Job description
A Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) in Arabic Literature and/or Cultural Studies is available at the Department of Cultural Studies and Oriental Languages, University of Oslo.
The doctoral project, designed by the applicant, is expected to explore the relationship between Arabic literary/cultural production and social and political changes in the Middle East and beyond. We encourage projects that focus on the influence that societal changes have exerted on Arabic literature and cultural practices (including novels, poetry, visual arts, tv-series, movies, music, blogs, comics and graphic novels, digital performances, and translation practices), and vice versa how such practices may inform or contribute to societal change. The project may for example explore the effects of social and political uprisings taking place in the modern and contemporary era, from the rise of nationalist movements in the 19th -20th century to the Arab Spring and its aftermath, as well as global developments like climate change, diaspora, and exile. The project might also study the relationship between literature/culture and gender struggles, ecology, migration, and media transitions. We also encourage projects that explore the social reality of artistic and literary worlds, combining methods and theories from social sciences (fieldwork research, interviews) to close-reading and discourse analysis of literary and artistic works; and/or projects that open up for comparative and transnational perspectives across the Middle East, East Asia and Europe. The project description must be submitted as part of the application. Proven language competency in Arabic and excellent writing skills in academic English are required. The Project will be supervised by Associate Professor Teresa Pepe.
The person appointed will be affiliated with the Faculty’s organized research training. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty with a view to obtaining the degree of PhD. The successful candidate is expected to join the existing research milieu or network and contribute to its development. Read more about the doctoral degree.
The appointment is for a duration of 3 years. All PhD Candidates who submit their doctoral dissertation for assessment with a written recommendation from their supervisor within 3 years or 3 ½ years after the start of their PhD position, will be offered, respectively, a 12 or 6 month Completion Grant.
Qualification requirements
- A Master’s degree or equivalent in Middle Eastern studies, comparative literature, or other related fields relevant to the project’s research profile. The Master’s degree must have been obtained and the final evaluation must be available by the application deadline.
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English (see Language requirements)
- Fluency in Arabic. Competency in other Middle Eastern or East Asian Language (es. Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese) is required when relevant to the project.
- Personal suitability and motivation for the position.
To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Oslo, applicants must, as a minimum, have completed a five-year graduation course (Master’s degree or equivalent), including a Master’s thesis of at least 30 ECTS. In special cases, the Faculty may grant admission on the basis of a one-year Master course following an assessment of the study programme’s scope and quality.
In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on:
- The project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation
- The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to complete the project within the time frame
- The applicant’s ability to complete research training
- Good collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic communities
Applicants who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.
We offer
- Salary NOK 501 200 – 544 400 per annum depending on qualifications
- A professionally stimulating working environment
- Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Attractive welfare benefits
How to apply
The application must include:
- Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
- Curriculum Vitae (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications)
- Transcript of records of your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Applicants with education from a foreign university must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system
- Documentation of Language requirements (if applicable)
- Project description, including a detailed progress plan for the project (3 – 5 pages, maximum 14,000 characters. See Template for project descriptions)
Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
Educational certificates, master theses and the like are not to be submitted with the application, but applicants may be asked to submit such information or works later.
The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, jobbnorge.no.
Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.
Formal regulations
See also regulations as well as guidelines for the application assessment process and appointments to research fellowships.
Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, demographic information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants even if the applicant opts out from the entry in the public application list.
The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.
The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.
Contact information
For questions about the position:
Associate professor Teresa Pepe
Head of Research Jacob Høigilt
For questions on how to apply:
HR-Officer Natali Helgesen
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 7500 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.
The Department of Culture Studies and Oriental Languages (abbreviated IKOS from its Norwegian name) is one of the seven departments at the Faculty of Humanities. The Department has a broad competency in the study of religion and culture and in language based area studies of South Asia, East Asia and the Middle East and North Africa. IKOS also hosts the Oslo School of Environmental Humanities. The Department has several study programmes at both BA and MA levels. Among the Department’s 110 employees about 40 are PhD and Postdoctoral Fellows.