Researcher Exploring Urban and Rural Food Practices in China

About the Job

At the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture, NTNU, a two-year position is available as a researcher exploring the interrelation between urban and rural food practices in China. The work is funded by the Humanities faculty and is connected to the European Research Council (ERC) project ‘A Middle Way? Probing Sufficiency through Meat and Milk in China’ (MidWay).

About the position

The MidWay project addresses sustainability challenges relating to food and agriculture in China, with the consumption and production of meat and milk as empirical cases. Rather than arguing for increased efficiency, the project probes the concept of sufficiency to explore its potential for reducing human impacts on Earth’s biosphere while preserving overall welfare, i.e., its potential for defining a ‘middle way’ between ‘too little’ and ‘too much’. China is seen as a strategic research site to ask questions about the supply and demand of animal foods, hypothesising that what has made meat and milk integral to Chinese food practices might also be ‘otherwise’.

The intended research explores the interrelation between rural farms, food production and urban centres in China and changes over time. Concepts of health, wellbeing and sufficiency are central to the research, including the ways in which everyday food practices might differ in a rural and urban context and how systems of provision impact such practices. The position requires experience with ethnographic fieldwork in rural and urban settings in China. The researcher will be included in the project team but will conduct their research complementary to the MidWay project.

Main duties and responsibilities

The successful applicant must

• Conduct empirical data collection in China using qualitative methods such as interviews, participant observation and/or focus  group interviews, or other approaches relevant to the research design
• Present, communicate and disseminate work at relevant national and international venues
• Participate in the day-to-day activities at the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture, the Centre for Technology and Society , and the research group on Energy, climate and environment .

Qualification requirements

The qualification requirement is the completion of a Norwegian doctoral degree within qualitative social sciences and humanities (i.e., science and technology studies (STS), social anthropology, sociology, history, or human geography) or a corresponding foreign doctoral degree recognised as equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree.

Other qualifications

• Applicants must have knowledge and interest in social science and humanities studies of sustainability, China, food, and/or agriculture
• Applicants must have experience with qualitative research methods, in particular, ethnographic fieldwork
• Applicants must have experience with academic writing and publishing
• Applicants must have excellent knowledge of English and Chinese language (written and oral). English language proficiency must correspond to an IELTS minimum of 6.5 or TOEFL 90 
• Completion of the PhD thesis on time is considered an advantage
• Experience with research project development and management is considered an advantage

Personal characteristics

• Ability to collaborate with others, e.g., through co-authoring research papers or collecting research data
• Ability to conduct independent research

In evaluating which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience, and personal suitability in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement. NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

We offer

Salary and conditions

The gross salary for the position of Researcher (code 1108) is normally remunerated at gross from NOK 615 000- 746 000 before tax per year, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who, by assessment of the application and attachment, are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU.

It is a prerequisite that you can be present at the institution on a daily basis, and that you are able to move to Trondheim, Norway for the duration of the position.

About the application

The application must include:

• CV
• Diplomas and certificates
• A letter of motivation describing your scholarly profile (one to two pages)
• A brief research statement describing how you would approach the intended research (max 2-3 pages)
• Three references
• A list of publications

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. A Diploma Supplement is required to attach for Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI): http://www.chsi.com.cn/en/) .

Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.  This means that we pay special attention to the quality and professional breadth of these works. We also consider experience from research management and participation in research projects. We place great emphasis on your scientific work from the last five years.

General information

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and cultural background.  

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation . You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

Planned start-up for the position is January 1st, 2023. Questions about the position can be directed to Associate Professor Marius Korsnes ([email protected] ), or HR Advisor Hilde Saxi Gildberg ([email protected] ).

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached.

Application deadline: 15.12.2022

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Faculty of Humanities

The Faculty of Humanities  offers a wide range of study programmes in the humanities, and is Norway’s second largest faculty of humanities measured in the number of students. We develop leading academic groups in the action-oriented humanities, as well as innovative and inquiry-based teaching and learning. The Faculty consists of six departments as well as a Faculty administration.

Deadline 15th December 2022
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Dragvoll