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Doctoral Research Fellowship in Entrainment and Pleasure

Deadline 15.03.2019

Job description

A Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) in Entrainment and Pleasure is available at RITMO Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion at the University of Oslo.

Universitetet i 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.


RITMO Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion

is financed through the Research Council of Norway’s Centre of Excellence Scheme. RITMO combines a broad spectrum of disciplines – from musicology, neuroscience and informatics – to study rhythm as a fundamental property of human cognition, behaviour and cultural expression. The Centre is organized under the Department of Musicology, in close collaboration with the Department of Psychology and the Department of Informatics.

RITMO is a Centre of Excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway. This interdisciplinary centre focuses on rhythm as a structuring mechanism for the temporal dimensions of human life. Methods from musicology, psychology, neuroscience, and informatics are combined to study rhythm as a fundamental property that shapes and underpins human cognition, behavior and cultural expressions.

All RITMO researchers are co-located and work in a unique interdisciplinary constellation, with world-leading competence in musicology, psychology and informatics. It is expected that all members of the centre contribute to the general activities and collaborations within RITMO. The researchers have access to state-of-the-art facilities in sound/video recording, motion capture, eye tracking, physiological measurements, various types of brain imaging (EEG, fMRI), and rapid prototyping and robotics laboratories.

More about the position

The doctoral fellow will carry out experimental research into the phenomenon of entrainment in the context of music listening. Entrainment can be understood in broad terms, as it can take place on multiple levels, and at different time-scales (ranging from perceptual attuning to motor synchrony, for example). In particular, the affective and social effects of entrainment (e.g., pleasure and social bonding) would be relevant areas of investigation. Possible methodological approaches include motion capture (motor entrainment), EEG (neural/perceptual entrainment), and/or behavioural/self-report experiments.

The person appointed will be affiliated with the Faculty of Humanities’ organized research training. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty of Humanities with a view to obtaining the degree of PhD. The successful candidate is expected to join the existing research milieu or network and contribute to its development. Read more about the doctoral degree.

The appointment is for a duration of three years, starting 1 September 2019. All PhD Candidates at the Faculty of Humanities 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 music psychology, musicology, psychology, or other relevant field. The applicant is required to document that the degree corresponds to the profile for the post. The Master's Degree must have been obtained by the time of application.
  • Experience with one or more of the following methodologies: experimental design, motion capture (optical or inertial), EEG
  • Academic expertise in music psychology/music cognition and statistics is an advantage
  • Excellent skills in written and oral English
  • Personal suitability and motivation for the position

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

  • The applicant’s scientific merit, as well as the quality of the research outline and its relevance to the research objectives of RITMO
  • The applicant's estimated academic and personal ability to complete the project within the time frame
  • The applicant's ability to complete research training
  • Very 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 in a position as PhD Research fellow
  • a professionally stimulating working environment
  • attractive welfare benefits
  • membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

How to apply

Applicants must submit the following attachments with the electronic application, preferably in pdf format:

  • Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
  • Curriculum Vitae (complete list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications with links to full version of published papers)
  • Research outline, including relevant research questions and theoretical and methodological approaches (approximately 2-3 pages, see template for research outline)
  • Transcript of records of your Master's degree. Applicants with education from a foreign university are advised to attach an explanation of their university's grading system
  • Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Please note that all documents must be in English.

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 or we will arrange for a video-based interview.

Formal regulations

See also Guidelines for the application assessment process and appointments to research fellowships.

Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, demographic 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

  • Head of Administration Anne Cathrine Wesnes, a.c.wesnes@imv.uio.no, +47 22 85 44 89
  • HR Officer Mira Kramarova, mira.kramarova@hf.uio.no

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