About the position

The PhD position is a temporary position for a period of three years. The PhD position is an educational position that gives a promising research recruit the possibility for scientific development. The research field for the positions is health policy, and the positions are connected to the research group associated with the project “30 years of NPM in healthcare: has it worked?”. The project will study how New Public Management-inspired changes in healthcare have affected governance, leadership, professional autonomy, organisational climate, accessibility, service quality, prioritisation, population health and health services satisfaction, building on both Norwegian data and comparative analyses of European countries: 

• One PhD position is in a work package that addresses NPM from the perspective of the professions, and will be affiliated with ISS. This part of the project will use various surveys among physicians in order to investigate whether the introduction of NPM-inspired reforms is associated with shifts in working hours and/or degree of satisfaction related to clinical autonomy, income and working hours. In particular, the research will focus on four reforms; the introduction of activity-based financing in 1997, the regulatory GP reform in 2001, the hospital reform in 2002, and the coordination reform in 2012. 
• The second PhD position is in a work package that addresses NPM from the perspective of the governing bodies, and will be affiliated with ISM. This project will look at the planning and implementation of large investment projects. The project will track the decision making process, its internal and external stakeholders, and how the processes have been linked to local as well as national political processes and stakeholders. A comparative part will specifically focus on strategies to promote competition between providers. This part of the study will compare how policy-makers in Denmark, England, Germany and Norway have promoted approaches to enhancing competition between hospitals for patients and funding.

The position reports to the Head of the Department.

Main duties and responsibilities

Job description 

• The PhD candidates are expected to participate in the research group “30 years of NPM in healthcare: has it worked?”.
• The PhD candidates’ project will study NPM from the perspective of the professions and study NPM from the perspective of the governing bodies using Norwegian data. The quantitative analyses may be supplemented with comparative studies of Norway and other relevant countries.  
• It is required that the candidate participates in international activities, among other through research stays at educational institutions abroad.

Qualification requirements

PhD candidate:

he PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in [subject area] or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. Applicants with no letter grades from previous studies must have an equally good academic foundation. Applicants who are unable to meet these criteria may be considered only if they can document that they are particularly suitable candidates for education leading to a PhD degree.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, postdoctor and research assistant

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

• The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in social science preferably political science or sociology, or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. Applicants with no letter grades from previous studies must have an equally good academic foundation. Applicants who are unable to meet these criteria may be admitted only if they can document that they are particularly suitable candidates for education leading to a PhD degree. 
• Good oral and written communication skills in Norwegian and/or English. 
• The quality of the PhD project sketch (approx. 5 pages)
• 1-2 years relevant experience in research, such as dissemination and participation in research project, is advantageous.

Personal characteristics

• Personal qualifications such as independence, well organized, initiative, cooperative spirit, and motivation to contribute to an including work milieu will be ascribed high importance.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, grades from Master degree, experience and personal suitability and motivation for the position, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

PhD candidate:

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 479 600 before tax per year. From the salary, 2 % is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in Social Sciences, specializing in political science/sociology. As a PhD candidate, you undertake to participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. A condition of appointment is that you are in fact qualified for admission to the PhD programme within three months.

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 criterias 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 that the appointed takes up residence in Trondheim in order to be present and available for the institution as required.

General information

Working at NTNU

A good work environment is characterised by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. Under the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova), information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to have their name entered on the list of applicants.

Questions about the position can be directed to Professor Pål E. Martinussen, e-mail:  pal.e.martinussen@ntnu.no or Professor Jon Magnussen, e-mail: jon.magnussen@ntnu.no 

For information about the application process please contact section HR, Sissel Sæther, e-mail: sissel.sather@ntnu.no or Anne-Britt Hofstad, email: anne-britt.hofstad@ntnu.no. 

About the application:

Applicants must attach the following documents to their application within the closing date for applications: 

• A project sketch (approx. 5 pages) connected to the project “30 years of NPM in healthcare: has it worked?”. In the sketch the applicant should give an outline for research questions, theoretical perspectives and a methodological design for the research project. 
• Personal motivation 
• CV, recommendations, certificates and diplomas.
• Publications and other relevant scientific work (max. 3 publications)

Publications and other academic works that the applicant would like to be considered in the evaluation must accompany the application. Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify the individual applicant's contribution to joint works, the applicant must include a brief description of his or her contribution.

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. Relevant certificates and diplomas must be submitted in English or a Scandinavian language.

Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI) (https://www.chsi.com.cn/en/). 

Applicants invited for interview must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters.

Please refer to the application number SU-391 when applying. 

Application deadline: 29h of February 2020

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 Sociology and Political Science

We conduct research, teaching and dissemination in sociology, political science, media, communication and information technology, and sport sciences. The Department offers five-year master’s programmes in teacher education (lektorutdanning) in social sciences as well as in physical education and sports. As a social science department we have a special obligation to contribute to the public debate on important social issues. The Department of Sociology and Political Science is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences.

Deadline 29th February 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime (2 jobs)
Duration Temporary
Place of service Dragvoll