Researcher position in Audience Understanding, Personalisation & AI at MediaFutures

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Researcher

There is a vacancy for a Researcher position at MediaFutures: Research Centre for Responsible Media Technology & Innovation. The position is for a period of 2 years, starting in January 2026. We are looking for an ambitious and self-motivated colleague to join us in MediaFutures: Research Centre for Responsible Media Technology & Innovation. 

MediaFutures is a centre for research-based innovation at the University of Bergen and is located at Media City Bergen. The centre is a part of the Norwegian Research Council’s Research-based Innovation scheme. MediaFutures is cooperating with industry partners from news media and media technology research topics like media experiences and trust, recommender technology, content production and analysis, content interaction and availability, and Norwegian language technology. The goal is to develop responsible technological solutions to societal challenges like AI, fake news, echo chambers, and political polarisation. The results will be new digital tools, analysis methods, and content types for the future of media. The centre performs research training within media technology and innovation. This creates outputs such as new prototypes, research articles, and software, as well as innovative start-up companies.

Read more about the centre at www.mediafutures.no.

About the work tasks:

The candidate will be based at MediaFutures in Media City Bergen, working within the Audience Understanding & Personalisation research area. The position involves close collaboration with researchers and industry partners including TV2, Schibsted, NRK, Amedia and others, as well as engagement with relevant researchers and partners in other MediaFutures work packages.

The Audience Understanding & Personalisation area aims to computationally understand media user behaviour and support users in discovering relevant content through personalisation techniques.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

• Conduct quantitative studies on user behaviour, including:
  • Statistical analysis of datasets provided by MediaFutures’ industry partners and other research sources.
  • Design and execution of online surveys and experiments (e.g., studies on news trust and engagement).
• Contribute substantially to interdisciplinary scientific publications based on project results.
• Develop prototypes and demonstrators to showcase results to industry partners.
• Support the transfer of scientific knowledge into practical applications, assisting in the implementation of solutions in real-world media environments.
• Undertake secondments at industry partner organisations within MediaFutures.
• Contribute to grant development, reporting, and other tasks as delegated by the Centre Director.

The position has a strong innovation focus and provides opportunities to collaborate across disciplines and sectors. Personnel responsibility rests with the Centre Leader.

Why Join Us?

You will be part of a vibrant and collaborative research environment, working at the intersection of academia and industry. Your work will help define how future media is experienced and trusted, contributing to innovations with real-world impact.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a Norwegian PhD or an equivalent degree within information or computer science, computational social science or related fields. It is a condition that the PhD thesis has been submitted by the time of application and that the PhD has been awarded by the starting date of the position.
• Experience in quantitative research is a requirement.
• Demonstrated competencies and skills within programming and statistical analyses (e.g., in Python, R, or STATA) are a requirement.  
• A Background/knowledge in media technology is a requirement.
• The applicant must be able to work independently and in a structured manner, as well as have the ability to collaborate with others.
• Proficiency in both written and oral English (this is the working language of the centre).
• Start date: January 19th, 2026.

Potential candidates may be invited to the center for an interview.

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment. 
• Salary at 657 000 NOK per year (code 1109) on the government salary scale upon appointment. Further promotions are made according to the length of service in the position. 
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• Good welfare benefits
• An inclusive workspace at MediaCity Bergen.

For more information about moving to Bergen and Norway, please visit https://www.uib.no/en/node/133625/, and https://www.uib.no/en/hr/74243/what-can-university-bergen-offer-its-employees.

Your application must include:

• A cover letter with a brief account of research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these must be the main advisor from the PhD program. 
• CV
• Transcripts and diplomas and official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted.
• Relevant certificates/references.
• List of any works of a scientific nature (publication list).
• A maximum of five publications in your name 

The application and any attachments along with certified translations in English or another Scandinavian language must be uploaded to JobbNorge.

The closing date is November 4, 2025. The application has to be marked with: 25/12731.

Applications sent by e-mail will not be evaluated.

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting center leader Christoph Trattner or work package leader Erik Knudsen.

Practical questions about the application process should be directed to HR Advisor Gudrun Horvei.

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.For further information about the recruitment process, click here.