The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees in a broad range of academic disciplines. UiO has shaped society for over 200 years. As a leading European university, it promotes independent, pioneering and long-term research and offers outstanding education.
The Department of Political Science is a part of the Faculty of Social Sciences. The department currently has 39 permanent academic staff members, 30 PhD fellows, 39 postdoctoral fellows and 12 administrative employees. About 1500 students are currently enrolled at the BA, MA and PhD levels. In addition to political science, the department has interdisciplinary study programs in International Studies, Public Administration and Leadership and a master’s program in Peace and Conflict Studies. The department hosts the interdisciplinary Center for Research on Extremism (C-REX) and has research groups in several subfields of political science (e.g. comparative institutions and regimes; policy, bureaucracy, and organization; politics of energy and climate; nuclear weapons).
About the position
The Department of Political Science is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow (SKO 1352) with a specialization in research policy or research governance. The successful applicant will be part of “The Centre for Research Quality and Policy Impact Studies” (R-Quest), an eight-year collaborative research project funded by the Norwegian Research Council and coordinated by the Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education (NIFU). The appointment is for a fixed period of 4 years, with a 25% teaching requirement.
The R-Quest project investigates the nature and mechanisms of research quality in an encompassing way, including the individual, organizational, and national level. In this, R-Quest focuses on three closely related questions concerning research quality: 1. How are notions of research quality negotiated, established and practiced, and what are the mechanisms through which these notions affect policy? 2. What are the drivers of high quality research, and what is the role of policy in developing outstanding research? 3. What are the effects of high quality research on the society? A central aim of R-Quest is to help policy makers in their efforts to develop the best framework conditions for high quality research. R-Quest is a comparative research project including partners from five European countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden & the U.K.) and the project employs both quantitative and qualitative methods including, for example, bibliometric analyses, survey analyses, or interviews.
The Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to actively contribute to the research agenda and the research environment of the R-Quest project. More specifically, this includes designing and conducting a study on conditions and drivers for high quality research, focusing on the national and/or organizational level, and the potential links between research performance and differences in specific policies or governance arrangements. Moreover, the Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to actively participate in research project meetings, and other relevant research activities in the context of R-Quest. We encourage all applicants to read about R-Quest on the project website.
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More about the position
The project is headed by Research Professor Liv Langfeld at NIFU and the Department of Political Science’s participation is coordinated by Associate Professor Jens Jungblut. The project is funded under the FORINNPOL initiative of the Research Council of Norway. R-Quest runs for eight years from 2016-2024. The project participants from the Department of Political Science are part of the department’s research group on Policy, Bureaucracy, and Organization (PBO).
The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines. Appointed postdoctoral fellows are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency in the course of their fellowship period. Applicants must write a research proposal that lays out a promising research agenda, including a publication plan that can be fulfilled in the course of four years. The Postdoctoral fellow is expected to contribute to research activities and dissemination within the R-QUEST project.
Applicants must write a research proposal that lays out a promising research agenda, including a publication plan that can be fulfilled in the course of four years. The Postdoctoral fellow is expected to contribute to research activities and dissemination within the R-QUEST project.
Qualification requirements
Formal Qualifications
A comprehensive assessment of the applicant's scientific qualifications forms the basis of appointment.
Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree (Ph.D) in Political Science or a closely related discipline before taking up the post.
For applicants who have yet to receive their PhD degree, the Doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation before the application deadline (August 15, 2021). Such applicants should note the date of submission of their PhD in the cover letter. Appointment is dependent on successful completion of the public defense of the doctoral thesis.
Preferred qualifications
Applicants must have a very good command of English (written and orally)
A good command of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is an advantage
Previous research on and familiarity with one or more of the topics covered by R-Quest is an advantage
The evaluation of applications is based primarily on documented, academic qualifications and the project plan. In addition, personal suitability and motivation are considered. The most promising candidates are invited to interviews
We offer
Salary according to “SKO 1352 Postdoktor”, pay grade 59-67, NOK 534 400–615 800 per year
Budget for travel and research assistance (currently NOK 45 000 per year). Staff can apply for additional research support from the department and faculty
An academically stimulating and international working environment
A friendly and inclusive workplace
A good pension scheme through the Norwegian Public Service Fund
A good work-life balance and access to Norway’s excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave provisions and affordable and accessible childcare (including the University’s kindergarden)
Female postdocs can take part in the UiO Mentor program for female postdocs
How to apply
The online application must include the following items:
A cover letter (max 2 pages, including statement of motivation
A research proposal (maximum 3000 words including references). The proposal should clarify the research theme, main research questions, how the research contributes to the existing literature, theoretical approach, methodology, and a publication plan
A CV summarizing education, positions, research and pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities
A complete list of publications (if not included in the CV)
Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
Upload a copy of (what you consider to be) your best academic analysis to date (only one). If this is a co-authored paper/publication, the applicant's individual contribution must be clarified and confirmed by co-authors.
Names and contact details for 2-3 reference persons (name, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letter not needed.
Applicants who have not yet defended their PhD dissertation, need to include a letter confirming that it is submitted for defense.
The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University’s grading system.
The application deadline is August 15, 2021. The screening and evaluation of the candidates will begin immediately. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer is made, to take 12-16 weeks, depending on the number of applications. The position will be awarded from November/December 2021 (or a mutually-agreed upon date).
We aim to increase the diversity of backgrounds in our staff, and we especially encourage female researchers to apply.
Formal regulations
Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.
Pursuant to section 25, of the Freedom of Information Act, information concerning the applicant may be disclosed to the public, even if the applicant has requested not to appear on the list of applicants.
The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for all employees for the purpose of securing intellectual property rights to research results, etc.
The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.
Contact information
Associate professor Jens Jungblut (LINK)
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