4-year Postdoctoral Fellow in Gender, Peace, and Security

Humanities

4-year Postdoctoral Fellow in Gender, Peace, and Security

Job description

Scholars with an interdisciplinary orientation are invited to apply for a position as Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Gender Research at the University of Oslo. The successful applicant will be affiliated with the research group on the European Research Council Consolidator grant project ‘Innocent Children or Security Threats? European Children Born of War (EuroWARCHILD)” https://www.eurowarchild.org/ .

EuroWARCHILD is the first project to examine different groups of war children in the European context; namely across different conflicts, security settings and generations; children fathered by German soldiers in Norway and Denmark during World War II, children fathered by Red Army soldiers with German mothers in Germany during and after WW II, children conceived through conflict-related sexual violence during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992 -1995, and children born by European foreign fighters to ISIS.

EuroWARCHLD asks how s a child born of war can become a security concern, and what does it entail for the child who does? The primary objective is to provide a significant contribution to the development of both theoretical and empirical knowledge about children born of war: understanding and theorizing resistance to, and adoption of security discourses, surrounding these groups. The geographical and empirical focus is Europe because we have an opportunity to study different age groups of war children. The secondary objective of this research is to contribute to policy development and increase global attention, and policy responses, to children born of war, in Europe and beyond. To this end, the EuroWARCHILD project has three distinct objectives. First, to develop a theory of securitized child identities. Second, to document how conceptualizations of security frame mobilization for social, legal and political recognition for children born of war across European contexts and generations. Third, to analyze how children born of war narrate life histories along a security continuum and its impact on identity formation across European contexts and generations.

The EuroWARCHILD project is led by Professor Inger Skjelsbæk and runs from 2021 to 2026.

Gender, peace and security concerns, and scholarship, is at the heart of the EuroWARCHILD project. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be part of the project research group, but the Postdoctoral study can be framed in different ways. It should, however, make clear how the project links gender, peace, and security to the issue of children born of war.

A successful candidate must be able to work independently and structured. We are looking for people who cooperate well, help us develop the field, disseminate well, and with an expressed wish to foster a good work environment.

In assessing the applications, emphasis will be placed on the quality of the research proposal, previous publications, method, and theory skills. In addition, we will take into account any documented teaching skills. Further, it is also important that the candidate can prove good and quality assured administrative and communicative skills with policy and practice communities on national and international levels, as well as project management. The candidate must have excellent oral and written English language skills. Working knowledge of a Scandinavian language is also an advantage, but this is not a requirement. 

The appointment is for a fixed, non-tenured term of 4 years with 25% of the time set aside for required duties such as teaching and project management. This means that 75 % of the working time over four years is devoted to research.

More about the position

Postdoctoral fellows who are appointed for a period of four years are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency during their fellowship period within the duty component of 25 %.

The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines

Qualification requirements

  • Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in social science, humanities or law.

  • For applicants who have yet to receive their PhD degree, the Doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation before the application deadline. Such applicants must note the date of submission of their PhD in the cover letter.  Appointment depends on successful defense of the doctoral thesis.

  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

The following qualifications will also count in the assessment of the applicants:

  • Personal suitability and ability to cooperate, as well as general motivation for the project
  • Prior research experience on one or more of the topics covered in EuroWARCHILD
  • Experience with ethical reviews or ethical evaluation
  • Experience and engagement with general academic dissemination
  • Documented project management experience, or similar
  • Documented teaching experience and competence

We offer

  • Salary NOK 585 000 – 660 000 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)

  • An academically stimulating working environment

  • A friendly and inclusive workplace

  • Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

  • A short cover letter (max 2 pages, that can include statement of motivation, research interests, and how the applicant will contribute to the project/Centre)

  • A research proposal (maximum 4000 words including references). The proposal should clarify the main research questions, the theoretical approach, research design/methodology, how the research contributes to the existing literature, and how the research plan fits with the EuroWARCHILD project. It should also include a time-line and publication plan.

  • CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)

  • Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)

  • A complete list of publications (if not included in the CV)

  • 2-4 numbers of academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered

  • List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system. Failure to do so can result in disqualification. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

The initial evaluation is done by an expert committee which will rank the applicants based on the criteria above, then an interview committee will call the top ranked candidates for an interview. Should the number of applicants be high, we may also use a sorting committee before it goes to the expert committee to make a rough sorting of candidates. The university hiring committee will make the final decision. If things go according to schedule, we expect the first possible start date to be in the late summer 2024. The timetable is subject to change.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project during the period of employment.

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.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

Professor, Center for Gender Research (STK), Inger Skjelsbæk, inger.skjelsbak@stk.uio.no (or +47 93802492) Project leader

Head of Office, Center for Gender Research (STK), Andrew Feltham, andrew.feltham@stk.uio.no

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.

Centre for Gender Research (STK) at the University of Oslo (UiO) is the largest centre in Norway for gender research and among the leading gender studies institutes of its kind in the Nordic region. STK is a stand-alone research unit within UiO that cooperates closely with other faculties, departments and institutes at UiO.

Deadline: 2024-02-26 at 23:59
Unit: Humanities

Read the job description at the university homepage or apply.