UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

Through robust and close interaction with the world around us – globally, nationally and locally – we shall be instrumental in building a society based on knowledge, skills and attitudes.

Do you want to take part in shaping the future?

. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyaThmIq6Kg

Research Assistant 60 %

There is a vacancy for a research assistant position at the Department of Sociology, University of Bergen, as part of the Horizon Europe funded research project Pro-Coast. The position is 0.6 FTE (60%) for a fixed term period of 17 months (1 June 2025 – 31 October 2026). Total employment as a research assistant cannot exceed two years.

Research assistant is a recruitment position where the main task is to be a supporting entity to the academic staff in their instructional and research endeavors. The position will provide the opportunity to gain insight into scientific work and methodology.

About the project/work tasks:

The Project

 The vision of PRO-COAST (https://www.pro-coast.eu/en/c) is to stimulate and empower local communities and civil society to support restoration and maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystem services across Europe, and thus to involve citizens and residents more actively in environmental governance. To achieve this, PRO-COAST is gathering and synthesizing knowledge to contribute to informed citizen decisions and improve participation in community decision making, at 10 coastal sites across Europe. Our goal is to avoid loss of biodiversity by empowering ecosystem managers with the knowledge to make informed decisions that conserve biodiversity in the first place. The team is led by TERO, an environmental and technology consultancy based in Greece, and funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe program.

Work tasks

The Research Assistant’s role will be to gather, analyse and present in structured form to the consortium team data for two case studies/living labs. The first of these is work to promote awareness of and reduce ‘ghost-fishing’ caused by lost and discarded fishing gear off the coast of Vestland, led by The Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature (NMF), while the second follows the course of a proposal by a local business consortium to build a new dock for cruise-ships and create a new transport hub at Eidsvika on the island of Askøy, which is opposed by the local conservationists. The research assistant’s role will focus on (i) the development of these cases, working with UiB’s project lead, Professor David Herbert, to co-design and conduct workshops and interviews with stakeholders, participate in fieldwork activities and to gather and analyze data from media, grey and scientific literature, as directed. The successful candidate is expected to live and work in Bergen during the term of employment, and to take part in common activities at the Department of Sociology and in relevant interdisciplinary forums as applicable

Qualifications and personal qualities:

Essential qualifications and personal qualities:

• Applicants must hold a Masters’ degree in Sociology, or another relevant social or behavioral sciences discipline, preferably with a thesis grade and grade average of B or above.
• Competence, experience, and research interests fitting to the Pro-Coast project. 
• Experience with relevant methods including in-depth interviews, focus groups, fieldwork and document analysis. 
• Knowledge about and interest in relevant theoretical perspectives. 
• Proficiency in Norwegian or another of the Scandinavian languages is a requirement since the data collection will be within the Norwegian context. 
• Proficiency in both written and spoken English is a requirement to enable effective communication within the Pro-Coast team and in the project’s dissemination activities. 
• Excellent cooperation and communication skills, and an ability to work as part of a team. 
• Ability to work independently and systematically.

Desirable qualifications and personal qualities:

• It would be an advantage to have a demonstrable interest and competence in using mixed methods to investigate socio-cultural phenomena (e.g. bachelors’ or masters’ dissertation).
• It would be an advantage to have a demonstrable interest in ecology/environmental issues.

The selected candidate is expected to live and work in the Bergen region and contribute actively to joint activities at the department. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. In assessing the candidates, personal and relational qualities and organizational skills will be emphasized.

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment. 
• Gross annual salary as a research assistant code 1020, will be NOK 509 300, -. Further promotions are made according to length of service.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• A position in an inclusive workplace (IW).
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

The application with CV, copies of diplomas and transcripts, certificates of education and other relevant documents with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at JobbNorge. (by the link on this page marked “Apply for this job”.) 

Closing date: May 15, 2025. The application must be marked 25/5204.

Potential candidates will be invited for an interview.

Further information:

The Department of Sociology. The position will be based in the Department of Sociology, which is part of an extensive social science environment at The Faculty of Social Sciences, including CET, the Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation, a cross-disciplinary research centre which aims to create knowledge about how we may achieve deep, rapid, and sustainable transformation of society in the face of climate change. The Department of Sociology has a long tradition of empirically based research on various societal problem areas, with special emphasis on issues related to social inequality. Research is currently organized into 3 research groups: Environment, Migration and Mobility (relates to Pro-Climate), Welfare, Inequality and the Life Course and Work, Knowledge, Economy and Education. For further information see:  https://www.uib.no/en/sosio/143577/research-profile.) 

General information:

For further details about the position, please contact Professor David Herbert, David.Herbert@uib.no

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.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

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.