Job description

A position as postdoctoral research fellow is available at The Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo. The Institute bases its work on a complex understanding of disease, health and health systems and considers health and well-being to be influenced by the culture and society we live in.

The position is for three years and will be embedded at the Department for Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. The appointment is a full-time position and is for a period of three years, 10% of which is devoted to compulsory work for the UiO strategic area UiO:Life Science.

More about the position

A postdoctoral research fellowship (SKO 1352) in the project “Medical, legal and lay understandings of physical evidence in rape cases (Evidently Rape)” is available at the Institute of Health and Society. The position will be embedded at the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences.

Evidently Rape is an interdisciplinary project run by Professor May-Len Skilbrei and involves researchers from the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo, as well as Norwegian and international partners. The overarching aim of the project is to offer a specialised analysis of what happens to medical evidence in cases of rape from the scene of the crime to court, and how such evidence is interpreted and communicated by medical, legal and lay actors throughout the process. For more information about the project, see here

The project is funded by UiO’s interdisciplinary strategic area UiO:Life Science as a convergence environment. Convergence environments are interdisciplinary research groups that will aim to solve grand challenges related to health and environment: www.uio.no/life-science. The 10 % mandatory work included in the position will be assigned by UiO:Life Science.

The advertised position is a postdoctoral position in medicine, social science or similar. The hired scholar will contribute to Evidently Rape with an empirical and analytical exploration of the role and understanding of medical evidence in cases of rape. Empirically the candidate will be expected to study how medical knowledge from the medical examination and forensic testing is translated into knowledge that can be understood and applied by actors in the criminal justice system. The empirical case is Norway, and entails that the postdoctoral scholar will analyse medical reports written by medical staff at the rape-reception centers and the forensic lab as well as perform qualitative interviews with the same group of professionals.

The postdoctoral research fellow will be expected to publish findings in at least three articles in high-impact English language journals, as well as contributing to joint publications. The scholar hired will also be expected to participate actively in disseminating findings from the project to the general public and relevant stake-holders in Norway and to be an active and independent participant in the convergence environment.

The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in medicine, social scineces or similar. To be eligible, the applicant must have submitted his/her doctoral dissertation for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and a Scandinavian language.

Personal skills

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled researcher with a background that qualifies her or him for performing complex and ambitious empirical and theoretical work. The successful candidate should be experienced with qualitative methodologies and preferably familiar with perspectives on the social construction of knowledge. The purpose of the postdoctoral research fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in top academic positions within their disciplines, while contributing to the goals of Evidently Rape.

Applicants are requested to write a maximum five page long project description including information on how they aim to pursue their part of the project, which must fit within the framework of Evidently rape (link). Please refer to a short description of the preliminary plan for the Postdoctoral project here. The plan for the postdoctoral project will be finalised by the candidate and the project leader after start-up.

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the quality of the project description and how it contributes to the research plan of Evidently Rape, and on the demonstrated academic and personal ability on the part of the candidates to complete the project within the given time frame. The ideal candidate is able to work effectively as part of a team. Prior experience within empirical work on the social construction of knowledge is an advantage.

The short-listed candidates will be invited to an interview at the University of Oslo or we will arrange for an interview on Skype.

An excellent command of written and spoken English is required as publications will be expected to be in English. Further, the candidate must be able to understand written and spoken Norwegian well as the relevant material is only available in Norwegian.

We offer

• salary NOK 523.200 – 605.500 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• an academically stimulating and interdisciplinary working environment
• an innovative and unique postdoctoral-programme https://www.med.uio.no/english/research/postdoctoral-programme/
• attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, with all documents as PDF-files and must include:

• Cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• A five page research plan, including a description of the aims, methodologies and theoretical ambitions, as well as a list of planned publications. The proposal must clearly demonstrate how the research will contribute towards the goals of Evidently Rape.
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities)
• Copies of educational certificates and diplomas. Diplomas issued in other languages than Scandinavian or English must be provided in the original language as well as in an English translation. Applicants with grades from outside Norway must attach an explanation of their university grading system.
• Names and contact details of two-three references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)
• A complete list of publications
• Up to five examples of academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee. In the case of work written by more than author, a statement by the co-author(s) must be enclosed explaining the extent of the contributions by the various people involved.
• Please note that both the application and the project outline must be in English.

Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

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 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.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

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

Contact information

Questions regarding the project and the position:

• Professor Kari Nyheim Solbrække, Telephone: +47 90016689 k.n.solbrakke@medisin.uio.no
• Professor May-Len Skilbrei, Telephone: +47 95122315 m.l.skilbrei@jus.uio.no
• HR-adviser: Susan Rockwell, (questions regarding the application) Telephone: +47 22850507 susan.rockwell@medisin.uio.no

Apply for position