One position as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017) in human rights research is available at the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law. The Centre is the leading research and educational institution on human rights in Norway.
The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. The candidate must be qualified for admission to the PhD program at the Faculty of Law. Read about the PhD programme here.
Applicants must present a research proposal within the field of human rights, explaining the topic, its justification, research questions and the approach and methods chosen. We are interested in receiving proposals focusing on either one, or a combination of the following two broad research areas of relevance to the work of the Centre.
- The first area concerns the process of implementation or enforcement of international human rights law and policies, broadly construed, at the domestic level.
- The second area concerns the impact (legal, political, social, or otherwise) of international human rights norms and the activity of international or regional human rights mechanisms at the national level.
We prefer research projects that include comparative approaches and mixed methods from law, social sciences, or philosophy, but will also consider proposals that are based on one relevant discipline. The selected candidate will automatically be admitted to the PhD programme of the Faculty of Law. The candidate is expected to be an active participant in and contributor to the research environment at the Centre, and take part in one or more of the research groups at the Faculty of Law, preferably from those related to the Centre.
More about the position
The fellowship period is preferably for 4 years, with 25 % compulsory teaching duties. This presupposes that the fellow is able to conduct teaching in subjects where there is a need for teaching resources in subjects of human rights at the Center or relevant teaching duties at the Faculty.
Alternatively, the candidate may apply for a 3-year fellowship without any teaching duties.
The teaching will primarily be in English.
Qualification requirements and skills
The applicants must hold what equals a Master’s degree in law, social science (e.g., political sciences), philosophy, or interdisciplinary human rights studies, with excellent results. For more information see here.
Applicants should have excellent command of written and spoken English. A good command of a Scandinavian language will also be an advantage, though not a condition. The candidate chosen is expected to work independently, and in a well-structured manner.
Applicants must have good collaboration skills, and be actively involved in contributing to a good professional environment at the Center and Faculty.
Assessment
In the evaluation of candidates, emphasis will be placed on the quality of the research proposal in addition to the candidates’ academic and personal qualifications, particularly in relation to their ability to execute the proposed project within the allotted time.
In assessing the applications, emphasis will be placed on the social and legal relevance and contemporary significance of the proposed projects.
The applicants’ project description, grades, previous academic publications, professional and personal qualifications, will be taken into consideration in the evaluation.
The short-listed candidates will be invited to interview for the position, either in person or via a digital platform. The candidates are evaluated by an assessment committee, which ranks the candidates based on the criteria indicated above and conducts interviews with short-listed candidates.
The Faculty’s appointment committee will make the final decision about the candidate who will be offered the position.
We offer
- Salary NOK 491 200 – 534 400 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow (position code 1017).
- An inspiring, friendly and inclusive working environment.
- Pension arrangement in the Norwegian Public Service Fund.
- Attractive welfare arrangements.
How to apply
The application must include:
- A letter of application describing the applicants’ qualifications and motivation for the position.
- A project description of 5-10 pages. The project description must give an account of the research project, its contribution and relevance to human rights, choice of theory and scientific methodology, possible scientific ethical challenges, and a work plan for completion. The proposal should include a publication plan.
- Curriculum Vitae (giving an overview of education, previous positions, academic accomplishments, and teaching experience).
- Complete list of academic publications.
- Certified copies of certificates and diplomas with all grades included in the degree. If the original language of the diplomas/certificates is not English or a Scandinavian language, an English language translation must be provided in addition to a copy of the original. Non-Norwegian certificates and diplomas must be accompanied by official documentation that explain the grading system, along with the official grading scale.
- Up to three academic works that the applicant wants to be considered. If any work is written by several authors, the division of work between them must be documented along with the co-author’s declaration.
- A list of references (2-3 references that include names, relation to the applicant, and contact details).
Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “apply for this job”.
Formal regulations
Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship 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.
The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.
The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.
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
For questions concerning academic content: Gentian Zyberi, Head of department, gentian.zyberi@nchr.uio.no.
For questions concerning the recruitment system and process: HR officer Andreas Mobråthen, andreas.mobrathen@jus.uio.no.
About the University of Oslo
The University of Oslo (UiO) is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked research and educational institution with 28,000 students and 7,000 employees. Academic breadth and internationally recognized research environments make UiO an important player in society.
The Faculty of Law has Norway’s largest research and educational environment for law, criminology and sociology of law with approx. 4300 students and 300 employees. The Faculty is organised in five departments and a faculty administration.
The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights (NCHR or Centre) is a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary centre that through research, education and dissemination will promote the human rights subject as an academic field and strengthen its international position as a key player and attractive partner in the human rights field. The Centre emphasizes the interconnectivity between research, education and practical application, among other things through international projects and programs. For more information – see NCHR’s website.