Job description

Three Doctoral Research Fellowships (SKO 1017) in Asian Studies are available at the Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo.

The PhD candidates will take part in the ERC-funded project Whales of Power: Aquatic Mammals, Devotional Practices, and Environmental Change in Maritime East Asia, led by Aike P. Rots. Whales of Power is concerned with the comparative study of human-cetacean relations in maritime East Asia, as expressed in popular worship practices and beliefs. We will examine several of these traditions in different parts of the region, through a combination of historical and ethnographic research. Marine mammals and associated worship practices will serve as a prism, through which we approach human responses to socio-economic and environmental change in Asian coastal communities. The project has three important theoretical objectives: 1) apply recent theoretical developments associated with “environmental humanities” to the comparative study of popular religion; 2) reconsider the role of local worship traditions in the Asian Secular Age, examining the new meanings attributed to ritual practices; and 3) establish a new comparative paradigm in Asian studies.

Each of the three PhD candidates will be connected to one work package, supervised by the project leader. They will contribute to the main project through their respective case studies. The contents of these work packages are as follows. Prospective candidates should indicate clearly for which of the three positions they are applying.

1. Divine Dugong? Sacralisation and Environmental Activism in Okinawa

The first PhD candidate will focus on one species of marine mammal, the dugong, in Okinawa. S/he will examine claims that the dugong has traditionally been seen as a sacred animal, associated with creation myths and the Ryukyu royal institution. S/he will then analyse the current significance of the dugong as a critically endangered species, which has come to symbolise the preservation of Henoko Bay, an area with high biodiversity, where a large new military base is currently under construction. Through interviews and participant observation within activist communities in Okinawa, the PhD candidate will explore the different meanings attributed to the dugong today, and explore internal debates about the significance of Okinawan “heritage” and of “sacred” animals and places in contemporary struggles for environmental protection and self-determination.

2. Whale God on the Move: Forced Displacement and Diasporic Devotion

The second PhD candidate will focus on the Whale God (Cá Ông) tradition in Vietnam. In particular, s/he will examine what happens when a ritual tradition that is closely connected to a particular locale – the place where the whale deity is enshrined, on the coast, in the vicinity of a fishing village – is detached from that particular locale, and the deity and its worshippers are forced to move elsewhere. In addition, s/he will explore the transnational aspects of this tradition; i.e. the consequences of the ritual (and financial) involvement of overseas Vietnamese with local worship practices. The research consists of two parts: ethnographic field research in central Vietnam among displaced fishing communities, and interviews with overseas Vietnamese.

3. “In Harmony with Nature”: Whaling, Eco-Spirituality, and the Politics of Indigeneity

The third PhD candidate will study the significance of whales and whaling in international relations, national identity politics, and environmental activism. In particular, s/he will explore the ambivalent position of “indigenous peoples” and “indigenous knowledge” when it comes to whaling and whale worship, by analysing representations of whaling, whale worship, and nature spirituality among indigenous peoples in popular media texts, spiritual books and magazines, environmentalist discourse, and international diplomacy. The project consists mainly of an analysis of popular-scientific and religious discourse, complemented with semi-structured interviews, if possible among indigenous whaling communities, for instance in Indonesia or the Philippines.

Applicants should frame their project proposals within the overall framework of the Whales of Power project, and be familiar with the overall project’s contents and objectives. For more information about Whales of Power, and the different work packages, see the project website [add link]. If you have any questions, please contact the project leader, Aike Rots: a.p.rots@ikos.uio.no.

The successful candidates are expected to join the existing research milieu or network and contribute to its development. In addition to their respective work packages, they will take part in group activities such as the weekly “WhoP Lab” seminars, workshops, and excursions. They will also be affiliated with the Faculty’s organized research training. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty with a view to obtaining the degree of PhD. Read more about the doctoral degree.

The PhD candidates will start on 1 September 2019, or as soon as possible thereafter. The appointment is for a duration of 3 years. All PhD Candidates who submit their doctoral dissertation for assessment with a written recommendation from their supervisor within 3 years or 3 ½ years after the start of their PhD position, will be offered, respectively, a 12 or 6 month Completion Grant.

Qualification requirements

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in Asian area studies, religious studies, social anthropology, environmental humanities, indigenous studies, or a related discipline. The Master’s degree must have been obtained and the final evaluation must be available by the application deadline.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Excellent command of the relevant language(s) necessary for conducting the research (e.g. Japanese or Vietnamese).
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Oslo, applicants must, as a minimum, have completed a five-year graduation course (Master’s degree or equivalent), including a Master’s thesis of at least 30 ECTS. In special cases, the Faculty may grant admission on the basis of a one-year Master course following an assessment of the study programme’s scope and quality.

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on:

• The project’s academic merit, research-related relevance and innovation
• The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to complete the project within the time frame
• The applicant’s ability to complete research training
• Good collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic communities

Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.

We offer

• Salary NOK 449 400 – 505 800 per annum depending on qualifications
• 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 (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications)
• Transcript of records of your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Applicants with education from a foreign university must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system.
• Detailed project plan, in which you describe your theoretical approach to the work package, the challenges you expect, your previous experience with academic research (including ethnographic fieldwork), how you can contribute to the project Whales of Power as a whole, etc. (3-5 pages).
• One writing sample (chapter from MA thesis, journal article, or term paper).

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

Educational certificates, master theses and the like are not to be submitted with the application, but applicants may be asked to submit such information or works later.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”.

Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships 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 appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

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

Contact information

• Project leader Aike P. Rots
• HR-Officer Steffen Remvik

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