Postdoctoral Fellow in STS/Cultural History

About the position

The Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture (TIK) at the University of Oslo (UiO) invites applications for one Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the intersection of STS and Cultural Studies/Humanities.

The position is part of “Stakes of democracy in times of crisis: Trust, Nature and Value (Stakes of democracy)”, a project and research group across the humanities, social sciences, and law, funded by the University of Oslo’s strategic initiative UiO:Democracy. The group is led by Professor Kristin Asdal in cooperation with Professor Helge Jordheim. The post doctor will be based at the TIK Centre and affiliated with the TIK Centre’s research group “Science, Technology and Culture”. 

Project description

The overriding idea for “Stakes of democracy” is that crises are key moments for understanding how democracies work and proceed. Crises are disruptions that let the ordinary and the everyday of democratic procedure come into view. Second, crises are key events for examining and understanding what is at stake in democracy, they are events where what we stand to lose if democratic procedures fail is articulated and made tangible. They show us the stakes of democracy.

“Stakes of democracy” is formed around three such vital stakes: trust, nature, and value. These three stakes are simultaneously analytical categories that conceptually and methodologically guide the group’s empirical research. In addition to the PI’s, the core research group includes Professor Dag Michalsen and Associate Professor Tone Huse. The group will work together and across all the three stakes, bringing their own materials and competences to bear on the research questions and the three stakes nature, value, trust around which the project is organized. 

The research group will develop the analytic lens of democracy and the crisis of trust, nature, and value through building a Nordic-based network of mid-career and younger scholars. Researcher- and PhD-training will be one of the means to build a democracy-research platform of engagement and excellence across the social sciences, humanities, and law. 

The detailed project description is available upon request and should be read by potential candidates.

The position

The successful candidate will develop his/her research project within the overall frame of ”Stakes of democracy”. The candidate’s project might address or combine several stakes outlined above (Democracy and the crisis of trust; Democracy and the crisis in nature; Democracy and the crisis of value).He/she must point out which of the three stakes or combinations of them will be the candidate’s main focus area(s), and describe how this research plan contributes both to the overall project and to its different parts. 

The ideal candidate will have a track record in STS and/or cultural history. The position will focus particularly on conducting original empirically based work that contributes to theoretical development and empirical knowledge both within the “Stakes of democracy” research areas and within the field(s) of STS and/or cultural history.

A postdoctoral position is intended for the employee to develop a research profile and competence that qualifies them to apply for an Associate Professor position. “Stakes of democracy” will equip young talented scholars with skills and research and publishing training and thus supporting careers. A series of mid-career workshops will contribute to increase the candidate’s academic network.

A career plan shall be developed for the Postdoctoral Fellow, specifying the competencies the Postdoctoral Fellow should acquire. UiO is responsible for following up on the career plan and ensuring that the Postdoctoral Fellow has access to career guidance throughout the postdoctoral term. 

This position requires an interest in dissemination work and the successful candidate is expected to organize and participate in such events, as well as actively contributing to the activities and ‘everyday life’ of the overall project. 

The contract will commence in autumn 2025, run for 3 years full time, and the location of employment is Oslo, Norway.

The position encompasses possibilities for teaching tasks within TIK’s Ph.D., bachelor and master programs, including supervision of candidates and students within these programs, according to the TIK Centre’s needs and the candidate’s profile or interests. If such tasks are agreed upon, the contract will be extended accordingly. 

Qualifications 

Qualification requirements

• Only candidates who have submitted their PhD before the closing date for this position can apply. Appointment is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.
• Relevant candidates should have a Ph.D. in relevant areas of STS, cultural history or other relevant humanistic fields, as well as in-depth familiarity with relevant approaches within STS and/or cultural history as documented through academic degrees or course work, research and publishing.
• A project description of high academic quality that describes how its research plan contributes both to the overall project and to its different parts.  
• The successful candidate should have documented excellence in both theoretical development and empirical work within relevant areas of STS and/or cultural history.
• Good cooperation skills

Preferred qualifications

• A good publication record and well-developed research networks are meritorious. 
• ‘Stakes of Democracy’ is an interdisciplinary project with high ambitions for public outreach, cross-disciplinary seminars and training. Interest and experience from dissemination work and project and event-organizing is an advantage.

The evaluation of the candidates will be based on a comprehensive assessment of all qualifications – required as well as preferred - applicable to the position, including personal qualifications. The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews. 

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 and stimulating working environment. 
• Good welfare schemes.
• 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 Postdoctoral Fellow, position code 1352 in salary range NOK 595 000 - 668 000, 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.

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

Application

Your application should include:

• Application letter (statement of motivation and broader research interests, 1-2 pages). 
• CV (including a complete list of education with grades, positions, pedagogical and administrative experience, and other qualifying activities)
• A complete list of publications. 
• Research plan (maximum 5 pages) which describes how your project is linked to and will contribute to the overall frame of  ”Stakes of democracy”, and minimum one or more of the three stakes (Democracy and the crisis of trust; Democracy and the crisis in nature; Democracy and the crisis of value). Applicants should here also describe their intellectual background and qualifications, indicating the main theoretical approaches, empirical tools and publishing goals.
• Up to three publications that the applicant wishes to have considered in the assessment process
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• Contact information for 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number). 

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 be 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 cannot you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian).

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

University of Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture is a cross disciplinary unit at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Oslo. TIK is home to 40 staff members working in research, education and research communication in innovation and science and technology studies (STS). A major part of TIK’s activity is externally funded research. TIK also offers postgraduate education; a PhD-programme and two Master programmes. 

Questions about the position

Kristin Asdal

Professor Kristin Asdal

kristin.asdal@tik.uio.no 

Inger Johanne Ullern

Head of Administration

+4722854915

i.j.ullern@tik.uio.no