Department of Education

A position as a PhD Candidate is available in the Department of Education (IPED) in the research project Cultural Heritage Mediascapes. Innovation in Knowledge and Mediation Practices, financed by the Research Council of Norway, KULMEDIA program. (http://www.forskningsradet.no/prognett-kulmedia/Programme_description/1253998102253)

The overall aim of Mediascapes is to contribute to research-based policy that can account for, anticipate and support future developments in communication and knowledge practices in digital cultural heritage. Mediascapes will study key transformations in how knowledge is produced and mediated by experts in museums and archives using digital technologies, as well as the ways in which different publics interact with, contribute to, and learn from this knowledge. There is a particular focus on young people (15-25 years), and on methods involving research-practice partnerships in the project.  

The available PhD position will be connected to the theme User perspectives and cultural citizenship. Research in this theme will study how diverse participatory models facilitate new knowledge practices when collections, archives and databases are opened to the public. Contrasting cases are planned for the doctoral study, in the domains of biodiversity-citizen science and narrative archives-collective memory, respectively. The PhD candidate will work with a team of senior researchers, programmers, and experts from science and cultural heritage organizations to develop and analyze innovative designs for user participation in cultural heritage databases and archives. The objective is to better understand the implications of user participation in expert knowledge systems for policy and practice in the cultural sector.  

Positions as PhD Candidate are fixed-term educational posts where the aim is that the research fellow completes a doctoral degree (PhD) during the period of employment. A prerequisite for the employment is admission to the Facultys doctoral degree programme, and applicants formal and other qualifications for admission will therefore also be assessed. Research fellowship positions are defined as recruitment posts and represent an important instrument in the sectors work of generating qualified applicants for other academic posts at universities and university colleges in the long-term perspective. The PhD candidate is expected to participate actively in the organized research training and in the Facultys research community.  

The appointment is made for a period of up to four years (25% of which is devoted to required duties, usually in the form of teaching activities). The appointment can have a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions. 

We refer also to Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at the University of Oslo

 
Qualification requirements

Applicants must have completed a Masters degree in the social sciences (education, science and technology studies, social anthropology, sociology) or the humanities (cultural history, media studies, museum studies, art history, library sciences, digital cultural heritage). Knowledge or professional experience in informatics (interaction design, programming, database systems) or the cultural sector is also relevant. The applicant should submit a written proposal for his /her PhD project, and describe how it relates to Mediascapes research.

English is the main working language in the project, and PhD candidates will be encouraged to write an article-based PhD dissertation in English. A Scandinavian language will be required for some of the data collection and analysis.

Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the Facultys PhD programme. This normally includes:

• Successful completion of a Masters degree programme or similar higher education programme in the subject area in a relevant subject area.
• Minimum B grade or equivalent for the Masters degree (ECTS grading scale).

Further information on admission requirements and an application form can be found at this website.

In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be put on:

• The applicants academic aptitude for completing the research training programme.
• The project description, which must be submitted with the application.
• The applicants personal suitability and motivation for the post, including his/her ability to collaborate and to form part of a cross-disciplinary academic community.
• Other qualifications that meet the objectives which form the basis of this type of post.

Good English language skills are also required.

Application procedure

The project description and other relevant information is available by contacting Associate Professor Palmyre Pierroux by telephone or email. Prior to sending in their application, applicants are also strongly advised to contact the theme leaders Per Hetland, IPED and Line Esborg, IKOS, HF.

The application must be submitted electronically and must include the following:

• Letter of application
• Project description (cf. Guidance).
• Completed application form for admission to the doctoral degree programme
• Certified copies of diplomas, grade transcripts and any other testimonials
• In the event of diplomas from other countries: printouts of prospectuses or similar that describe the content and framework of the courses of study on which the application is based.
• Masters thesis and any other academic works that may be of relevance to the application.
• CV that also includes an overview of any previously published academic/scientific works.

Applicants from countries outside the Nordic countries where English is not the official language must attach a TOEFL test with a minimum score of 550 unless they have a diploma from a university in an English-speaking country.

Incomplete applications will in normal circumstances not be assessed.

As a rule, interviews will be conducted as part of the appointment process. At the interview the applicant will be asked to present original diplomas and grade transcripts from previous courses of study.

We offer

• Salary in line with pay grades 50 55 (NOK 421 100 473 400 per annum). Research fellows are normally allocated pay grade 50 on appointment.
• A positive and stimulating working environment
• Pension arrangements in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• A position in an inclusive working life enterprise
• Attractive welfare arrangements

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for all employees for the purpose of securing intellectual property rights to research results etc.

Pursuant to section 25, paragraph 2 of the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act, information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list even though the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo also aims to recruit more individuals with an immigrant background to academic positions. Candidates with an immigrant background are encouraged to apply.