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 Literature, Area Studies and European Languages is involved in extensive research, teaching and outreach in the fields of literature, area studies and linguistics within European languages apart from the Nordic ones. The Department has an active research environment with a wide range of international collaboration. Many of our researchers play a part in giving the general public insight into the results of this research. The Department has about 130 members of staff: approximately 80 in academic posts, approximately 30 Ph.D. fellows and postdoctoral fellows, and 18 in administrative posts. The Department has approximately 300 master students and 1000 bachelor students.

Job description

A Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) in Italian Literature is available at the Department of Literature, Area Studies and European Languages, University of Oslo.

Applicants are invited to submit a project for a doctoral dissertation in either Renaissance Italian literature (c. 1400–1650) or twentieth-century Italian Literature.

Priority may be given to applicants whose project connects to the research group “Textual Traditions and Communities in Early Modern Europe”. The group is committed to exploring a variety of literary genres and texts with a focus on their production, transmission and reception. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: the development of literary genres in relation to classical and vernacular antecedents, the commentary tradition and exegesis of texts, sixteenth-century literary criticism and the building of canons, philological practices and the circulation of texts in various environments, book history as well as issues of authorship and readership. More on the research group can be found here:

http://www.hf.uio.no/ilos/english/research/groups/textual-traditions-and-communities/

More about the position

The person appointed will 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. 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. 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 Italian Literature or other disciplines with a specialization in Italian literature (Italian Studies, Philology, Renaissance Studies, Languages, Classics, etc). The Master's Degree must have been obtained by the time of application.
• Mastery of oral and written English and Italian.
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

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

• The project's scholarly merit 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

• annual salary NOK 449 400 - 505 800, depending on qualifications
• a professionally stimulating working environment
• attractive welfare benefits

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)
• 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
• Project description, including a detailed progress plan for the project (3 - 5 pages, see Template for project descriptions)
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relationship to the candidate, email and telephone number – please do not include letters of recommendations).

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.

Short-listed candidates may be invited for an interview at the University of Oslo or an interview on Skype will be arranged.

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

• Project Leader, Associate Professor Francesco Venturi
• Head of Administration Karina Kleiva

Apply for position