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Position as a Postdoctoral Researcher within Sustainability Transitions and Circular Economy

Employer
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - NTNU
Location
Trondheim, Norway
Closing date
21 May 2023

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About the position

NTNU, Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture (KULT, www.ntnu.no/kult), is announcing a 2-year vacancy as a post doc within sustainability transitions research. The position focuses on increasing the circularity of consumption within electrical and electronic products and will engage in empirical and theoretical work. The post doc will be part of the KULTs Centre for technology and society and the research group on energy, climate and environment. The post doc is 100% funded by the research project eLife, which seeks to understand the role of households and communities in scaling up circular consumption solutions within electronics and electrical equipment. We are interested in start-up for the post doc during fall, 2023.

The post doc will engage in qualitative research across the project, primarily conducting and analysing interviews as well as co-creation workshops with stakeholders from the industry, public sector, and NGOs. The empirical work will serve as a basis for high quality scientific publications. eLife is an ambitious research project, which beyond NTNU involves CiceroDRIFT, and the University of East Anglia in addition to several non-academic partners. Therefore, it is important that the appointed post doc has a collaborative and interdisciplinary mindset and can combine focused individual work with teamwork. The post doc will also participate in activities organized through the Norwegian Centre for Energy Transition Strategies (NTRANS).

The post doc should preferably have a background in Science and Technology Studies and/or sustainability transition studies. Knowledge of transition management and circular economy will be an advantage, as will a track-record of conducting work on sustainability related issues.

Main duties and responsibilities

The successful applicant must

  • Engage in literature work and in carving out a socio-technical research agenda for circularity in electronics and electrical equipment.
  • Conduct systematic empirical data collection as described above.
  • Be able to analyze such data through theories and concepts from sustainability transitions research, science and technology studies or related theories within the social sciences and humanities.
  • Produce and publish research articles based on such methods and analyses together with the rest of the project team.
  • Present and disseminate work at relevant national and international venues.
  • Be an active participant in the day-to-day activities at KULT, the centre for technology and society and in relevant initiatives at the department.

Qualification requirements

  • Applicants must hold a PhD in Science and technology studies (STS) or sustainability transitions research. PhD in another relevant social scientific or humanities discipline might also be considered. Examples include sociology, innovation studies, political science, human geography or anthropology.
  • Applicants must be highly motivated to conduct cutting edge research through an intense and collaborative two-year project.
  • Excellent English skills are required (written and oral).

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Ph.D Candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate.

Preferred selection criteria

  • Experience with action research methods such as transition management or co-creation is an advantage.   
  • Applicants should demonstrate relevant research experiences, either within social scientific and humanities studies of sustainability transitions, or through past analyses of the role of technology in society.
  • The applicant should have an interest in and be experienced with qualitative research methods.
  • Applicants should demonstrate knowledge of key theories within sustainability transitions research and/or STS.
  • Fluency in a Scandinavian language will be considered an advantage.
  • Knowledge of and interest in quantitative methods will be considered an advantage. 
  • Personal suitability to enter cross-disciplinary research teams is a prerequisite. Suitable candidates should have the ability to cooperate, have good communication skills, be flexible and solution-oriented.

We offer 

Salary and conditions

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 563 500 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 2 years. The appointed candidate is required to have dept. of interdisciplinary studies of culture, NTNU as a daily working place.

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.

About the application 

The application should contain:

  • CV
  • A maximum 3-page statement describing how your scholarly profile fits with the work of the project.
  • 3 references.
  • A list of publications
  • Relevant documentation and transcripts

The application with attachments should be sent electronically via Jobbnorge. For relevant applicants we will gather references and conduct interviews.

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.

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): http://www.chsi.com.cn/en/).

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates. 

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

General information 

Working at NTNU 

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is a strength. We want our faculty and staff to reflect Norway’s culturally diverse population and we continuously seek to hire the best minds. This enables NTNU to increase productivity and innovation, improve decision making processes, raise employee satisfaction, compete academically with global top-ranking institutions and carry out our social responsibilities within education and research. NTNU emphasizes accessibility and encourages qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender identity, ability status, periods of unemployment or ethnic and 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. 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact professor Tomas Moe Skjølsvold, email tomas.skjolsvold@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Hilde Saxi Gildberg, e-mail: hilde.saxi@ntnu.no

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation. 

Application deadline: 21.05.2023 

Hovedbygningen

NTNU

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 Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture

We conduct research and teaching in two subject areas: equality and diversity, and science and technology studies. The Department has an active research environment with a high proportion of external funding. The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture is one of six departments in the Faculty of Humanities.

Deadline 21st May 2023
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Dragvoll

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