The Department of Political Science is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow (Assistant Professor) (SKO 1352) with a specialization in public administration. The successful applicant will be part of the project ‘Public leadership, organizational performance, and trust in government’ (PART) funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The appointment is for a fixed period of 4 years, with a 25% teaching requirement.
About the project
The PART project assesses the impact of administrative leadership on organizational performance and on citizens’ trust in government. PART studies how the professional background of administrative leaders affects (1) organizational performance; (2) employee motivation and task prioritization; and (3) citizens’ trust in bureaucracy. The focus is on the heads of agencies (regulatory, executive) and state-owned enterprises, comparing leadership backgrounds in politics and business to public sector backgrounds. PART collects and analyses multiple types of data, including biographical data, survey data, and survey experiments with bureaucrats and citizens. The Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to actively contribute to the broader research agenda and the research environment of the PART project.
The project is headed by Professor Tobias Bach and funded under the ‘Young Researcher Talents’ scheme of the Norwegian Research council. The project will be part of the department’s research group on Policy, Bureaucracy, and Organization (PBO). We encourage all applicants to read about PART on the project website.
More about the position
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 PART project.
Qualification requirements
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 (November 1, 2021). Such applicants should note the date of submission of their PhD in the cover letter. Appointment is dependent on successful completion of the defense of the doctoral thesis
Other 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 PART 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 526 000 –608 200 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 a 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 and the project, 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
- Upload a copy of your PhD dissertation
- 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 November 1, 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 early 2022 (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.
No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.
According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.
Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. We also want to have employees with diverse expertise, combinations of subjects, life experience and perspectives. We will make adjustments for employees who require this.
If there are qualified applicants with special needs, gaps in their CVs or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant in each of these groups to an interview.
Contact information
Associate professor Tobias Bach
HR-adviser Anders Haave
About the 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.
The Department of Political Science is a part of the Faculty of Social Sciences and conducts research, teaching and dissemination. The Department currently has 33 permanent academic staff members, 13 research fellows conducting PhDs, six postdoctoral fellows and ten administrative employees. About 1100 students are currently enrolled in Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD study programmes in political science, as well as the interdisciplinary Bachelor’s degree programmes in International Studies and Public Administration and Leadership, and the Master’s degree programme in Peace and Conflict Studies. The department is the host of C-REX Center for Research on Extremism.