About the position

Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo (UiO), is inviting applications for a 3-year PhD research fellowship. SUM is an international research institution with a well-established track record of undertaking critical, independent and high quality interdisciplinary and policy-related research on the challenges and dilemmas posed by sustainable development. As of June 1 2025, SUM will become part of UiO’s new flagship for research and education on sustainability, Centre for Global Sustainability.

The position forms a part of the RCN funded FRIPRO-project REPLACE: Meat replacement and systems of edibility in Asia and beyond. The position is dedicated to a Vietnam-focused case study but with the possibility of expanding the empirical focus to additional study contexts where relevant. The PhD candidate will be part of the SUM’s research group on sustainable consumption. We invite applications from candidates with a background in the social sciences or humanities and interdisciplinary experience is an advantage. The candidate must have a keen interest in critically understanding, theorising and explaining the complex range of factors that shape food practices among households, as well as in seeking potential pathways for sustainable change.

In order to be considered for the position, the application must explain in detail how the proposed PhD project relates to the overall REPLACE project.

The REPLACE project studies meat replacement products and practices in Eastern Asian contexts to understand how such products become acceptable food or not. Given that meat-intensive diets have significant health, environmental, climate and animal welfare impacts, the idea that alternative proteins can replace meat is generating hype, optimism and substantial investments. Whether involving insects, plants, lab-grown meat or other ingredients, alternative proteins come with high expectations. However, it has become increasingly evident that much has been taken for granted in this field: just because something can be eaten, this does not mean that it will qualify as desirable and culturally appropriate food. Hence, while alternative proteins can replace meat, it is still unclear to what extent and how this replacement will take place. Understanding how this does (not) happen is of crucial importance to achieving the dietary changes required for global food system sustainability.

Extensive research on alternative protein consumption shows that replacing meat is challenging and that there is considerable skepticism among consumers towards replacement products. We know this skepticism is shaped by a range of factors, such as taste and health concerns, the habitual nature of food practices, and a general distrust towards new food types. But we do not know how and why things become accepted as edible, desirable food or not. We do not even know quite how to study this. Such knowledge is thus necessary and urgent. To address this knowledge gap, REPLACE sets out to answer a deceptively simple question: how does food become food? To answer this question, it will develop a new theoretical and methodological approach that studies meat replacement across the value chain from production to consumption. To do so, it explores meat replacement in Eastern Asia, a key but understudied region in the ‘protein transition’. Focusing on a range of meat replacers, such as plant-based meat analogues, insects and lab-grown meat, the project focuses on the entire region but zooms in on two key but highly different case countries in Southeast Asia representing a main innovation hub and important market (Singapore) and a late industry entry and emerging market (Vietnam). The focus on products and processes may also lead the project to other Southeast or Northeast Asian countries.

The full project description can be provided upon request, please contact project leader Arve Hansen.

More about the position / Project description

The PhD project is intended to contribute to the Vietnam part of the project by carrying out fieldwork in Ho Chi Minh City including mapping of meat replacement products, conducting interviews across main points of the products’ related production-consumption complexes (e.g. regulation, production, supply, consumption), observe relevant production landscapes and food environments, and conduct in-depth food practice interviews with meat reducers or meat avoiders.

It is possible to suggest additional research beyond this.

The duration of appointment is 3 years.

Residence within commuting distance from Oslo is expected during the appointment, but the PhD fellows will also spend significant time abroad for research.

Qualifications requirements

Candidates must have an academically relevant background typically corresponding to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where 120 credits are obtained at master’s level. In exceptional cases we allow admission based on a one-year master’s degree. Relevant academic fields include – but are not limited to – human geography, development studies, social anthropology, sociology, gender studies, political science, and area studies. Research experience and/or practical work experience with regards to consumption, sustainability and/or food will be seen as a positive asset.

SUM can employ PhD candidates, but cannot award a doctoral degree. Thus, to be employed as a PhD Research Fellow, admission to a doctoral programme is required, or there must be a binding agreement for admission. Normally, one must apply for admission to a Ph.D. programme within 3 months after the start of the research project leading to the Ph.D. degree. More information and assistance will be provided upon appointment, but it is a good idea to consider which programme would be relevant.

Further requirements

Average grades of A or B in your master’s degree
Insights into the fields of food studies and consumption studies
Proficiency in both written and oral English. Applicants who have completed their education outside of the EU/EEA-area and who do not have English as a native language, must document language skills:

TOEFL, with a minimum result of 550 on the Paper-based Test (PBT), or 80 on the Internet-Based Test (iBT) OR IELTS, with the result 6.0. Please see Admission requirements for exemptions from language criteria.

Documented experience with qualitative research methods
Ability to do fieldwork in Vietnam
Good written and oral proficiency in English and Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language). If the employee cannot document skills in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 upon employment, UiO will offer Norwegian language training. The employee must complete training equivalent to at least 15 credits by the end of the employment period.

It is an advantage, but not a requirement that candidates have

Previous experience with research in Eastern Asian contexts
Local language skills
Previous experience with research on consumption, edibility, food or food systems

The candidates will be selected according to the following criteria:

The quality, relevance and originality of the project proposal
Academic merit (degrees and grades obtained)
Relevance of previous academic, professional and voluntary work
Experiences deemed specifically beneficial for the project
Personal motivation and suitability for the position
Ability to contribute to the aims of the REPLACE project

Personal skills

Ability and motivation to work in interdisciplinary teams
Collaboration and communication skills
Ability to work independently
Enthusiasm about contributing positively to the work environment at SUM

We offer

Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission, contributing to knowledge development, education, and enlightenment that promote sustainable, fair, and knowledge-based societal development.
An active Research school aimed at training and career planning for PhD candidates
Committed colleagues in a good working environment.
Good welfare schemes.
Opportunity of up to 1.5 hours a week of exercise during working hours.
A workplace with good development and career opportunities.
Membership in the Statens Pensjonskasse, which is one of Norway's best pension schemes with beneficial mortgages and good insurance schemes.
Salary in position as Doctoral Research Fellow, position code 1017 in salary range NOK from NOK 537 000 to 580 000, depending on competence and experience. From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund.

Read more about the benefits of working in the public sector at Employer Portal.

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

Application

.Application letter (max 1-2 pages) where you explain your motivation for applying for the position

Research proposal (max 5 pages excluding references). The research proposal should include brief description of a relevant conceptual or theoretical framework, a methods section that demonstrates how methods relate to research questions and objectives, a budget, a progress plan, and a list of references/literature sources
CV (summarising previous education, positions and academic work as well as language skills)
Copies of educational certificates
A list of academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
Contact information for 2 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number). Please note that references will only be contacted for candidates invited to interview

Short-listed applicants may be invited for an interview at the University of Oslo.

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The best qualified candidates will invited for interviews.

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.

Contact information

Head of office, SUM, Gitte Egenberg (gitte.egenberg@sum.uio.no) and project leader Prof. Arve Hansen (arve.hansen@sum.uio.no)

Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

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