UiO Postdoctoral Positions on Feminism and Mobilisation of Law in Gulf Countries

The Faculty of Theology invites applications for two 3-year positions as Postdoctoral Fellow in the ERC-funded research project Feminisms and Mobilisation of Law in Gulf Countries (GulfFeminisms) based at the Faculty of Theology, University of Oslo. The two postdocs will be part of the core research team in the project GulfFeminisms headed by associate professor Jihan Zakarriya, who is the principal investigator, and funded by the European Research Council under the European Union’s research and innovation programme (ERD-STG project 2023-2028, grant agreement no 101078083).

GulfFeminisms proposes an empirical-based, experiential analysis of feminisms that has not been done before. It has the ambition of altering the ways feminisms should act and be analyzed as a practice. GulfFeminisms has three research objectives:  1) To provide an in-depth comparative analysis of the genealogy of feminisms and women’s mobilization of law in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. 2) To offer an empirically based analysis of how feminisms strategically mobilise women’s legal rights (divorce, custody, domestic violence, sexual harassment, economic/political rights, e.g.) to transform women’s practices and agencies, and to negotiate women’s legal rights within their conservative patriarchies.  3) To make a breakthrough in the way we conceptualize feminisms, their forms, and roles in the practical mobilizations for legal and political change, proposing a multidisciplinary method of analysis.

More about the position

The appointment is two fulltime posititons for a period of three years, starting 01.10.2024. It is part of the ERC granted project GulfFeminism, and the applicant is expected to be physically based in Oslo for the duration of the appointment. 

Qualification requirements

Applicants must hold a PhD degree, or the equivalent, in a relevant field:

• 1) the first postdoc (sociological studies, sociology of gender, and gender studies).
• 2) the second postdoc (qualitative and quantitative legal analysis).

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

• We are looking for intellectually creative, open-minded, and dedicated researchers with advanced knowledge in the fields of sociology of gender or gender studies (first postdoc) and qualitative and quantitative legal analysis (second postdoc).
• The two postdocs are expected to conduct in-depth fieldwork within courtrooms in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Emirates. Postdocs will conduct interviews as well.
• The two postdocs are expected to participate actively in joint disciplinary and interdisciplinary analyses and publications with the GulfFeminisms team members (co-authored book with PI, and single or coauthored articles)
• The two postdocs should have excellent oral and written communication skills in English. 
• The two postdocs should have advanced oral and written communication skills in Arabic.
• The successful applicants will have good social and communication skills and will engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with project team members. Strong skills in theory and method, and a strong capacity and willingness for establishing and maintaining respectful collaborations.
• The successful postdocs are expected to finish a coedited book with GulfFeminisms’ PI before the end of their postdoctoral fellowship.

The following qualifications are not required but considered an advantage:

• Experience with courtroom observations
• Experience with interviews
• Experience with database work and digital humanities methods
• An eagerness to develop quantitative research skills further.
• Motivation for working within an interdisciplinary team.  

Personal skills

The following personal skills are highly desirable:

• The ability to work closely together with other researchers in a team.
• A commitment to work towards the project’s common goals.
• An open mind towards new methodological approaches and interdisciplinary collaboration
• High personal motivation for research

We offer

• Salary NOK 575 400 - 615 700 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include

• cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• Eventuelt project description, including progress plan (max. 1 pages)
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• a complete list of publications
• Max 5 numbers of 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)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.
It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

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

No one can be appointed for more than one 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.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. 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

Associate professor: Jihan Zakarriya Mahmoud, phone number +47 96954099, e-mail: j.z.mahmoud@teologi.uio.no

HR-officer: Anna Dyrkorn Tjora, phone number +47 22857859, e-mail: a.d.tjora@teologi.uio.no