PhD fellowship or Postoctoral fellowship in Criminology at the University of Oslo

One PhD fellowship or Postdoctoral fellowship is available at the Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law to undertake research as part of the project Private knowledge, public issues: Digitalization and private economies of knowledge in criminal justice (CRIMKNOW). The project is funded by the Norwegian Research Council. The candidate will be able to work on cutting-edge research topics and get access to an international and interdisciplinary network of high expertise. The candidate will have the opportunity to conduct long-term fieldwork and to go on research stays abroad.

Digitalization of policing has been intimately connected with the rise of so-called knowledge- and evidence-based policing. The project will empirically trace the development and spread of evidence-based policing from its US origins to a global crime policy template (WP2). Applicants can develop their individual empirical and methodological approach within this framework. Applicants can read more about the general project here. The entire CRIMKNOW project description can be accessed on request from project leader prof. Katja Franko. Interested candidates are strongly advised to consult these before writing their project description. Applicants are not expected to have in-depth and interdisciplinary knowledge about this topic beforehand.

The PhD fellowship appointment runs for three years without teaching duties, or four years with 25% teaching duties, depending on the candidate’s qualifications. Applicants for the position of PhD fellow must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Law.

The Postdoctoral fellowship appointment runs for either three years or four years. Postdoctoral candidates in four-year appointments must acquire basic university pedagogical competence as part of the 25% teaching duties. Postdoctoral candidates in three-year appointments are required to have 10 % teaching duties.

For both the PhD and the Postdoctoral fellowship, a four-year appointment requires that the candidate can contribute to the current teaching needs at the Faculty of Law.

Qualification requirements and other qualities

For all candidates:

• The applicant must hold a five year Master’s degree or a degree equivalent to the Master’s degree in Criminology, or other relevant social science background.
• The candidate must be qualified to work theoretically and empirically within the described project. Qualitative research skills and experience is necessary.
• Knowledge of evidence-based policing and/or social network analysis is desirable. A demonstrated knowledge or interest in criminology is highly desirable.
• The applicants should have an excellent command of the English language, written and spoken. An excellent command of a Scandinavian language is also strongly desirable, but is not a requirement. Candidates that do not master a Scandinavian language must take this into account when developing their project description.
• Applicants should be able to work in an independent and structured manner.
• Applicants should have excellent collaboration skills and the ability, willingness and commitment to contribute in an interdisciplinary team.

For applicants to the PhD fellowship:

• Applicants should normally have grades that place them among the top 10-15 percent of graduates. This requirement also applies to the master’s thesis.
• Read more about the requirements for admission to the PhD program here.

For applicants to the Postdoctoral fellowship:

• The doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the doctoral thesis being approved.

We offer

We offer

• Salary for PhD fellow NOK 501 200 - 544 400 per annum (position code 1017)
• Salary for Postdoctoral fellow NOK 573 900 - 636 700 per annum (position code 1352)
• An inspiring, friendly and inclusive working environment
• Pension arrangement in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Welfare arrangements

How to apply

The application must include:

• A cover letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position.
• A project description of 5-10 pages, explaining how they would approach their research tasks in a 3-year PhD or postdoctoral project design. This includes a description of theoretical background, the aims, methodologies with suggestions for informants or entry points for case studies, and reflections about potential ethical challenges. The proposal must clearly demonstrate how the research will contribute to the aims of the CRIMKNOW project.
• CV (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities).
• Certified copies of diplomas with all grades included in the degree and certificates (if the original language of diplomas/certificates is not English or a Scandinavian language, an English language translation must be provided in addition to a copy of the original). Foreign diplomas must include an official documentation about the grading system together with the official grading scale.
• If available: A complete publication list.
• Up to three academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered. If work is written by several authors, the division of work between them must be documented with the co-author's declaration.
• Names and contact details and description of their relation to the applicant for at least two reference persons.
• For applicants to the PhD fellowship: A PhD thesis at the Faculty of Law can be a monograph or a collection of several scholarly articles. The applicant should present a publication strategy for the research done within the project. To ensure exchange of knowledge among project team members throughout the project, an article-based thesis is encouraged.
• For applicants to the Postdoctoral fellowship: Postdoctoral fellows are expected to contribute with articles. The applicant should present a publication strategy for the research done within the project.

The candidate is expected to complete the project by the end of the fellowship period.

Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link “Apply for this job”.

The tentative starting date is spring 2023.

Evaluation of the applicant

Candidates are evaluated by a Selection Board that will rank the candidates on the basis of the above criteria, particularly in relation to their ability to perform the proposed project within the allotted time.

If the relative strengths of the applicants for the respective positions as PhD fellow or Postdoctoral fellow are identical, the former will be preferred.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for an interview with the University of Oslo, either in person or digitally.

The Appointments Committee of the Faculty of Law will make the final decision about the hiring of the candidate.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to research fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Fellowship or Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results.

Inclusion and diversity are goals in the Faculty's strategy. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

For questions concerning content: Professor and project leader Katja Franko, e-mail: katja.franko@jus.uio.no

For administrative questions: HR-officer Andreas Mobråthen, e-mail: andreas.mobrathen@jus.uio.no