Doctoral Research Fellowship associated with the ERC-funded project "ECOART"

About the position 

A full-time Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) in Art History and Visual Studies is available at the Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas, University of Oslo.

The position forms part of the European Research Council-funded Consolidator project ECOART – An Ecological History of Eurasian Art: Natural Resources, Aesthetic Practices, and Early Modern Globalization, which will consist of a team of one Principal Investigator, three doctoral research fellows and two post-doctoral research fellows. The project investigates the artistic use and visual representation of geographical, geological, botanical, zoological, and climatic resources in Eurasia, a space dominated by European and Chinese economic spheres of influence, in an era of early modern globalization from 1500 to 1800. Funding for fieldwork, archival research, conference attendance and publications will be available to all members of the project. More information about the project, the team and its activities can be found here. 

The application must contain a project description.

More about the position 

The doctoral research fellowship is available for a dissertation project that focuses on the artistic use and visual representation of geological resources such as gemstones, clays and metals in Mughal India. The focus of the dissertation will be a comprehensive investigation of the extraction, exchange, and artistic uses of one or more geological resources for example through research on extant artifacts that implement mined goods as well as visual documentations of mining itself. The dissertation will tackle how selected geological resources informed aesthetic practices in the Mughal Empire and beyond and how knowledge on clays, gemstones, metals or other mined goods was developed and articulated in art and artisanship. Possible examples include but are not limited to mined pigments in Mughal painting such as ground malachite and gold powder; jade, rock crystal, diamonds, rubies, and other gemstones used by Indian craftspeople in the making of collectible and wearable objects; Indo-Portuguese silverworks and other examples of metalwork from workshops across highly cosmopolitan sites like Gujarat and Goa.

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 environment/network of the department 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 History of Knowledge, History of Art, Cultural History, Material Culture Studies or related fields. The Master's degree must normally have been obtained and the final evaluation must be available the application deadline. In exceptional cases, we can consider applications from candidates who do not yet have an MA degree, but who are close to completing one. If so, the degree must have been awarded by the time the position is taken up.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English, see Language requirements, training in at least one Asian language
• research or working experience in non-Western contexts as well as familiarity with or expertise in digital humanities
• 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 can offer you

• Salary NOK 550 800 - 595 800 per annum depending on qualifications
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Attractive welfare benefits

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.

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.

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 cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian),  Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO 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.