Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Digitalization and Sustainability Transitions

About the position

We invite applications for a 3-year position as Postdoctoral Fellow at the Department of Informatics, University of Oslo. The position is affiliated with the Digital Innovation research group. Additional duties which will be devoted to career-enhancing compulsory work, e.g., teaching or supervision by up to twelve months may be considered. This will be dependent on the qualifications of the applicant and the specific teaching needs of the department.

We seek an ambitious researcher with a relevant background who is interested in studying the interplay between digitalization and sustainability transition processes (often called “twin transitions”). The research should contribute to the Digital Innovation research group’s ongoing activity within this area and to the Department of Informatics’ strategic goals to strengthen research on “green informatics”.

Start date as soon as possible and preferably before 01.03.2025. 

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Oslo.

Knowledge development in a changing world - Science and technology towards 2030.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Job description / Project description / Development plan:

The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to develop and conduct a relevant and high-quality empirical research project and to develop publications from the research.

The empirical work would preferably be connected to ongoing research in the Norwegian maritime, energy, transport or financial sectors. The research should be oriented to relevant aspects of the interplay between digitalization and sustainability transition processes. Broadly speaking, the ongoing research applies systemic and sociotechnical perspectives, recognizing the need to consider both technical/material and social/organizational aspects of multi-actors settings. The transformative impacts of digitalization and sustainability transitions will affect phenomena at multiple levels, from work practices, organizational structures, business models, inter-organizational relations and sectoral structures. The research should contribute towards a better understanding of the relation between digital technologies and sustainability-oriented change processes at one or more of these analytic levels, using an appropriate theoretical approach. A highly relevant focus would for instance be to study the co-evolution of data governance mechanisms, platform architectures and actor constellations around data-centric digital platforms or other forms of data sharing arrangements.  

The Digital Innovation (DIN) group is one of five research groups in the Digitalization section at the Department of Informatics. (Link: https://www.mn.uio.no/ifi/english/research/groups/din/). The group has a strong tradition in empirical research and the group’s researchers seek to generate new knowledge on digital transformation and its consequences for individuals, organisations, and societies through field studies. The group is known for its long-standing research on large-scale, complex interconnected information infrastructures. The group’s research, which is mainly published within the Information Systems research field, addresses both strategic and operational aspects of different development strategies, technological architectures and governance regimes, with a current specific focus on digital platforms and ecosystems. Researchers in the DIN group also participate in the INTRANSIT research centre, which addresses innovation policy for industrial transformation, sustainability and digitalization and the candidate will be invited to join the INTRANSIT activities. (Link: https://www.sv.uio.no/tik/english/research/centre/intransit/)

Qualification requirements:

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Applicants must:

• Hold a relevant PhD in information systems or a relevant neighbouring field
• Have experience with conducting longitudinal empirical research using qualitative methods, such as interviews, observations and document analysis
• Have documented ability to publish research results
• Demonstrate a strong command of oral and written English

The ideal candidate has experience from relevant empirical domains. Knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is an advantage, as the research involves fieldwork. We ask for the submission of a research plan where the candidates can demonstrate their ability to plan high-quality research. This includes the ability to define a relevant research problem, select an appropriate theoretical framing and design a realistic empirical research plan.

To be considered a qualified applicant, the doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation at the time of application. The candidate can only start in the position after a successful public defence.

Personal skills:

• Well organized with high working capacity and productivity
• Excellent team working skills, and ability to work in a multidisciplinary area
• Strong motivation and a genuine interest in the subject matter

We offer:

• Salary NOK 575 400 – 657 300 per year depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (position code 1352)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Professionally stimulating working environment
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Postdoctoral development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

The application must include:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• A tentative research plan (2-5 pages) for the 3-year period 
• Copies of educational certificates (Bachelor, Master, PhD)
• A complete list of publications
• Up to five scientific publications 
• A list of 2-3 reference persons (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)
   

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations:

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

If an applicant has applied for and been granted funding for a fulltime research stay abroad while being employed as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, the employment will be prolonged with the equivalent time as the research stay, but for no longer than of twelve months ( thus extending the employment to a maximum of four years)

According to the Norwegian Freedom and 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 University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

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 persons:

For further information about the position please contact: Miria Grisot, e-mail: miriag@ifi.uio.no, or Margunn Aanestad, e-mail: margunn@ifi.uio.no 

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Therese Ringvold, e-mail: therese.ringvold@mn.uio.no