PhD Research Fellowship in Political Science

Job description

The Department of Political Science is recruiting a PhD Research Fellow (SKO 1017) in climate governance.  The successful applicant will be part of the research project “Accelerating Climate Action and the State: Getting to Net Zero” (ACCELZ) , which is funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The person appointed may be given either a three year-appointment with no teaching requirement, or an appointment for a period of four years with a 25 per cent teaching requirement, depending on how the candidate’s competence fits in with the Department’s teaching portfolio.

The successful candidate will be part of the Faculty’s PhD programme. The work is expected to lead to a PhD in Political Science.

More about the position

The main objective of ACCELZ  is to enhance our understanding of how states can design public organizations, practices, and policies, to accelerate climate action towards net-zero emissions. Drawing on a mix of political science methods, in combination with quantitative analysis of emission trends, ACCELZ will specify the relative importance of the state in acceleration processes. ACCELZ aim to capture and explain cross-country differences in how climate governance is organized within the state apparatus. The larger project is transdisciplinary, but the PhD project is in political science. ACCELZ combines quantitative and qualitative methods. 

More information about the project can be found here: https://www.sv.uio.no/isv/english/research/projects/accelz/index.html

The PhD Fellow is expected to develop his/her own project within the project’s topical and geographical borders. The PhD project needs to relate to the theory framework of the larger project, but the candidate has ample leeway to develop their own approach. We encourage a project proposal with a tentative overall thematic and theoretical framework and at least three ideas for academic articles. We encourage the Fellow to apply qualitative medhods, but the phd project may include quantitative elements.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the project leader to discuss tentative project ideas. Students with backgrounds in public policy and administration, comparative politics or international relations are encouraged to apply.

Qualification requirements

Formal qualifications

• Education equivalent to five years at university level in Norway, with two years (120 credits) at Master’s level in a relevant field. The MA thesis must be equivalent to at least half a year’s workload, i.e. 30 ECTS.
• The Master’s degree must include relevant education in research methods.

Other qualifications

• English language skills (written and oral) are required
• Scandinavian language skills (written and oral) is an advantage

The evaluation of applicants is based on documented, academic qualifications and the research plan. Personal suitability, motivation, and compatibility with the rest of the project team are also considered. The most promising candidates are invited to an interview. 

We offer

• Salary according to “SKO 1017 PhD fellow”, NOK 532,200 – 575,400 per year
• Personal research funds (currently NOK 30,000 per year)
• A stimulating and international research environment with multiple research groups and seminar series
• A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance
• Access to Norway’s excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave provisions and affordable and accessible childcare (including the university’s kindergartens)
• Norway’s capital with its rich cultural life and easy access to beautiful nature
• Financial and practical support for international staff moving to Norway (international staff may also benefit from tax cuts in their first years)
• PhD Fellows may acquire pedagogical competency upon agreement

How to apply

The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “apply for this job”.

The online application must include the following items, which are to be submitted before the deadline (all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language):

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages), including a statement of motivation
• A research proposal (maximum 3,000 words including references). The proposal should clarify the research theme, main research questions, how the research contributes to existing literature and the project, theoretical approach, methodology, and a timeline. A final research plan must be developed in cooperation with the project leader within three months of the start date
• A CV summarising education, positions, research and pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities. Career breaks, including parental leave, that are noted in the CV will be taken into consideration when evaluating applicants’ academic production.
• Copy of Master’s thesis
• Copies of transcripts: All applicants must submit their Master’s degree diploma and transcript(s), preferably together with a class distribution of grades. The transcript must specify the grade achieved for the Master’s thesis
• Official explanation of the grading and credit system at your university (foreign applicants)
• Names and contact details for 2-3 reference persons (name, relationship to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letters are not needed

The application deadline is September 10th. The screening and evaluation of candidates will begin immediately. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer being made, to take 5-8 weeks, depending on the number of applications. 

Formal regulations

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

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship 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 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 etc.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

Elin Lerum Boasson , Phone: +47 22841710, e.l.boasson@stv.uio.no  

About the 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 Political Science is part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. It is the largest political science department in Norway and covers all subfields of the discipline: international politics, public policy and administration, comparative politics, political theory and research methods. The department offers a vibrant academic environment with a good mix of permanent staff, postdoctoral and PhD fellows. Around 1,400 students are currently enrolled at BA, MA and PhD level. The department runs two large political science programmes at BA and MA level. In addition, the department hosts interdisciplinary study programmes in International Studies, Public Administration and Leadership, and Peace and Conflict Studies. The department has several research groups, including Comparative Institutions and Regimes, Policy, Bureaucracy and Organization, and Political Data Science. The Department also hosts the interdisciplinary Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX).