PhD Research Fellow in Cybersecurity Management

About the position

A  100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Social Sciences, as a PhD Research Fellow, affiliated to the Department of Information Systems, for a period of three years, or four year with 25 % other career-promoting work. The position is located at Campus Kristiansand, Norway.

The successful applicant should start in mid-2026; the starting date is negotiable with the faculty. 

The Department of Information Systems offers bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees in Information Systems, a master’s degree in Cybersecurity and an executive master’s degree in Digitalisation. It also contributes to other University of Agder programmes and qualifications. With over fifty research-active staff, the Department is one of Norway’s largest Information Systems research groups. 

Responsibilities

The Department of Information Systems invites ambitious researchers to submit a PhD project proposal focusing on Cybersecurity Management. We seek candidates who can bridge the gap between technical infrastructure and human behavior. In this role, you will investigate the complex interplay between information security and cyberspace security through a sociotechnical lens. Your research should demonstrate an equal commitment to understanding social dynamics and technical frameworks, acknowledging that modern security challenges cannot be solved by one without the other.                       

The PhD project will be shaped by the candidate’s specific research proposal and may explore various dimensions of cybersecurity management depending on the chosen scope. We are particularly interested in research investigating how rapid developments in digital technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, enable or constrain cybersecurity practices. This inquiry can span the offensive side, such as tactics used by threat actors, as well as defensive and preemptive measures designed to thwart cyberattacks before they initiate. The candidate is expected to contribute to scientific knowledge while outlining the broader societal implications of their findings.

To support this work, the University of Agder offers an extensive network of partners, providing an excellent opportunity for the chosen candidate to conduct empirical research within a real-world organizational context. For instance, Kartverket (the Norwegian Mapping Authority) has expressed a willingness to collaborate with a candidate whose research aligns with their operational challenges. We encourage applicants to adopt the theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches best suited to their research problems, whether the focus is at the individual, organizational, or societal level. Potential themes of interest include, but are not limited to, human cybersecurity behavior, the development and erosion of cybersecurity skills, cyber resilience, cyber deception, and the evolving nature of cybercrime.

Required qualifications

• master’s degree of 120 ECTS credits in Information Systems or another closely related areas, with an average grade of B or higher
• scientifically original and academically strong project proposal that is suitable for making an independent contribution to research within information systems
• strong analytical skills
• Fluency in written and oral English 

Master’s candidates graduating this year should have submitted their master’s thesis for assessment by the application deadline, and the master’s degree must be formally approved no later than four weeks after the application deadline.

Criteria for positions as PhD Research Fellow (in Norwegian)

Desired qualifications

• experience in conducting scientific/ academic research
• experience in carrying out academic projects and writing and publishing academic texts
• teaching experience in a university or higher education context (such as giving lectures or leading seminars)
• good pedagogical skills

Personal qualities

• strong communication skills (both written and oral)
• critical thinking skills
• proactive, adaptive and open-minded
• balance between focus on results and social skills 
• ability to work independently as well as in teams
• strong motivation to contribute to a good working environment

We offer

• professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation  
• a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment  
• modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers   
• membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund  

More about working at UiA. 

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 550 800 gross salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.  

General information

UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV. 

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the acts relating to Control of Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions. A background check may be conducted to verify information that appears in available documents. Background checks are always done with the applicant's consent, and employment in the position requires an approved background check. Relevant applicants will receive further information. 

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process. 

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right.   

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job". 

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:  

• Academic CV
• Cover letter (max. 1 page, 500 words approximately) with your motivation for this position
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not yet completed your master´s degree, provide a transcript of courses completed and the estimated date for the master’s degree completion.
• A copy of the master’s thesis. For those who are near to completion, an extended abstract combined with a statement about completion plans. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking the position.
• Academic works, published or under review, if any, that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 5 items)
• Research proposal (5000 words maximum). The proposal must contain tentative research questions, possible theoretical perspective(s), potential methodological approach(es), and planned progression for the doctoral project. 
• Name and contact information of two references. 

The quality of the research proposal will receive a high level of consideration during the application assessment process. The University, on its side, is committed to securing good supervision for successful applicants.

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English. 

Application deadline: 15.06.2026 

Contact

For questions about the position:

Professor Øystein Sæbø, Head of Department: oystein.sabo@uia.no 

For questions about the application process:

Adviser, Hege Fatland, e-mail: hege.fatland@uia.no 

Creating knowledge together

When people who are committed come together to further knowledge, anything is possible.

The University of Agder combines the unique warmth and charm of Southern Norway with first-class scientific, technological and artistic expertise.

Would you like to work with us to create better solutions to our shared challenges?

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