Postdoctoral Fellow in Applied Economics

Job description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a position as Postdoctoral Fellow in Applied Economics at the UiS School of Business and Law, Department of Economics and Finance. The position is vacant from August 1, 2025.

The objective of the position is to strengthen research, and to give researchers/scholars holding a doctoral degree the opportunity for further qualification toward top academic positions.

The position is closely linked to two externally funded research projects: GET ENGAGED (https://www.norceresearch.no/en/projects/get-engaged-citizen-engagement-and-areas-under-pressure-in-the-green-energy-transition) (the Research Council of Norway, NFR) and STJERNEMIX (https://www.sdu.dk/en/forskning/sdu-climate-cluster/news/stjerne-mix) (the Independent Research Fund Denmark, DFF). The broad theme of both projects is the green transition and stakeholder preferences and involvement. The Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to be a key contributor in work packages entailing experimental design, field work, data collection, and empirical analyses for both projects.

The Postdoctoral Fellowship spans 3,5 years, with the first 2 years allocated to the GET ENGAGED project at the University of Stavanger (UiS) in Stavanger, Norway, and the subsequent 1,5 years to the STJERNEMIX project at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) Department of Business and Sustainability in Esbjerg, Denmark. 

The appointee is expected to actively engage with and contribute to the academic communities at both UiS and SDU, maintaining a significant physical presence at each institution. Additionally, the appointee must be prepared to travel within and across Scandinavian countries throughout the fellowship period.

The aim of the aforementioned projects and the Postdoctoral Fellowship is to conduct applied economics research of the highest international standard documented through (1) publications in internationally distinguished journals, (2) presentations at international conferences, and (3) dissemination with high visibility and broad societal impact.

Scientific paper proposal

Applicants are required to submit a scientific paper proposal of up to 2000 words, aligned with the focus of the Postdoctoral Fellowship described above. The proposal should include a concise and descriptive title, clearly defined research questions, and a discussion of the conceptual framework and empirical methodology. It must articulate the hypotheses and anticipated types of scientific discovery and be supported by at least 10 scientific references. This proposal will be part of the candidate's competence assessment.

Qualification requirements

We seek a candidate with a solid academic background and a PhD in economics or a related quantitative social science discipline, preferably recently completed or near completion.

The ideal candidate will have research interests in one or more of the following fields: environmental economics, resource economics, energy economics, or other applied economics areas related to the green transition. Demonstrated training or experience with experimental methods (survey, field, or lab) and advanced empirical analysis skills will be highly advantageous.

Excellent command of both oral and written English is a strict requirement. Command of Norwegian, Danish, or Swedish is desirable, but not strictly required.

The assessment of applicants will also emphasize the following criteria:

• The relevance, feasibility, and novelty of the proposed scientific paper.
• Proven or anticipated ability to publish in highly ranked international journals, especially within economics.
• International experience and network.
• Strong teamwork and communication skills, and ability to participate in research communities across organizational units.
• Ability to work independently in a structured manner.
• Motivation, sense of responsibility and accountability, work capacity, as well as ambition and enthusiasm for high quality research.

We offer

For the Get Engaged-project at UiS:

• varied duties in a large, exciting and socially important organisation
• an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure
• access to Lifekeys (http://lifekeys.no/en-GB), a digital service for the preservation of personal mental health and well-being
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.510, code 1352, NOK 580.000 - 680.000 gross per year. A higher salary may be considered in special cases. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, (https://www.spk.no/en/) which provides favourable insurance and retirement benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the university sports club, SiS sports club (https://sissportssenter.no/english/) at campus
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• Hjem-jobb-hjem (https://www.hjemjobbhjem.no/), discounted public transport to and from work
• as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced.
• relocation programme

For the StjerneMix-project at SDU, read more here (https://www.sdu.dk/en/om-sdu/job-sdu/international-staff).

Diversity

Diversity is a resource in the working and learning environment at UiS. When we have different backgrounds and experiences, we can approach challenges from multiple perspectives and find better solutions.

At UiS, we are committed to showing respect for each other's differences and accommodating employees with disabilities. We take into consideration your needs and your situation in various life phases.

If you find this position interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, disability, cultural background, or whether you have been out of the workforce for a period.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview. If you fall into any of these categories, feel free to indicate it when applying for the position.

Learn more about the criteria for being considered an applicant in these specific groups here (https://www.uis.no/en/about-uis/working-at-uis-application-and-appointment).

The university aims to recruit more women within the subject area. If several applicants are considered to have equal qualifications, female applicants will be given priority.

Contact information

More information on the position can be obtained from Head of Department Venke Furre Haaland, tel: +47 51833752., e-mail: venke.f.haaland@uis.no or Professor Gorm Kipperberg, tel: +47 51833729, e-mail: gorm.kipperberg@uis.no.

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from Senior HR Advisor Helene Engelsgjerd Figved, tel: +47 51831558, e-mail: helene.e.figved@uis.no.

Application

To apply for this position please follow the link "Apply for this job". Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In the application letter, you must state your research interests and motivation for the position.

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• scientific paper proposal, max 2000 words
• CV with a full summary of your education and experience
• documentation of approved PhD. If you have not completed the PhD, you may enclose a confirmation from the institution on the expected date of obtaining the doctoral degree. 
• complete list of academic publications with information on where they are published. You may also upload up to 5 publications, including your PhD thesis or published monograph based upon the thesis.
• transcripts and certificates, and other documentation that you consider relevant

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 30 MB, they must be compressed before upload. 

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants - see Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act (https://lovdata.no/lov/2006-05-19-16/§25). If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

General information

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. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further assessment.

Employment as Postdoctoral Fellow is regulated in "Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow and research fellow, research assistant and resident". (http://www.uis.no/sites/default/files/2020-11/Regulations%20concerning%20terms%20and%20conditions%20of%20employment.pdf)

We put emphasis on the quality, relevance and significance of the research work and not on where the work is published, in accordance with the principles of The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). (https://sfdora.org/read/)

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. 

Based on the committee's statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website. (https://www.uis.no/en/working-uis-application-and-appointment#/)

UiS has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at/available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.