A PhD position is available at the Department of Language and Culture (ISK), Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSL). This position is connected to the project FUTURES4Fish: Adaptive socio-technological solutions for Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture.
The position is for a period of three years. The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.
The workplace is at UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer.
The project
This position is connected to the project FUTURES4Fish: Adaptive socio-technological solutions for Norwegian fisheries and aquaculture, funded by the Norwegian Research Council.
The FUTURES4Fish specific objectives are: (1) Map and analyze overall trends and signals that are shaping tomorrow’s Norwegian fisheries & aquaculture (F&A) environment; (2) Identify and compare possible, probable, preferable, and disruptive F&A scenarios with a 20 years horizon (i.e. 2040); (3) Model likely responses of individuals, local and indigenous communities, society, and environment to these scenarios; (4) Quantify the impact of various scenarios and of the likely responses to these; (5) Prototype efficient solutions for achieving preferable scenarios and coping with disruptive ones, i.e. novel conceptual designs of F&A vessels, adaptive bottom-up innovation arenas, legal blueprints for the use of next generation technology, guidelines for ethical technology design for and governance of autonomous natural resource extraction, methodology for knowledge integration for Blue Futures.
The running example of Autonomous Fishing Technologies (AFTs) will be used throughout the project; see: Vanhée, L., Borit, M., Santos, J., 2020 og Santos, J., Borit, M., Vanhée, L., 2020.
The position’s field of research
This PhD position will focus on mapping possible, probable, and preferable futures connected to the disruptive potential of autonomous natural resource extraction technologies (using fisheries and aquaculture as a running example, but other industries will also be explored, such as forestry, mining etc.). Empirical focus will be on cultural expressions, social imaginaries, beliefs and attitudes of local and indigenous populations, media and business discourses, or other.
We are looking for a creative candidate who can engage with discourses of digital change and disruption in various contexts. The aim is to identify and map ideas and imaginaries about a future characterized by autonomous technologies with focus on possible consequences and implications of (sea-based) autonomous natural resource extraction across different sectors. The candidate should be familiar with interdisciplinary methods and draw upon a variety of sources and compare at least two of them: local communities, news media, decision-makers, popular culture, or else. In each case, internal divisions along such lines as class, gender, age, ethnicity, and more need be explored in a critical and reflective manner.
The overall objective is to synthesize and systematize what futures are envisioned in different communities and how possible responses are conceptualized. This futures perspective is aimed at enabling a priori responses to potential threats before these actualize and should hence improve the sustainability and resilience of technology implementation across sectors.
Applicable methods include, yet are not limited to, discourse analysis, field work, interviews, observation, close reading, qualitative and quantitative content analyses, cultural analysis or else.
The position will contribute to developing sustainable solutions for achieving preferable scenarios and coping with disruptive ones and to developing guidelines for ethical technology design for and governance of autonomous natural resource extraction systems.
All the participants in the project will be included in an introductory program for increasing their knowledge and awareness about the fishing industry with main focus on Norway. This program will include visits to fishing boat(s) and aquaculture sites, visits to local communities, and participation in meetings with the stakeholders. All the participants will also be included in project activities related to science communication, science education, and project management.
The applicants must present a description outlining the academic basis of the PhD project. The project description shall not exceed five pages, literature references included. It must include a description of the theme, research question(s) and a reasoning of the choices. It should also indicate the methodologies to be used. The final project description will be developed in cooperation with the supervisor.
Department of Language and Culture
The Department’s core activities are research, teaching, and dissemination within linguistics, literature, art history, and media and documentation studies. The Department hosts 85 permanent employees, 12 adjunct professors, and approximately 25 PhD fellows, as well as roughly 35 temporary research and teaching positions.
We offer one-year programmes, as well as full Bachelor and Master programmes in the following fields: General linguistics, literature, art history, media and documentation studies, English, Kven, Finnish, Norwegian, Russian, Sami, Spanish, and German. It also offers PhD programmes in linguistics, cultural/literary studies, art history, as well as media and documentation studies.
The Department also has a very active and diverse research profile. It houses one of the world’s most excellent research communities in linguistics represented by AcqVA Aurora Center, and with research groups within cognitive linguistics (CLEAR), Sami language technology (Giellatekno and Divvun), theoretical linguistics (CASTL-FISH) and sociolinguistics and revitalization, Multilingual North, Diversity, Education and Revitalisation (MULTINOR). The Department’s research communities within literature, art history, and media and documentation studies are nationally highly competitive, and are organised into research groups such as «Health, Art and Society» (HAS), Russian Space (RSCPR), Libraries, archives, museums, in the community (LAMCOM), Arctic Voices in Art and Literature (ARCTIC VOICES), Just Literature (JUL), Interdisciplinary Phenomenology (IP) and Worlding Northern Art (WONA).
Contact
For further information about the position, please contact professor Holger Pötzsch:
- phone: +47 77645380
- email: holger.potzsch@uit.no
or Associate Professor Melania Borit:
- phone: +47 91352814
- email: melania.borit@uit.no
Qualifications
This position requires a master’s degree in media studies; cultural studies; narratology; science & technology studies; futures studies; sustainability; social sciences; humanities; multi- or interdisciplinary marine or maritime related studies; organization theory, or similar.
a. Emphasis will be attached to the applicant’s potential for research and independent work, as shown by:
1. Master thesis,
2. any other academic or professional works,
3. research plan description.
b. The successful candidate must have:
- knowledge of social science and/or Humanities research methods
- experience working with different strains of qualitative or quantitative data collection and analysis
- documented written and oral English skills
c. It is an advantage if the candidate has:
- knowledge of imaginaries of autonomous technologies in various media and genres (e.g. fiction film, novels, documentaries, videogames)
- knowledge of ethics of technological development
- knowledge of technological impact assessment
- knowledge of futures studies techniques
- knowledge of science and technology research methods
- experience with multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary research
- experience with working with both qualitative and quantitative methods and data
- knowledge of fishing communities, operations, business models, and/or markets
- knowledge of Norwegian fisheries
- knowledge of any other natural resource extractive industry
- knowledge of modelling, preferably Agent-Based Modelling
- knowledge of autonomous (marine) systems and/or other emerging technologies
- knowledge of the Norwegian (or Scandinavian) language
- experience with science communication/education or training activities
- experience with artistic and/or creative forms of dissemination/communication
- experience working with stakeholders or participatory activities (in a broad sense)
We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. We are looking for candidates who:
- Have good collaboration skills
- Have good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
- Wants to contribute to a good working environment
As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.
Admission to the PhD programme
For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.
Admission normally requires:
- A bachelor’s degree of 180 ECTS and a master’s degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master’s degree of 300 ECTS.
- A master’s thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master’s degree of 120 ECTS.
- A master’s thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master’s degree of 300 ECTS.
All applicants should have a grade point average of B (or equivalent) on their master’s degree in order to be admitted to the PhD programme. The grade point average also applies to 300 ECTS points integrated five-year master’s degrees, in which all courses are to be included in the grade point average. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.
Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from NOKUT. Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor’s degree and a 2-year master’s degree.
Inclusion and diversity
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.
If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.
We offer
- Involvement in an interesting research project
- Three years of 100% employment
- Good career opportunities
- A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues
- Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
- Pension scheme through the state pension fund
- More practical information for working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility
Application
Your application must include:
- Letter of application/motivation explaining why you are a qualified candidate for the job when considering the “must have” and “advantage” requirements indicated here
- Project proposal that describes how you can contribute scientifically to the FUTURES4Fish project / described field of research and development. The proposal must include a progress plan for the employment period (three years). Maximum 5 pages, excluding references
- CV including track record
- Diplomas and transcripts (all degrees)
- Copy of Master’s thesis or equivalent exam
- Two written references / recommendations, including contact information
- Documentation of proficiency in the English language. See here how to document this
- Documentation / description of knowledge or familiarity with the Norwegian language (or any Scandinavian language)
- A list of your academic or professional production (if any)
- Description of your academic or professional production (if any), stating which works you consider most important
- Academic works or professional works, if any. The Master’s thesis is regarded as one work
Qualification with a master’s degree is required before commencement in the position. If you are near completion of your master’s degree, you may still apply and submit a draft version of the thesis and a statement from your supervisor or institution indicating when the degree will be obtained. You must still submit your transcripts for the master’s degree with your application.
All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or Scandinavian. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.
General information
The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.
A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.
Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.
We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.
In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.
UiT – Developing the High North
UiT is a multi-campus research university in Norway and the northernmost university of the world. Our central location in the High North, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio, and our interdisciplinary qualities make us uniquely suited to meet the challenges of the future. At UiT you can explore global issues from a close-up perspective.
Credibility, academic freedom, closeness, creativity and commitment shall be hallmarks of the relationship between our employees, between our employees and our students and between UiT and our partners.