PhD candidate within Gender Studies and/or STS: Imagining Positive Energy Futures

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You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

   

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About the position

The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture (KULT, www.ntnu.no/kult) at NTNU, is announcing an exciting 3-year PhD position within the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture. The position is part of the research project Imagining Positive Energy Futures (IPEF, 2026-2030), led by Jennifer Branlat and funded by the Research Council of Norway. The project is housed at NTNU but brings together a number of societal stakeholders. The overarching aim of the project is to move away from tech-dominated visions and narratives of the future to understand what local communities in Orkland and Finnmark desire from the energy transition in Norway. The work of IPEF is to accomplish this aim by making visible a wider range of perspectives to create better and more just energy futures. 

Electrification is a cornerstone of Norwegian climate strategies, with far reaching implications. In Norway, the next phase of electrification targets land-based industry, offshore petroleum production, and emerging power-intensive industries. Yet over the past decade, the narrative around green energy has shifted—from one of optimism and modernity to one marked by resistance and controversy. In this project, we will look at the ongoing energy transition in two regions of Norway – Orkland in mid-Norway and Hammerfest in the north – where understanding community resistance and vulnerability figures as a top priority for local government. Along with these local governments and private sector actors, we aim to understand the possible pathways towards a more just energy transition that reflects new understandings and contexts, as well as the production of new values. The aim of Imagining Positive Energy Futures is therefore to use methods grounded in the SSH to address an acute need to diversify and make visible a range of hopeful, positive imagined futures that can guide the Norwegian energy transition. 

The IPEF project offers a PhD position for candidates who are able and eager to investigate and find novel ways to produce knowledge that can guide possible futures. The position is open to those with an interest in investigating public engagement and opposition not as technical challenges, but as relational phenomena involving place attachment, identity, inequality, and alternative forms of knowledge. It is also open to those with an interest in feminist knowledge production grounded in speculative methods and storytelling. Candidates who work or are willing to work at the intersection of gender studies and STS are particularly encouraged to apply.

The project will be carried out by a research team of seven researchers and one filmmaker at two universities, and the data collection will mainly consist of ethnographic fieldwork with qualitative interviews and observation in two case municipalities. The project will collaborate with local stakeholders invested in different sectors: local residents, activists, UngEnergi, municipalities, grid companies and decision-makers to develop possible future visions and pathways.

About the Department

The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture (KULT) is one of six departments situated within the Faculty of Humanities at NTNU. The department has approximately 75 employees, and the staff is characterized by a commitment to community engagement, international research and a large proportion of recruitment positions. The department consists of two centers: the Center for Gender Research (SKF) and the Center for Technology and Society (STS), which bring together researchers with backgrounds from various social science and humanities disciplines within gender and diversity studies and technology and science studies. The department has an extensive research portfolio with many externally funded projects and centers. The department also has a strong tradition of interdisciplinary collaboration that makes us an attractive collaboration partner both nationally and internationally.

Duties of the position

• Conduct empirical data collection through ethnographic field work, qualitative methods such as interviews, observation and co-production workshops in line with the IPEF project plan (the plan can be provided on request) 
• Analyse such data through theories and concepts from Gender Studies, or (Feminist) Science and Technology Studies (STS)
• Complete the obligatory coursework in the PhD program for Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture
• Produce a PhD thesis 
• Participate in IPEF activities, such as workshops, meetings and presentations
• Present, communicate and disseminate work at relevant national and international venues
• Be an active participant in the day-to-day activities at the department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture (KULT)

Required selection criteria

The qualification requirement is completion of a Master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 ECTS) with a strong academic background in Gender Studies or (Feminist) STS. Candidates from adjacent fields can be considered if they have an interest in the environmental humanities, feminist theory, ecofeminism, futures and/or if they have a track-record of using storytelling and/or other creative methods in research. Examples of adjacent backgrounds include (visual) anthropology, sociology, geography, or visual art. 

Qualification requirements:

• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be considered if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education
• Has an interest in the area of energy transitions
• Experience with qualitative research methods and analysis
• Has the capacity to carry out extended fieldwork in Finnmark
• Fluency in a Scandinavian language to facilitate data collection
• Excellent English skills (written and oral)

PLEASE NOTE: For detailed information about what the application must contain, see paragraph “About the application”.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations for the degrees philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) and philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

Preferred selection criteria

• Interest in working closely with local actors and communities on energy-related issues
• Experience working in a Team
• Completion of the Master’s thesis on time

Personal characteristics

Working as a PhD fellow requires that you

• Can work independently 
• Take initiative
• Work in a structured manner, set goals and make plans to achieve them 
• Present and discuss your research with others
• Are able to engage constructively in teamwork, in this case also across disciplinary boundaries
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject 
• Are flexible and open to adjusting the plan for the project as needed

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job in a department in dialogue with some of the most pressing societal challenges
• The opportunity to develop professionally in an international professional environment 
• An open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Favourable terms within the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals. 

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education. 

If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 550 800 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years, depending on whether there is a need to include courses within educational competence. 

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them. 

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed. 

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above.

The application must include: 

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-, and Master's degrees. If you have not yet completed your MA, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the submission. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position
• CV
• A motivational letter describing your interests and qualifications
• A maximum 5-7-page project outline of your own creation. This outline should engage with key themes from the IPEF project plan and point to methodological and theoretical ideas for the PhD work. The committee also welcomes candidates to integrate a brief critical reflection on the challenges and opportunities associated with doing research on positive energy futures in Northern Norway
• 3 references
• A list of publications (if any)

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses “diploma supplement” (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well. 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public list of applicants, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact associate professor and project leader Jennifer Elise Branlat, email: jennifer.branlat@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Adviser Elisabeth Leite, email elisabeth.leite@ntnu.no.

If you find this position interesting, and in accordance with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

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Application deadline: 15.03.2026

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is also the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.