PhD research fellowship - Mega-philanthropy, global health and democratic governance

About the position 

A Doctoral Research Fellowship is available at the University of Oslo’s Centre for Development and the Environment (from June 2025, the Centre for Global Sustainability).  

We invite innovative proposals that correspond closely with the research project “Mega-philanthropy and democratic governance” (PHILOS) funded by the University of Oslo’s research initiative UiO:Democracy and led by Prof. Katerini T. Storeng.  

The past quarter century has seen the rise of a thriving global philanthropic sector dominated by mega foundations with transnational reach that disburse enormous grants from individual or corporate donors seeking to dramatically improve the world, especially in the field of global health and development. The PHILOS project will examine how the most powerful philanthropic foundations globally partner and use coalition-building and networks strategically to influence, and potentially interfere in or circumvent, democratic processes and global governance. It will do so through empirical research focused on foundation influence on global health and development policy and governance in Norway and Kenya, and within multilateral organizations and partnerships. 

For this fellowship, we invite proposals that focus on private philanthropic foundations’ engagement with the United Nations system, notably with the World Health Organization and/or other UN agencies with a health mandate, and how the UN governs its relationship with private foundations. Of particular interest are proposals that foreground issues related to the management of potential conflicts of interest, transparency, and accountability.  

More about the position

The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD. The position is conditional on admittance to one of the University of Oslo’s PhD programmes, which consists of mandatory and elective courses with oral and written examinations and a major research component. The research fellow is expected to submit a PhD thesis within the project period.  

The research fellow will be an active member of the PHILOS research group, which includes historians, political scientists and anthropologists from the University’ Centre for Global Sustainability, Institute of Health and Society and Department of History. They will be based in the interdisciplinary Global health politics research group at the University of Oslo’s new Centre for Global Sustainability, where they will also contribute to and benefit from the Collective on the Political Determinants of Health, which is hosted by the group. The research fellow will also be expected to participate in the activities of the interdisciplinary research school at the new Centre for Global Sustainability. 

The PhD is expected to be completed within a three-year period, but the fellowship may be offered for four years. In that case, the research fellow will be assigned responsibility for contributing to the coordination of the activities of the Global Health Politics research group and the Collective on the Political Determinants of Health it hosts for up to 25% of their time. 

Qualifications  

• Applicants must hold a master’s degree (120 ECTS) in social sciences or humanities, minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS.
• Relevant academic fields include in no particular order, global governance, international relations, political science, social and medical anthropology, development studies.  
• Documented experience with qualitative research methods, either through a master thesis or previous academic publications.  
• Excellent communication skills and documented proficiency/fluency in both written and oral English. Fellows who do not speak/write Norwegian at the time of employment must complete Norwegian training corresponding to 15 credits, the cost of which is currently covered by the employer. 
• The faculties may stipulate additional admission requirements.

• To be employed as a PhD Research Fellow, admission to a doctoral program is required, or there must be a binding agreement for admission. Normally, one must apply for admission to a Ph.D. program within 3 months after the start of the research project leading to the Ph.D. degree.

   

Personal skills 

• Ability to work independently and in an interdisciplinary team 
• Well-structured approach to work and time use 
• A collegiate attitude and willingness to collaborate across disciplines  

Employment in the position is based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualification requirements applicable to the position, including personal qualifications.

We offer 

• Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
• Committed colleagues in a good working environment.
• Good welfare schemes.
• Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
• A workplace with good development and career opportunities. 
• Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
• Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from 537 000- to 580 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

 

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

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.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

Application

Your application should include:

• Application letter (A letter of intent max 1.5 pages).
• CV.
• A complete list of publications.
• Project description (max 5 pages), including a research question, explicit and achievable aims and objectives, a brief description of relevant literature and conceptual framework, a method section that convincingly relates to the research question and objectives, and a progress plan.  
• Electronic copy of Master´s thesis if available  .
• Transcripts and certificates.
• Contact information for 2-3 references.

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews. 

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian),  Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

For non-Norwegian candidates: Possible requirements pertaining to visas and permits must be checked and followed up upon well in advance of your planned arrival in Norway.  UiO’s International Staff Mobility Office (ISMO) offers assistance to international staff, including pertaining to vias. See: https://www.uio.no/english/about/vacancies/ismo/before-arrival/visa-permits/