University of Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

The Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies (ILN) is one of seven departments at The Faculty of Humanities (HF). The department conducts research, teaching and dissemination in general linguistics, multilingualism, medieval studies (including Norse philology and Celtic), Nordic literature (including dissemination of literature and Ibsen-studies), Nordic language (including Norwegian as a second language), and rhetoric and verbal communication.

Job description

One position as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)/Researcher (position code 1109) in linguistics/Scandinavian linguistics is available at the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, University of Oslo. The position is part of the project «Variation and Change in the Scandinavian Verb Phrase» funded by the Research Council of Norway.

The Scandinavian languages have a long joint history, and they often show parallel historical developments. However, there are cases where they show divergence, and in interesting ways. Little is known about these diverging developments. The project Variation and Change in the Scandinavian Verb Phrase wants to remedy this by looking at all of the Scandinavian languages from the end of the 17th century to the present. The general aim of the project is to contribute to the theoretical understanding of linguistic categories and how they can vary and change.

The project is organized into four subprojects, which investigate the properties of particles, double objects, resultatives, and reflexives in older and present-day varieties of Scandinavian, how they relate to each other, and to other aspects of the grammatical system. Methodologically, the project uses corpora for modern and older Scandinavian, but also experimental methods are used. Pilot studies have already been carried out in Norway, Sweden and the Faroe Islands, collecting data on word order variation (e.g. with respect to the placement of particles and reflexives). The project group includes researchers from several Nordic countries, USA and Canada.

More about the position

The Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship is available for a period of two years. The main purpose of postdoctoral research fellowships is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

We seek strongly motivated, competent and internationally oriented candidates, with high-ranking academic qualifications in the relevant areas of research.

The successful candidate is expected to strengthen the relevant research areas addressed in the project, participate in the various workshops, conferences and activities organized by the project. The candidate will furthermore become part of the research environment/network of the department and contribute to its development.

Qualification requirements

• PhD with a specialization in general or Scandinavian linguistics.
• A research project closely connected to «Variation and Change in the Scandinavian Verb Phrase»
• Candidates should have expertise in one or several of the areas: Scandinavian syntax, Syntactic microvariation, Prosodic analysis, Historical linguistics, Modelling language change or Experimental linguistics
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position

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

• The project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation
• The applicant’s background in relevant areas and ability to contribute to the project «Variation and Change in the Scandinavian Verb Phrase»
• The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to carry out the project within the allotted time frame
• Good co-operative skills, and the ability to successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines.

The doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation before the application deadline.

We are preferably looking for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352). However, if there are no qualified candidates for the position as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, a Researcher (position code 1109) may be employed for two years.

Communication skills in a Scandinavian language are preferable.

We offer

• salary NOK 497 000 – 576 100 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 grades listed (complete list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities)
• Project description, including a detailed progress plan for the project (3 - 5 pages, see Template for project descriptions)
• List of publications

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

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.

Short-listed candidates may be invited for an interview at the University of Oslo.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants even if the applicant opts out from the entry in the public application list.

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

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

Contact information

For questions about the position:

• Professor Ida Larsson (ida.larsson@iln.uio.no / 228 57919)
• Head of Department Piotr Gabacz (piotr.garbacz@iln.uio.no / +47-22857634 / 451 25 429 / 22 85 76 34)

For questions about the recruitment process: HR-Officer Tonje Olsen

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