PhD position in Social Sciences (with focus on legal issues related to AI)

Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third largest university with 23,000 students and over 2,600 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and at Romerike. OsloMet educates students and conducts research that contributes to the sustainability of the Norwegian welfare state and the metropolitan region.

Faculty of Social Sciences offers study programmes within archivistics, library and information science, journalism and media studies, social work, social policy and child welfare, public management and business.

The faculty has about 4200 students and nearly 280 members of staff.

Oslo Business School has a vacancy for a temporary position as a PhD scholar in Social Sciences. The focus for this position will be on legal issues related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). The position as a PhD scholar is connected to the PhD programme at the Oslo Business School.

The Public Administration and Governance unit (part of Oslo Business School), which invites applications for this PhD position, includes scholars from several disciplines, such as Law, Political Sciences, Sociology, and Economics. Within the Law group, our research interests include legal and regulatory challenges related to digitalisation and/or use of new technologies such as AI; privacy and data protection law; EU law; contract law; administrative law, etc. The multidisciplinary nature of our section and its work environment encourage interdisciplinary research.  

The PhD scholar is expected to complete the doctoral degree within the period of employment.

About the position

The section Public Administration and Governance seeks candidates with a strong background in legal sciences, specifically in the areas described above, who are intellectually curious and possess strong communication and analytical skills.

The position is three years full-time but can be extended to four years if teaching assignments are included. 

Area of Research

The PhD dissertation must be relevant to the research within the Public Administration and Governance unit, and explore issues that investigate and address whether and how AI technologies challenge traditional legal concepts, principles and theory. Examples include legal questions concerning the impact of EU regulation of AI technologies on society, various business sectors or public administration. The candidate will use legal methodology alone or in combination with other social science methods. Innovative interdisciplinary research is encouraged.

Admission to the doctoral programme is a prerequisite. Applicants must have a grade B or better on their master's thesis and an average grade B or better on their master's degree. In special cases, applicants with a grade C may be considered for admission. In such cases, particularly relevant experience related to one's own research project and / or scientific publications may contribute to strengthening the application.

Admission to the doctoral programme is based on a comprehensive assessment of the application, including the relevance and quality of the project description. A final project plan for the fellowship period is required completed and acknowledged within 3 months from the date of employment.

Qualification requirements

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:

• Master’s degree or similar degree in Law (or in fields that include legal elements relevant to this position). We welcome candidates close to finishing their degree.
• Strong interest in research on legal issues.
• Very good analytical skills and ability to work independently and with others.
• Very good communication skills in English, both verbally and in written form. A good command of a Scandinavian language is an advantage but not a requirement.

In addition, experience from research projects and publishing in academic journals will be an advantage.

General criteria for employment as a Research Fellow are stipulated in these regulations: Regulations relating to the University and University College Act.

See information about admission criteria to the PhD-programme.

Project Proposal

The project proposal must consist of a maximum of 10 pages, giving a description of your planned research.  The research proposal will be an important part of the assessment and must demonstrate how the project will lead to a doctoral degree within the designated period. You can read more about the requirements here: requirements for the project plan.

Application

You must upload the following documents together with your application by the final deadline for applications:

• Cover letter including a full statement of motivation.
• Project proposal: maximum 10 pages. The project proposal must be written in English or a Scandinavian language. Summary of the master’s thesis and list of previous scholarly work including conference presentations.
• Copies of master’s thesis and published works.
• CV
• Certificates/diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. The certificates/diplomas must include ECTS grades (A–F). Diplomas not issued in a Scandinavian language must be translated into English by the degree-conferring institution or by an accredited translator. Education taken abroad should preferably be recognised in advance by NOKUT, and a confirmed copy of the letter of recognition should be enclosed.

You must upload all of these documents. Original documents and a valid passport must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet performs document inspections in order to give candidates a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered. The application must state your reasons for applying to the project and what makes you particularly qualified to carry out this PhD work.

It is important for OsloMet to reflect the diverse and multicultural population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavours to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. If there are periods where you have not been in work or have been studying or in training, you are also welcome to apply.

If you have documents that cannot be uploaded electronically, please contact Ståle Bie, stale.bie@oslomet.no

Assessment

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee and may be invited to OsloMet for further assessment as well as interviews.

We can offer you

• an exciting job opportunity at Norway’s third largest university
• participation in a dynamic professional environment and international academic community
• opportunities for academic development in a professional research environment
• opportunities to present research at conferences in a national and international environment
• three-year full-time position with 100% salary; possibility to extend to 4 years with teaching duties
• beneficial pension arrangements with the Norwegian State Pension Fund
• good employee welfare arrangements
• free Norwegian classes to employees
• work location in downtown Oslo with multiple cultural activities

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway

Other information

For more information about the position, feel free to contact:

• Siri Brorstad Borlaug, Head of academic unit, siri.borlaug@oslomet.no
• Emily M. Weitzenböck, professor (+47) 92290918, emmawe@oslomet.no

The salary for the position is in accordance with the pay scale for Norwegian state employees, job title and position code. State salary wage scale 1017 Research Fellow, NOK 550 800 per year. 

If you wish to apply for the position, please apply electronically by clicking the button at the bottom of the page.

OsloMet is a Charter & Code certified institution by the EU Commission holding the right to use the logo HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R). OsloMet is a member of the EURAXESS network supporting a positive work environment for researchers in motion.

OsloMet has signed The Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA). DORA recognizes the need to improve the ways in which the outputs of scholarly research are evaluated.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who are seen to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter law will not be considered for the position.

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