. Emphasis shall also be attached to experience from popularization/dissemination and academic policy and administrative activity in addition to the candidate’s motivation, potential for research, and personal suitability for the position.

At UiT we put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).

Application

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position. 

Your application must include:

• Application letter.
• Project proposal (max five pages) — describe how you scientifically can contribute to the project, including a progress plan.
• CV, diplomas and transcripts (all degrees).
• Documentation of required and desirable language proficiency Se how. Nordic applicants can document their capabilities by attaching their high school diploma.
• Contact information to 2-3 references.
• A list of your academic production.
• Description of your academic production, stating which works you consider most important.
• The academic works (published or not) you wish us to take into consideration in the assessment.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position. A trial lecture may also be held.

We offer

• flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
• pension scheme through the state pension fund

The remuneration for Postdoctoral research fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1352. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no. Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.

More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here.

General information

UiT The Arctic University i Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity is a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives. If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics. 

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

According to the Norwegian Freedom and 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. 

In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.

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