PhD Fellowship position in Measuring the Therapeutic Mechanisms and Effects of Art

Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third largest university with almost 22,000 students and over 2,500 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and at Romerike. OsloMet educates students and conducts research that contributes to the sustainability of the Norwegian welfare state and the metropolitan region.

The Faculty of Technology, Art and Design (TKD) offers higher education and research and development (R&D) activities within technical subjects, arts and design. The Faculty has approximately 4.000 students and 400 staff members and is situated at Pilestredet Campus in downtown Oslo and at Kjeller Campus in Viken.

This position is offered by the Faculty of Technology, Art, and Design (TKD) under the new PhD program in Innovation for Sustainability (PINS) jointly with close collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences . The programme is applied and project-oriented and aims to find realisable solutions that can contribute to the transition to a more sustainable, low-emissions society. In Norway, this ongoing process is widely referred to as "the green shift." The PhD will emphasise interdisciplinarity and collaboration across professions and offers a unique combination of subject areas such as art, design and drama, information technology, and social studies. The Department of Mechanical, Electronics and Chemical engineering (MEK) and the Department of Art, Design and Drama (EST) from TKD and the Faculty of Health Sciences (HV) will be collaborating on the PhD position.

The mission of BraArt is to conduct ground-breaking interdisciplinary research. The project aims to identify the mechanisms by which art therapy relieves emotional suffering using brain-inspired technologies in the study. It includes creating an experimental research setting, the gathering and analysis of psychophysiological and biomarker data to discover the mechanisms and effects of art therapy on emotional pain. Current understanding of the art therapy's bio-psychophysiological working mechanisms on pain management is limited. With the help of neuroimaging modalities such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalogram (EEG), BraArt will examine the impact of creating visual art both with and without an emotional pain condition. Only a portion of how the brain processes pain and how it might be effectively managed is understood. We must research pain perception and how brain areas interact in order to provide the best possible management of pain through art therapy. 

The candidate is expected to conduct independent research that advances the state of the arts at the intersection of brain inspired technology, art therapy, and sustainability in building good health for all, and to contribute to the broader research environment in the departments. This includes participating in joint research activities and research training, as well as disseminating findings in research seminars, conferences, peer-reviewed journals and other fora. The position will be offered for a period of three years (100% position), or alternatively, four years including 25% compulsory work (teaching and supervision activities or research administrative work). The decision on whether a 3 or 4-year position is suitable will be discussed as a part of the interview process. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty to obtain the degree PhD.

• Master's degree in health (neurophysiology, psychology or related), art therapy, visual arts, technology (related to health and biomedical engineering) or other relevant fields to the research area. The degree must be equivalent to 120 credits with an average grade of A or B within a scale of A-E passing of grades.
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English

Admission to the doctoral programme in Innovation for Sustainability at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design at OsloMet, within 3 months after employment in the position, is a prerequisite for joining the position. To be admitted to the PhD program, the applicant must have a B or better at the master's degree and C or better at the bachelor's degree. Candidates who already hold a PhD in the same or similar field may not apply.The final plan for research work must be approved and agreed upon no later than 3 months after joining the department. Applicants who already hold a PhD, in the same or related field, cannot apply. General criteria for appointments to academic positions are covered by the Forskrift om ansettelsesvilkår for stillinger som postdoktor, stipendiat, vitenskapelig assistent og spesialistkandidat.

• Basic knowledge or experience with brain functionality and plasticity
• Basic knowledge or experience with pain experiments and how it is measured
• Experience with electroencephalogram (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain signals
• Keen interest in and knowledge of art therapy
• It is an advantage for applicants to speak a Scandinavian language

•  Interest in art therapy, brain inspired technologies and understanding of cognitive neuroscience
• Excellent cooperation and communication skills
• Flexibility, initiative and ability to conduct innovative interdisciplinary research
• Capacity to tolerate challenges of interdisciplinary research and persistence in finding solutions for practical, methodological and theoretical problems

It is important for OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and all qualifies candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavours to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to make adaptions to the workplace where required. You are also welcome to apply for a position with us if you have had periods where you have not been in employment, education or training. 

An expert committee will assess the applications. You must upload the following documents with the application within the final date for applications: 

• Application letter, describing your motivations for applying to this fellowship as well as a short overview of the qualifications, technical skills, experience, and personal skills that make you an attractive candidate for a successful and productive completion of this work
• Project description of up to two pages, where you describe how the project may be addressed, and how your research may contribute to enlight the high-level questions
• CV and copies of diplomas and transcripts of bachelor´s and master´s degree (which list subjects and grades) and certificates.The certificates/diplomas must include ECTS grades (A– F). Foreign diplomas must be translated into English by the degree-conferring institution. Education taken abroad should preferably be recognised in advance by NOKUT, and a confirmed copy of the letter of recognition should be enclosed
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, email, and telephone number).
• Master's thesis and any other scholarly work that the expert committee should take into consideration

Applicants from countries where English is not the first language must present an official language test report. The following tests qualify as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are: TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test) / IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test is accepted).

The following applicants are exempt from the above-mentioned language requirements:

• Applicants from EU/EEA countries
• Applicants who have completed one year of university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or USA
• Applicants with an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma

We only process applications sent via our electronic recruitment system and all documents must be uploaded for your application to be processed. The documents must be in either English or a Scandinavian language. Translations must be authorized. Originals must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet performs document inspections in order to give you as a candidate a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition. Incomplete applications will not be considered. The final project plan will be made in collaboration with the assigned supervisor when applying for admission to the doctoral programme.  

• An exciting job opportunity at Norway's third-largest university and most urban university
• Opportunities for professional development in a large and inspiring professional and research environment
• Beneficial pension arrangements with the Norwegian State Pension Fund
• Good employee welfare arrangements
• Free Norwegian language classes for employees Working location in downtown Oslo

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway .

For more information about the position, feel free to contact:

• Head of Research Tore Gimse, [email protected]
• Professor Olga Korostynska, tlf: +47 67 23 88 87, [email protected]
• Professor Mimmu Rankanen, tlf: +47 67 23 51 70, [email protected]
• for administrative questions, please contact [email protected]

The salary for the position is in accordance with the pay scale for Norwegian state employees, job title and position code. State salary NOK 532 200 per year.The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology.A background check may be conducted to verify information in submitted CVs and available documents. Background checks are not conducted without the consent of the applicant and relevant applicants will receive further information about this.OsloMet has adhered to the principles in the DORA declaration and obliged the institution to follow the recommendations in this declaration.If you would like to apply for the position, you must do so electronically through our recruitment system.

Deadline for application: 07.01.2024Ref.:  23/07433

OsloMet is a Charter & Code certified institution by the EU Commisson holding the right to use the logo HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R). OsloMet is a member of the EURAXESS network supporting a positive work environment for researchers in motion. OsloMet has signed The Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) . DORA recognizes the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scholarly research are evaluated. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who are seen to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter law will not be considered for the position. Visit OsloMet at LinkedIn , Facebook , Instagram  

Type of employment:

FELLOW

Contract type:

Full time

First day of employment:

--

Salary:

I henhold til Hovedtariffavtalene i staten og OsloMets lønnspolitikk

Number of positions:

1

Working hours:

100%

City:

Oslo

County:

Oslo

Country:

Norway

Reference number:

23/07433

Contact:

Tore Gimse, [email protected]

Published:

18/10/2023

Last application date:

07/01/2024, 23:59