PhD Research Fellowship in Political Science (3-4 years)

About the position

We are offering 1-2 PhD positions with specialisation in either comparative politics, political data science, or public administration. The successful applicant(s) will be part of the research project “Governing elites since the dawn of modern democracy” (GETGOV), which is funded by the European Research Council. The PhD fellowship period is three years and devoted to carrying out research and pursuing a PhD in the context of the GETGOV project. The position may also include other career-enhancing activities: depending on the candidate’s competence and the teaching needs of the department, the fellowship period can be extended up to four years for qualification work consisting of e.g. teaching duties.

The primary aims of GETGOV is to investigate whether democracy has changed who govern us; and in turn how this impacts the decisions that are made. To do so, the project will create a database on individual governing elites globally from 1789 and onwards, building on the already existing WhoGov and Path to Power datasets. Using this database, we will investigate whether democracy makes governing elites look more like the people they govern, by looking at factors such as gender, place of birth, education, class, and occupation. Moreover, the project will use the new database to investigate whether more representative, diverse, and competent elites provide broad-based policies such as mass primary education and better outcomes such as economic growth. We will answer questions such as:

• Does democracy open the corridors of power to the people, or do the same individuals remain in control, despite a formal change in governance?
• Do autocracies and democracies appoint different types of people to governing positions?
• Do some types of governing elites provide better policies and outcomes than others?
• Are voters more satisfied with democracy if their governing elites look more like the population at large?

The PhD Fellow(s) is/are expected to develop a research project within the overarching thematic scope of the larger project, namely governing elites. While the PhD project should align with the framework of the main project, the candidate has significant flexibility to pursue their own approach and research agenda. We encourage the submission of a project proposal that includes a tentative overall thematic and theoretical framework, along with at least three ideas for academic articles. The Fellow will be expected to contribute to data collection and to 1) analyse the relationship between democratisation and the composition of governing elites, and 2) the impact of governing elites on outcomes. 

The successful candidate(s) will be part of the Faculty’s PhD programme. The work is expected to lead to a PhD in political science.

To promote a strategic career path, all PhD fellows are expected to submit a career development plan, specifying career goals and the competencies that the PhD fellow should acquire, no later than one month after commencement of the fellowship period. The department is responsible for ensuring that the plan is followed up and that the PhD fellow has access to career guidance throughout the duration of the fellowship.

Qualification requirements

Formal qualifications

• Education equivalent to five years at university level in Norway, with two years (120 credits) at Master’s level in a relevant field. The MA thesis must be equivalent to at least half a year’s workload, i.e. 30 ECTS.
• The Master’s degree must include relevant education in research methods.

Other qualifications

• English language skills (written and oral)
• Language skills in other widely spoken languages, such as Arabic, French, German, Hindi, Mandarin, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swahili is an advantage, but not a requirement.
• Applicants are required to possess robust empirical research knowledge within the realm of political science. They should be proficient in conducting quantitative analyses. Experience with large language models, machine learning, and/or programming in R or equivalent programs is an advantage but not a requirement.

The evaluation of applicants primarily hinges on their documented academic qualifications and the research proposal. During the initial screening phase, a strong emphasis is placed on formal qualifications and academic grades, where top-tier grades and a highly commendable MA thesis are generally prerequisites for shortlisting.

In the subsequent phase, the importance of the research proposal increases significantly. Additionally, factors such as personal suitability, motivation, and alignment with the project team are considered. The most promising candidates are then invited for an interview.

We offer

• Salary according to “SKO 1017 PhD fellow”, NOK 550 800 - 595 000 per year.
• Personal research funds that can be used for e.g. travel and research assistance (currently NOK 35 000 per year).
• A stimulating and international research environment with multiple research groups and seminar series.
• Involvement in a large research project that provides opportunities to build a network with scholars researching political elites around the world, including an annual workshop on the topic.
• A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance.
• Attractive UiO welfare benefits
• Access to Norway’s excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave provisions and affordable and accessible childcare (including the University’s kindergarten).
• Norway’s capital with its easy access to beautiful nature and rich cultural life.
• Introduction course for PhD Fellows: Teaching as a PhD candidate
• Annual career development conversation based on the submitted career plan. 
• Various courses and workshops supporting career development (e.g., on dissemination and presentation skills, op-ed writing, and stress-management).
• Financial and practical support for international staff moving to Norway (https://www.uio.no/english/about/jobs/ismo/) (international staff may also benefit from tax cuts in their first years)

We need different perspectives in our work 

UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no.

We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one?

We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures.

If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian).

The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports.

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

We hope you will apply for the position with us. 

How to apply

The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “apply for this job”.

The online application must include the following items, which are to be submitted before the deadline (all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language):

• A cover letter (maximum 2 pages), including a statement of motivation
• A research proposal (maximum 3,000 words including references). The proposal should clarify the research theme, main research questions, how the research contributes to existing literature and the project, theoretical approach, methodology, and a timeline. A final research proposal must be developed in cooperation with the project leader within three months of the start date. 
• A CV summarizing education, positions, research and pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities. Career breaks, including parental leave, that are noted in the CV will be taken into consideration when evaluating applicants' academic record.

• Copy of Master’s thesis (in English or in a Scandinavian language).
• Copies of transcripts: All applicants must submit their Master’s degree diploma and transcript(s), preferably together with a class distribution of grades. The transcript must specify the grade achieved for the Master’s thesis.
• Official explanation of the grading and credit system at your university (foreign applicants).
• Names and contact details for 2-3 reference persons (name, relationship to candidate, e-mail, and phone number). Reference letters are not needed.

The application deadline is 24th of November 2025. The screening and evaluation of candidates will begin immediately. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer being made, to take 5-8 weeks, depending on the number of applications. The expected start date is February 2026, but is subject to negotiations.

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.