PhD Research Fellows in Sociology

Job description​ Applicants are invited for a three to four-year full-time position as a PhD Research Fellow at the Centre for Research on Equality in Education (CREATE), University of Oslo, Norway. CREATE is an interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway with the objective of generating novel knowledge about how to reduce social inequality. The interdisciplinary center integrates researchers with substantive expertise from sociology, psychology, education, economics, and genetics, and methodological expertise from educational measurement, psychometrics, econometrics, statistics, and biostatistics.  More about the position​ CREATE is an interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway with the overall objective of generating novel knowledge about how to reduce social inequality. CREATE has three strands, and the PhD position belongs to Strand 1. Strand 1 aims to identify barriers to equality. Strand 1 further aims to test the generalizability of malleable factors hindering equality across countries and time. A malleable factor refers to variables that are within the control of schools and educational policy and would include for instance school factors (like school climate, teacher characteristics, teaching quality, student motivation and attitudes, student cognitive outcomes). International large-scale assessment (ILSA) like Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) may be used to make generalizable inferences across countries and time.  While the main focus of the PhD position lies in examining factors that may enhance equality across countries and over time, it is desirable to also examine these factors in-depth in the Norwegian context via qualitative approaches including for instance interviews, classrooms observations or similar.  The successful candidate will have the opportunity to define and pursue their own research interests that would cover both of these two aims within mathematics: 1) identifying factors that reduce the achievement gap in mathematics between advantaged and disadvantaged students,  and study their generalizability across countries and time, and 2) examine this/these factor(s) in depth in Norway with a qualitative approach (e.g. interviews or classroom observations). The PhD Fellow will be expected to be able to use advanced quantitative methods to analyze ILSA data. The successful candidate should have prior knowledge of quantitative methods and experience with the complex designs and data of ILSAs. The PhD Fellow will be embedded in the interdisciplinary Strand 1 group alongside researchers in sociology, psychology, education, economics, and related fields. We expect active participation in our strand and interdisciplinary center.  The position is a full-time position for a period of three years. If there is a good match between the candidate’s competence and the teaching needs at the Department of Teacher Education and School Research (ILS), then the position can be extended to four years with the 25% teaching duties, usually in the form of teaching, supervision, and assessment.  The PhD Fellow must take part in the faculty’s approved PhD program, and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the PhD fellowship is to qualify the candidate for a research career within or beyond academia.  To support a strategic and well-structured PhD trajectory, the PhD Fellow will be required to develop a career and competence development plan in dialogue with the supervisory team early in the appointment period. The successful candidate will receive close supervision and is encouraged to develop a strong international research profile through collaboration, conference participation, and research stays abroad. For more information, please see our web site.  Qualification requirements​ Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the faculty´s PhD programme. This normally includes: • Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in Education, Psychology, Economics, Sociology or other relevant fields  • A Master’s degree (120 ECTS) with a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS, with a minimum grade B • A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade C (ECTS grading scale) • For 5-year studies, the average grade must be C or better for the first three years, and B or better for the last two years (ECTS grading scale). The Master thesis must have been graded with a minimum grade B • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and Norwegian  In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be placed on: • Familiarity with quantitative methodology and ILSAs Personal skills ​ We are looking for a motivated and engaged PhD fellow with strong potential for high-quality research. Personal suitability will be emphasized and assessed based on the following qualities: • Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in interdisciplinary research team • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills • Ability to give and receive constructive scientific feedback • Structured, reliable, and results-oriented working style • Good communication and collaboration skills We need different perspectives in our work​ UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no. We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one? We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures. If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian), we encourage you to indicate this in the job application portal. We always invite at least one qualified candidate from each group for an interview. In this context, disability is defined as an applicant who identifies as having a disability that requires workplace or employment-related accommodations. For more details about the requirements, please refer to the Employer portal (Norwegian). The selections made in the job application portal are used for anonymized statistics that all state employers include in their annual reports. More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.  We hope you will apply for the position with us. We offer​ • Exciting and meaningful tasks in an organization with an important societal mission • Opportunity to work with world-class research data • Dedicated colleagues in a friendly and international research environment, recognized as a Centre of Excellence • 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 • A workplace with good development and career opportunities • Salary NOK 550 800 - 594 000 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research Fellow, (position code 1017). From the salary, 2 percent is deducted in statutory contributions to the State Pension Fund How to apply and what to include in your application​ The application must include: • Cover letter (1 page), including statement of motivation • A project description, including progress plan (5-7 pages) and a short summary of research gaps, research questions the candidate regards relevant to pursue, theoretical and methodological approaches, and a progress plan for the PhD. As the candidate will carry out research in Strand 1, the project description is regarded more as a proof of the candidate’s ability to develop research ideas and scientific writing skills than a concrete plan for the research that will be carried out during the PhD period. Please see our guidelines.  • CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, publications, and other relevant qualifying activity) • Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only). Foreign applicants must attach an explanation of their grading system • Documentation of English proficiency (for information on required documentation, see information on this webpage) • A copy of the Master thesis • A complete list of publications and academic works • List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail, and phone number) Incomplete applications will not be assessed. The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system Jobbnorge.  When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).  When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the project description and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.  Formal regulations​ Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships, Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo. No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us. The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions. The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The position and the scientific work​ The Department of Sport and Social Sciences, NIH, is advertising a three-to-four-year (depending on teaching assignments) PhD position in the field of sport management. The department comprises a broad academic environment that conducts research in sports philosophy, sports history, sports sociology, sports psychology, coaching, and sport management. The PhD project is partially predefined and focuses on how organized sport can contribute to increased physical activity among adults. Sport and physical activity are widely recognized as important contributors to public health, both in terms of physical and mental well-being. Nevertheless, participation levels among adults remain a challenge. According to the EU statistics on income and living conditions (EU-SILC), only around 50% of the Norwegian population participated in sport and physical activity in 2024. Among those who are physically active, the majority use facilities in the commercial sector, such as private fitness centers, while only about 10% of adults aged 16 and above participate in sport and physical activity through organized, non-profit sport clubs and organizations. While physical activity in the commercial sector can generate important health benefits, organized sport may offer additional societal and individual value. In particular, participation in sport clubs and voluntary organizations can foster social interaction, community building, and a sense of belonging while also supporting the integration of (newly arrived) immigrants.  These social dimensions are increasingly relevant in light of rising concerns about loneliness and social isolation—especially among older adults, but also among younger age groups—as well as ongoing processes of global migration.  Loneliness is known to be associated with negative mental health outcomes, underscoring the importance of examining the social benefits of physical activity within organized sport settings. The PhD candidate will have considerable freedom to define the specific focus of the project within this overall thematic framework. The project must be grounded in relevant sub-disciplines within sport management, such as organization, marketing, communication, governance, or sport policy.  The project should ideally focus on the Norwegian/Scandinavian context, but comparisons with other contexts can be integrated. Possible research directions include, but are not limited to, how organizational structures, practices, and offerings within organized sport can be developed to attract, include, and retain adult participants.  A potential focus may also be on collaboration and interaction between actors within organized sport (e.g., sport clubs and federations) and actors outside the sport sector (e.g., sponsors, commercial providers, or public authorities), including how relationships within the broader sports ecosystem can contribute to increased participation among adults.  The candidate may further choose to focus on specific adult population groups, such as older adults or retirees, or young adults, where new participation patterns and challenges—such as increasing mental health concerns—are emerging. Job Description​ The main tasks for a PhD candidate at NIH are to: • complete an independent research project under supervision, • complete PhD courses or other equivalent educational activities corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS points, • actively participate in research environments, including collaboration with fellow researchers, and • disseminate research results, both at international conferences and in scientific journals. • optional: The candidate may be engaged in teaching and supervision tasks depending on the department's teaching needs and the candidate's competencies. Competence requirements and candidate profile​ Applicants must be qualified for a PhD candidate position at NIH and must have a completed Master's degree in sport management or a related field with relevance for the announced position (minimum grade requirement B or international equivalent). For further information about NIH’s Ph.D.-program. Selection criteria and preferred candidate profile:​ • Quality and relevance of educational background and the master’s degree • Quality and relevance of the project description • Personal suitability. The successful candidate • is ambitious and has the ability of independent and creative thinking, • enjoys working in an interdisciplinary environment, and  • has excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Experience with relevant research can be an advantage. Mastery of a Scandinavian language will strengthen the application.  Formal regulations​ For more information about the PhD program at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, please see the rules and regulations for appointments to Ph.D. Research fellowships at NIH. Employment is subject to the conditions applicable to state employees. NIH has mandatory membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund. According to the Freedom of Information Act § 25, second paragraph, information about the applicant may be disclosed even if the applicant has requested not to be included on the applicant list. Inclusion and diversity are strengths, and NIH has a personnel policy goal of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, NIH seeks employees with diverse skills, subject combinations, life experiences, and perspectives. If you are a qualified applicant with a disability, a gap in your CV, or an immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box in the job applicant portal for this. NIH will invite at least one applicant for an interview if they are qualified, and if you get the job, we will accommodate any needs you may have. The ticking is used solely for anonymized statistics, apart from selecting the right candidate. Contact information​ Interested applicants are advised to contact the academic community in preparing the application. Further details can be obtained by contacting: • Professor and Head of Department, Lone Friis Thing; email: loneft@nih.no;  phone.+47 23262401 • Professor Chris Horbel; e-mail: chrish@nih.no; phone: +47 23262440 • HR department, Senior Adviser, Bente Johansen-Aarbostad; email: bentejoh@nih.no  • PhD program, Senior Adviser, Mari Corell; email: maric@nih.no How to apply​ The applicant must submit: • A personal application letter. • CV (summarizing education, professional experience and positions, academic work including publications, etc.) • Copies of educational certificates and grades. • Description of a PhD project of relevance to the position. The project description includes formulations of objectives and research questions/hypotheses, as well as relevant theoretical approaches and methods. The complete project description should not exceed 10 pages, excluding the bibliography (12-point font, 1.5 line spacing).  • Names, e-mail address, and telephone number of 2 to 3 referees (describe relation to applicant). For further details on the application to and enrollment in NIH’s PhD program, please see here.  Applications will be handled according to the relevant regulations as defined in the Norwegian Open Files Act.  Short-listed applicants will be called for interview. The application can be written in a Scandinavian language or in English.  The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.  International applicants, or applicants who hold an international degree, are advised to apply the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills for recognition of education from abroad. NIH offer​ • Salary as a PhD research fellow in position code 1017, starting salary gross annual salary NOK 550 800 (according to Basic Collective Agreement for the Civil Service) • A good and active working environment at the Department  • Good arrangements for pension, loans, and insurance in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund • Excellent training facilities, corporate sports teams, and opportunities for exercise during working hours • Immediate proximity to the metro and locked bicycle parking