Job description

There is a vacant position at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography for a Postdoctoral Fellow (SKO 1352) in sociology. The position is for a period of three years without compulsory work or four years with compulsory work (primarily teaching duties).

More about the position

The position is funded by the Research Council of Norway and is dedicated to the newly established research project Falling fertility and rising social inequalities (FERTILITY).

The project focus on the underlying mechanisms behind the falling fertility trend and the rising fertility inequalities in the younger generations. We will investigate how labor market changes and economic (in-)security are associated with fertility and we ask questions such as: how perceived economic uncertainty and concerns about the future influence peoples decisions about fertility and which factors in the labor market are a threat to fertility and which are becoming a prerequisite for high fertility. We will also assess how unequal fertility patterns emerge in the interplay between new gender roles and social groups. The project will make use of both international comparative survey data and administrative register data and will draw upon advanced statistical methods from social sciences and life course analysis. The fellow will especially work on questions about the effects of people’s labor market situation on their fertility using administrative register data.

At the Department of Sociology and Human Geography, the project is part of the research group in Social Inequalities and Population Dynamics. The Fellow will work closely with the principal investigator Professor Trude Lappegård, other members of the project staff, the project’s national and international collaborators, as well as other members of the SIPD group.

Qualification requirements and personal skills

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in sociology, demography or related field. The doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing application date. Appointment is dependent on the approval of the defense of the doctoral thesis. The doctoral degree must have been completed during the last five years. Additional time may be allowed for leave relating to childbirth or adoption.
• Applicants must have the capacity for independent academic research at a high level, preferably documented through publications in international journals.
• Applicants must have documented knowledge about the literature on fertility and family formation
• Applicants must have documented knowledge working with large panel data sets, preferably Scandinavian register data
• Applicants must have potential for future academic performance in the mentioned fields and technical skills.
• Applicants must have excellent written and oral proficiency in English.

We offer

• Salary NOK 526 000 - 608 200 per annum depending on qualifications
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• 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 must include

• Application letter. Please describe your motivation for applying for this position and explain how your background, research and experience is relevant to the research project.
• CV summarizing education, positions, research experience, and other activities.
• A complete list of publications
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• Up to five academic works that the applicant wishes to have considered in the assessment process (a doctoral dissertation or a monograph will count as three publications). The applicant must indicate which of these works that best shows their academic skills and potential.
• A list of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents must be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing applications, particular emphasis will be placed upon the academic and personal capacity of the candidate to contribute to the project within the given timeframe, to interact within national and international networks, and to be part of a dynamic research group. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

The final hiring decision is the responsibility of the Department Board. The length of the employment period will be based on the Department’s budget situation and teaching needs as well as an evaluation of the overall qualifications of the successful candidate.

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 of 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

• Professor Trude Lappegård (principal investigator)
• Head of Administration, Inger-Lise Schwab

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