Research assistant in Sociology - 50% position

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

Through robust and close interaction with the world around us – globally, nationally and locally – we shall be instrumental in building a society based on knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Do you want to take part in shaping the future?

. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyaThmIq6Kg
Research assistant for the Horizon Europe Pro-Climate research project

There is a vacancy for a research assistant position at the Department of Sociology, University of Bergen, as part of the Horizon Europe funded research project Pro-Climate. The position is half-time (50%) for a fixed term period of one year (April 1, 2025 – March 31, 2026). Total employment as a research assistant cannot exceed two years.

About the project/work tasks:

The Project. The goal of Pro-Climate (https://pro-climate.eu/) is to support communities to proactively adapt to climate change through social transformation and behavioral change. The team is led by TERO, an environmental and technology consultancy based in Greece, and funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe Climate Sciences and Responses Program (CL5-2023-D1-01-09). To support climate change adaptation in communities, we are seeking to identify social tipping points and policy actions that will enable systemic transformation across social systems. Diverse case studies across Europe (Bergen, Leipzig, Gdansk, Badajoz, Zakynthos, Sligo) are enabling the co-creation, validation, and upscaling of a framework for action by running living labs and bringing stakeholders together to understand community governance and institutional structures, and to pilot and validate the project's behavior change activities. The outputs of Pro-Climate include the development of a multi-agent computer model (MACM) for socio-ecological systems focused on the role of local planning processes to allow a realistic analysis of existing and future policy scenarios likely to produce systemic transformations. The project began on 1 Jan 2024 and will conclude by 31 December 2026.

The Research Assistant will work as part of a small team gathering and analyzing data at a critical stage of the project. The team’s role on Pro-Climate is (i) to collect and analyze data for the Vestland based case study, and (ii) to develop the MACM (computer model) and a policy tool linked to it, alongside researchers based at NORCE (Norway) and TERO (Greece, the project leaders). The research assistant’s role will focus on (i) the development of the case study, working with UiB’s project lead, Professor David Herbert, and doctoral researcher Julianna Burrill to co-design and conduct workshops and interviews with stakeholders, participate in fieldwork activities and to gather and analyze data from media, grey and scientific literature, as directed. The successful candidate is expected to live and work in Bergen during the term of employment, and to take part in common activities at the Department of Sociology and in relevant interdisciplinary forums as applicable.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

Essential qualifications and personal qualities:

• Applicants must hold a Masters’ degree in Sociology, or another relevant social or behavioral sciences discipline, preferably with a thesis grade and grade average of B or above.
• Competence, experience, and research interests fitting to the Pro-Climate project. 
• Experience with and skills with relevant methods including in-depth interviews, focus groups, fieldwork and document analysis.
• Knowledge about and interest in relevant theoretical perspectives.
• Proficiency in Norwegian or another of the Scandinavian languages is a requirement since the data collection will be within the Norwegian context. 
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English is a requirement to enable effective communication within the Pro-Climate team and in the project’s dissemination activities.
• Excellent cooperation and communication skills, and an ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to work independently and systematically.

Desirable qualifications and personal qualities:

• It would be an advantage to have a demonstrable interest and competence in using mixed methods to investigate socio-cultural phenomena (e.g. bachelors’ or masters’ dissertation).
• It would be an advantage to have a demonstrable interest in ecology/environmental issues.

In assessing the candidates, personal and relational qualities and organizational skills will be emphasized.

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment.
• Gross annual salary as a research assistant code 1020, will be NOK 509 300, -.  Further promotions are made according to length of service.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• A position in an inclusive workplace (IW).
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• A brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• The names and contact information for two reference persons.
• CV
• Transcripts and diplomas.
• Relevant certificates/references

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at JobbNorge. (by the link on this page marked “Apply for this job”.)

Closing date: January 26, 2025. The application must be marked 25/337.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.

Further information:

The Department of Sociology. The position will be based in the Department of Sociology, which is part of an extensive social science environment at The Faculty of Social Sciences, including CET, the Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation, a cross-disciplinary research centre which aims to create knowledge about how we may achieve deep, rapid, and sustainable transformation of society in the face of climate change. The Department of Sociology has a long tradition of empirically based research on various societal problem areas, with special emphasis on issues related to social inequality. Research is currently organized into 3 research groups: Environment, Migration and Mobility (relates to Pro-Climate), Welfare, Inequality and the Life Course and Work, Knowledge, Economy and Education. For further information see:  https://www.uib.no/en/sosio/143577/research-profile.) 

General information:

For further details about the position, please contact Professor David Herbert, David.Herbert@uib.no.

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. 

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.