PhD Research Fellowship in Digital Culture – 2 positions

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PhD Research Fellowship in Digital Culture – 2 positions

The Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies invites applications for 2 PhD positions in Digital Culture commencing 01.09.2024 or as agreed. The positions is for a fixed-term period of four years.

About the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies (LLE)

The department employs an academic staff of 80, 15 administrative staff, and about 40 ph.d. fellows and postdocs. We offer study programs in Art History, Classical philology, Comparative Literature, Digital Culture, Linguistics, Norwegian as a Secondary Language, Old Norse Philology, Scandinavian Studies, Theatre Studies and Norwegian language courses for international students and employees at the University of Bergen. LLE is also the proud host for the Norwegian Center of Research Excellence Center for Digital Narrative (CDN), and responsible for three of the most important dictionaries of the Norwegian language.

About the Project

The project “Algorithmic folklore: The mutual shaping of vernacular creativity and automation” (ALGOFOLK) is funded by the Trond Mohn Foundation, PI: Gabriele de Seta. The project studies how algorithms are changing the relationship between creativity and automation across the globe, using a combination of ethnographic research and digital humanities methods. You can read more about this project here: https://www.uib.no/en/cdn/166832/investigating-modern-myths-algorithms.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a Norwegian master’s degree or the equivalent foreign degree in Digital Culture, Digital Humanities, Media Anthropology, Digital Sociology, Media Studies, Science & Technology Studies, or a related field in the humanities and social sciences (with an interest in algorithmic culture or similar topics). It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded at the time of application. Applicants who document a foreign degree will be evaluated according to the regulations of the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) and The Faculty of Humanities’ PhD Programme plan.
• The applicant must provide a project proposal (max. 3 pages) aligned with the goals of the ALGOFOLK-project, that is, using digital humanities and social science methodologies to study the relationship between algorithmic automation and vernacular creativity in a global context, with a particular emphasis on both EU and Global South contexts. The proposed project needs to result in a doctoral dissertation.
• The applicant must be able to work independently in a well-structured way and have good cooperation skills.
• The applicant must be proficient in both written and oral English.

Applicants will be evaluated according to admission requirements in The Faculty of Humanities' PhD Program pt. 2.1.

In assessing the applications, the academic quality and feasibility of the proposed project, the relevance to the project and regional representation within the ALGOFOLK-project, and the academic qualificaions of the candidate will be considered. Further emphasis is also placed on strategic considerations, motivation, and the applicant's personal eligibility.

About the PhD position:

The main purpose of the PhD position is to complete a doctoral degree, which qualifies for independent research and for other forms of employment that demand specific competency. The duration of the PhD position is four years, of which 25 per cent of the time comprises other, career-promoting work associated with teaching, dissemination of results, and administration.The plan for this part of the position is developed in collaboration with the Department at the very beginning of the employment period.

Applicants who have already held a PhD position at the University of Bergen are not eligible to apply for this position.

The employment period may be reduced for candidates who have previously been employed in a recruitment position at other institutions. 

The PhD position demands that the applicant has their regular workplace at the University of Bergen and comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

About the research training

As a PhD candidate you must participate in the Faculty of Humanities’ educational programme. The programme consists of completing a training component of 30 ECTS, annual progress reporting and an approved midway evaluation. Click here for additional details on the content and requirements of the PhD program at the Faculty of Humanities.

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment.
• Salary at pay grade 54 (code 1017) in the state salary scale, currently equivalent to a gross annual salary of NOK 532 200 following ordinary meriting regulations. Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. 
• A position in an inclusive workplace (IA) enterprise.
• Good welfare benefits.

How to apply:

Applications must be sent electronically via the “APPLY FOR THIS JOB” link on this site. The applicant must use the electronic CV form. The application must include:

• A project proposal of up to five pages/12.000 characters, when bibliography is not included. The project proposal should describe the research project, including research background, main research questions, theory, method, etc.
• Bibliography for the proposed project.
• A progress plan for the project.
• A brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• CV.
• Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor's and master's degrees. This must contain information about the number of ECTS of the master’s degree, or be followed by an official and personalized confirmation with this information issued by the awarding institution.
• A short summary of the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis (up to three pages).
• A list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list).
• Publications in your name (up to three works).
• Relevant certificates/references.
• The names and contact information for two referees. One of these must be the main advisor for the master's thesis or equivalent thesis.

The application and attachments need to be in Norwegian, another Scandinavian language or English. Documents in other languages need to be uploaded together with a certified translation into English (or a Scandinavian language). Attachments can be in either Word or PDF and must be uploaded to Jobbnorge within the application deadline.

General information:

For further information about the position and for a full project description, applicants may contact the PI of the ALGOFOLK project, Dr. Gabriele de Seta, email: gabriele.seta@uib.no, phone: +47 920 99 270 or the Head of department, Professor Anders Fagerjord, email: Anders.Fagerjord@uib.no, phone: +47 55 58 36 52.

The public sector shall reflect the diversity of the Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions. Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of applicants. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

Shortlisted candidates will be called in to an interview.

Questions or queries about the electronic application process can be directed to fakadm@hf.uib.no.

Further information about our employment process can be found here.

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.

About UiB

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad. 

There are four departments and four centres at Faculty of Humanities. Read more about the faculty and departments.