PhD Fellow in Science Policy Studies University of Oslo, TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture Norway

Applications are invited for a three-year position as Doctoral Fellow within the area of Science Policy Studies to be based at the TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture, University of Oslo.

Job Description

TIK is an interdisciplinary research centre with two strong research groups within innovation studies and science and technology studies (STS) and with a number of externally funded research projects related to science and innovation. The largest current project is the Oslo Institute for Research on the Impact of Science – OSIRIS – an 8-year comprehensive effort funded by the Research Council of Norway and hosted by TIK. For this PhD position additional funding has been provided by the University of Oslo. The candidate selected for the position will become part of OSIRIS and thereby part of TIK’s expanding activities in science policy studies.

The overall goal of OSIRIS is to better understand how and under which conditions research makes a difference in society, which is often called impact. Central perspectives in OSIRIS are that impact can best be viewed as a process that unfolds over a long period of time, and that there is a need to look at the process more from the user and societal perspective. OSIRIS researchers will carry out conceptual and quantitative and qualitative empirical work of impact processes. An important part of the empirical work is micro-level longitudinal case studies, and the doctoral candidate is expected to be responsible for 3-4 such case studies. We are in the process of selecting a number of cases of problem areas where research does or may contribute, cases that represent pathways of impact in different organisational and institutional settings: healthcare, industrial innovation and policymaking. Each of the cases will have concrete “sites” that represent users and researchers. For more about OSIRIS, please see the project web pages.

Researchers at TIK more broadly use historical and contemporary source material, statistical data as well as interdisciplinary methods and analytical resources. TIK has a strong track record in scientific publishing and close ties to many internationally leading innovation research units. It is also a member of the Norwegian Research School in Innovation Studies (NORSI), EU-SPRI and other networks with many opportunities for early career scientific meetings and networking. In the OSIRIS project there are three partners – Statistics Norway, the University of Manchester and the Polytechnic University of Valencia – which also offer extended opportunities for interaction with and stays in other research units.

In addition to their own research work, fellows may be required to participate in teaching and/or administrative activities connected to research and teaching at the Centre. All such work will be compensated with an equivalent extension of the research fellowship. The total duration of the extension may not exceed twelve months.

Qualifications and Personal Skills

• Candidates must hold a master’s degree or equivalent within relevant disciplines such as science policy studies, innovation studies, organisation studies or STS, or possibly other related fields within the social sciences, and meet the requirements to be enrolled in the PhD-programme.
• In addition to a relevant educational background, candidates should have a strong interest in and competence for contributing to the development of empirical and theoretical research on the impact of research in different parts of society. A good match between the candidate’s research interests and TIK’s research goals and the activities within OSIRIS will be a main selection criterion for the position.
• Applicants must have documented excellent written and oral proficiency/communication skills in English.

We offer

• salary NOK 436 900 - 490 900 per annum, depending on qualifications
• an academically 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:

• Cover letter. In the letter the candidates should describe their intellectual background and qualifications, indicating the main theoretical approaches, empirical tools and publishing goals of their work to date, and outline how their background and research interests apply to the announced position as part of the project. The application letter should also state the motivation for applying for this position.
• Project description, including project plan (max. 5 pages). In the project description the candidate should outline their ideas for his/her research. The project plan may include suggestions for relevant methods and analytical frameworks as well as suggestions for potential papers.
• CV (summarising education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• A complete 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).

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the “project description” and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment

Formal regulations

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

According to the Norwegian Freedom and 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 appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

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

Deadline: 15 October 2017

Contact persons:

• OSIRIS Director Magnus Gulbrandsen

• OSIRIS Co-Director Taran Thune

• TIK Head of Administration Frode Løvik