Postdoctoral Research Fellowship ERC-project "Before Copyright" University of Oslo

A Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1352) is available at the Department of Archaeology, Conservation and History, University of Oslo.

The position is associated with the 5-year Starting Grant 101042034 “Before Copyright: Printing privileges and the politics of knowledge in early modern Europe” funded by the European Research Council and led by Principal Investigator Marius Buning, Associate Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Oslo.

More about the position

“Before Copyright” examines the long-term history of printing privileges from a cross-disciplinary perspective. The intimate relationship between legal frameworks and the politics of knowledge is the primary focus of the project.

For this postdoc position, we are looking for a specialist of early modern Britain, France, or Spain (including any colonies or overseas territories). The proposed project should engage explicitly with the entangled history of the privilege system, paying attention to synergies, dependencies, and interferences in the circulation of knowledge within or beyond institutions. Possible areas of interest might include forms of resistance to the system or debates about printing privileges between philosophers, lawyers, scientists, in newspapers, academic journals, pamphlets, etc.

Project proposals with a focus on the Age of the Enlightenment are preferred; however,applicants should have an interest in the long-term development of the privilege system from its inception to its demise. They are expected to contribute to the mapping of the privilege system across national boundaries and should therefore have experience with digital research methods, or at least the will to learn more about them.

The position is available for a period of 25 months. There is a 10 % component of the position which is devoted to teaching and administrative duties. The expected start date for the position is between August and October 2023.

The successful candidate is expected to become part of the research environment/network of the department and contribute to its development. The main purpose of postdoctoral research fellowships is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualification requirements

• A PhD degree or equivalent in history, law, art history, or other disciplines relevant for the project.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English, as well as a very high level of reading skills in relevant source languages.
• The candidate's research project must be closely connected to the research group.
• Prior experience with Digital Humanities projects preferred.
• The candidate's research project must be closely connected to the research group.
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position.

The doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the public defence of the doctoral thesis being approved.

In the evaluation of the applications, emphasis will be placed on:

• The research project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation.
• The applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to carry out the project within the allotted time frame and contribute to the “Before Copyright” research group.
• Good co-operative skills, and the ability to successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines.
• Applicants who have recently obtained their doctorate may be given preference.

We offer

• Salary NOK 544 400 – 626 300 per annum depending on qualifications
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Attractive welfare benefits

How to apply

The application must include

• Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• Curriculum Vitae (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activity)
• Project description (appox. 3 - 5 pages, maximum 14,000 characters. See Template for project descriptions). The project description must present a feasible progress plan. It is expected that the applicant will be able to complete the project during the period of appointment
• List of publications
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• A copy of the dissertation, or 2 academic works that the applicant wishes to be considered.
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

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, jobbnorge.no. Applicants with education from a foreign university must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system.

The short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.

Formal regulations

See also Regulations concerning Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships.

Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants even if the applicant opts out from the entry in the public application list.

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

The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

Associate professor & PI “Before Copyright” Marius Buning

Head of Department Jon Vidar Sigurdsson