Stilling:
PhD Candidate in Law at the Faculty of Law
Deadline: September 15, 2018
UiT The Arctic University of Norway, The Faculty of Law has a PhD position vacant for applicants who wish to obtain the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD).
The PhD position is for a fixed term, with the objective of completion of research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to a PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position. The PhD Candidate shall participate in the faculty’s organized research training, and the PhD project shall be completed during the period of employment. Information about the application process for admission to the PhD programme, application form and regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) are available at the following address: www.uit.no
The appointment is for a period of 4 years.
Further information about the position is available by contacting, Associate Professor, Jussi Erik Pedersen, phone + 47 77 64 41 10, e-mail: Jussi.e.pedersen@uit.no.
The position’s affiliation
The position is affiliated to the Faculty of Law, which has about 850 law students, 25 PhD students, 35 members of the academic staff and 20 members of the administrative staff. The Faculty may award the degrees of Master and PhD in Law as well as the degree of Master of Laws (LL.M.) in the Law of the Sea.
More information about the Faculty is available: here
The position’s field of research
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is massively extending its efforts in education and research in the field of health technology. This strategic initiative builds on a long track record of collaboration between the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the University Hospital of North Norway. Within this initiative, the interdisciplinary project Data-Driven Health Technology, Knowledge from data for the best quality of life, and the law of new health technology is strategically funded in order to support the Strategic Plan for UiT The Arctic University of Norway towards 2020 - Developing the High North.
The PhD position is part of an interdisciplinary research project developed in collaboration by the Faculty of Science and technology, the faculty of Health Sciences and the faculty of Law. The objective is to research the next generation technology and law for data-driven health. The key challenge is to be able to extract actionable hidden knowledge from complex and heterogeneous health data sources, requiring development of novel machine learning algorithms as well as the handling of new ethical and legal issues.
The use of health technology machine learning algorithms raises fundamental legal questions with regards to machine learning algorithms in general - protection of personal data and questions related to consent, purpose limitation, conflict with the traditional principle of data minimization, etc. New EU regulations entered into force t in 2018, ref. Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data (General Data Protection Regulation). Machine learning tools in (legal) decision-making processes raise fundamentally different questions than the use of traditional computer assisted/programmed tools. For instance, in order to prevent unjust treatment of individuals because of membership to a particular group (discrimination), the Regulation requires access to information and a right to explanation regarding decision making processes, requirements that are not met by current ML algorithms. For the Sami community, regulations preventing discrimination is of essential interest.
The use of the tools in the health data sector must apply in general to such requirements, but an additional challenge is posed by the difficulties in defining the scope of application of such principles.
Very little research has been carried out within this area. Due to the novel nature of the use of machine learning algorithms in decision-making processes in general and more specifically in health related decision-making processes, the applicant therefor has the freedom to define the scope of the project and to formulate its research questions. It is expected that the PhD candidate participates actively in interdisciplinary activities.
Qualification requirements
The successful applicant must fulfil the requirements for admission to the faculty’s PhD programme, cf. Regulation for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. In addition, he/she must be able to document proficiency in English equivalent to Norwegian Higher Education Entrance Qualification, see also PhD regulations at UiT. The applicant must understand Norwegian or commit himself/herself to participate in the Norwegian Language Courses held by the UiT at the outset of the employment.
Further, the applicant must have a five years Master’s degree in Law or cand. jur. with good grades. The Faculty may accept equivalent education in law from foreign universities.
The applicant must present a description of two to eight pages outlining the academic basis of the PhD project. It shall include a description of the theme, research question(s) and a reasoning of the choices. It shall also indicate the methodologies to be used. The applicant may be asked to supplement the description.
Emphasis is attached to personal suitability.
Working conditions
The normal period of employment is four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year, distributed as 25 % of each year, shall be used for teaching or other duties for the university cf. Guidelines for the research fellow’s duties.
A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the research fellow has already completed parts of his/her research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position (PhD Candidate, research assistant, or the like) in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.
Remuneration for the position of PhD Candidate is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017 (or code 1378) (or both codes depending on qualifications). A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.
Assessment
The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. During this assessment process, emphasis will be attached to the applicant’s potential for research as shown by:
- Grades
- Master’s thesis or equivalent
- Other academic works, and
- Project description
In addition, consideration may be given to work experience or other activities of significance for the implementation of the PhD studies, and to any teaching qualifications. This includes teaching education, teaching experience, experience from popularization and experience/education from other types of dissemination. Information and material to be considered during the assessment must be submitted by the stipulated deadline.
The applicants who are assessed as the best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview shall among other things aim to clarify the applicant’s personal suitability for the position.
Application
The application must be submitted electronically via the application form available on www.jobbnorge.no.
The application must include:
- Letter of application
- Proposal for project description
- CV (containing a complete overview of education, supervised professional training and professional work)
- Certified copies of:
- diploma and transcript from your Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
- diploma and transcript from your Master’s degree or equivalent
- diploma supplement for completed degrees
- documentation of English language proficiency
- project description
- List of works and description of these (see below). The list of works shall contain the following information:
- author(s), the work’s title
- for articles: the journal’s name and volume, the first and last page of the article, year of publication
- for publications: publisher, printer, year of publication, number of pages
- The works (published or unpublished) which the applicant wishes to be taken into consideration during the assessment process must be submitted
- List of references with contact information.
All photocopies of certificates, diplomas, transcript and reference letter must be stamped and certified by the photocopying or a public office.
All documentation that is to be evaluated must be certified and translated into English or a Scandinavian language.
Information and material to be considered during the assessment must be submitted by the stipulated deadline.
Questions concerning the organisation of the working environment, such as the physical state of the place of employment, health service, possibility for flexible working hours, part time, etc. as well as questions about the PhD programme may be directed to the telephone reference in this announcement.
UiT The Arctic University of Norway has HR policy objectives that emphasize diversity, and encourages all qualified applicants to apply regardless of their gender, functional ability and national or ethnic background.
UiT is an IW (Inclusive Workplace) enterprise, and will emphasize making the necessary adaptations to the working conditions for employees with reduced functional ability.
Personal data given in an application or CV will be processed in accordance with the Act relating to the processing of personal data (the Personal Data Act). In accordance with Section 25 subsection 2 of the Freedom of Information Act, the applicant may request not to be registered on the public list of applicants. However, the University may nevertheless decide that the name of the applicant will be made public. The applicant will receive advance notification in the event of such publication.
We look forward to receiving your application!