About the position 

1-year full-time position to work with the EU H2020 funded project Inclusive Science and European Democracies  (ISEED) (2021-2024).

This research position will be hosted by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), supervised by Senior Researcher Dr. Sophia Efstathiou in the Programme for Applied Ethics (Faculty of Humanities), together with Associate Professor Libe García Zarranz in the Department of Teacher Education, English Section (Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences) and Professor May Thorseth Director of the Programme for Applied Ethics (Faculty of Humanities).

The work package (WP5) which hosts this research position aims to analyse social and political polarisation online. The position’s main task is to investigate the role of reason and emotions in online deliberation around science-informed topics (e.g. climate change and energy or food policies, vaccine uptake policies, gender transitioning regulations, etc.), and to help understand, with other colleagues, the processes by which these drive decisions.

The candidate’s research is to engage with the following approaches to understanding reasoning and emotion in public discourse:

• The ‘nudge’ literature in behavioural economics that proposes to explore how and why some communication strategies ‘work’ and others ‘fail’, by considering the roles of ‘heuristics’ and ‘biases’ - habits, patterns, stereotypes etc, versus ‘logical’ reasoning -including facts, complex arguments and statistics (Thaler & Sunstein 2008).
• Work within literary studies, science and technology studies, affect studies, and feminist theory that examines deliberation as a social practice including as ‘material’ deliberation involving different narrative strategies, an engagement of the senses, and of affects (Davies et al. 2012). Unpacking stories, images and metaphors with particular attention to the presence and absence of affective content in public debates opens up ways to study the politics of affect and emotion (Ahmed 2004).
• Understanding online discourse-making as a set of social practices (Shove et al. 2012) to explore meanings, competences and materials that go into the practice of online debating, and online participation, and how these are articulated in the poles of particular debates.

Considering these areas of work, the candidate is invited to further specify their project, as well as case-study focus in their project proposal (See ‘How To Apply’). The candidate is invited to consider gender, class, race, ethnicity and other social categories along which exclusion happens, together with the intersections of these axes of differentiation, as active parameters along which the project is designed.

Qualifications

The following qualifications are expected from a successful applicant:

• Completed PhD (or equivalent academic qualifications) with a specialisation in one or more relevant areas of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Science and Technology Studies, Affect Studies, Indigenous Studies, Critical Theory, Feminist and Gender Studies, and Environmental Humanities.
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position

The following will count positively in the assessment of the applicants:

• Prior experience working within research projects
• Experience in creating and fostering collaboration
• Demonstrated skills within popular dissemination and public outreach
• Publications in relevant research fields
• Applicants’ positionality (personally and academically) in relation to their proposed research focus

We offer 

• Being part of an international network of scholars and the international research project ISEED
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• An open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues 
• Favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 
• Employee benefits 

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 553 500 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 1 year.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work. 

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis. 

How to apply

The application must include the following:

• Application letter (statement of motivation, summarising scientific work and research interests)
• Curriculum Vitae (max. 8 pages) (list of education, positions, administrative experience, project acquisition and coordination experience, and other relevant qualifications)
• Complete list of published and unpublished works.
• Project Proposal: Outlining a research project, including a suggested empirical focus or case-studies, suggested research questions, suggested research methods, suggested outputs and bibliography (max. 5 pages). The project is to be pursued in coordination with this position. (See section ‘About the Position’)
• Writing sample (max. 25 pages): This can include published or unpublished materials that the candidate deems relevant for the post.

Please note that all documents should be in English, either in the original or in translation.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA. 

All documents should be sent as a single PDF attachment, with the subject line “ISEED job call” to Andrea Nilsen, andrea.nilsen@ntnu.no by 1pm CET, November 18th 2021.

General information 

Working at NTNU 

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background.  

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation 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. 

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted. 

In accordance with the Information Act (Offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants. 

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Sophia Efstathiou sophia.efstathiou@ntnu.no or Libe García Zarranz libe.g.zarranz@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Kristian Arne Iversen, e-mail: kristian.a.iversen@ntnu.no

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).  

If you are invited for interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. 

Application deadline: 02. des 2021

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

We conduct research and teaching in philosophy and religious studies, and offer education at bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level in both subject areas. We are also responsible for the introductory course examen philosophicum for all of NTNU. The Department has an active and international research environment. The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Humanities.

Deadline 2nd December 2021
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Project
Place of service