PhD Research Fellowship in Social Anthropology

PhD Research Fellowship in Social Anthropology About the positioin

The Department of Social Anthropology has a vacant position as a PhD Research Fellow (SKO 1017).

The position is part of Professor Keir Martin's Norwegian Research Council funded project Shrinking the Planet: psychotherapy and the new global middle class. Our world is changing rapidly as the centres of economic and political power shift from Europe and North America to South and East Asia. The new middle classes of China and India will be the drivers of new patterns of consumer taste and culture over the next century. This is a planetary social revolution of historic importance. But how much do we know about these new groups that are coming into being and changing the shape of global society? What drives them and motivates them? What values and emotions move them and inform them?

Shrinking the Planet attempts to provide an answer to this question through an in-depth exploration of one of the most significant "culture industries" in countries with rapidly expanding new middle-classes; psychotherapy. In Russia, India and China, psychotherapy has gone from being marginalised or even illegal in recent years to being a mass culture industry involving hundreds of thousands of members of the new middle-classes. Through in-depth participant observation with trainee psychotherapists in these three countries the project aims to provide a snapshot of the emerging subjectivities of these new social groups that will shape global culture over the coming century.

Job description

The successful PhD applicant will form part of a larger research environment focused on the creation of new psychotherapeutic subjectivities globally. The PhD fellow will conduct 9-12 months of ethnographic research at the psychotherapy training programme at Christ University, Bangalore, India. An interest in psychotherapy and social class as theoretical issues is indispensable.

Applicants must have native or near-native competence in English and an enthusiasm for group-work and a commitment to comparative ethnographic methods. Preference may be given to candidates with experience or demonstrated interest in research in India.

The appointment is for a duration of three years. The research 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 fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The applicant must, in collaboration with her/his supervisor, within three months after employment, have worked out a complete project description to be attached to the application for admission to the doctoral program. For more information, please see our webpage. Following fieldwork, the candidate will have approximately 12-15 months to complete writing a full PhD thesis.

Qualification requirements

Essential requirements:

Applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent (120 ECTS) in social anthropology; degrees in related disciplines (e.g. human geography or qualitative sociology) can be considered.

The minimum grade on the thesis should be B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The Master's degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS.

Candidates who are waiting to be examined on their final Master's degree, must have submitted their thesis at the time of the application deadline and can be offered the position conditional upon successful examination at B grade or above.

Fluent oral and written communication skills in English.

Desirable skills:

The following additional qualifications or experience will be taken into account in evaluating the applications.

Knowledge or expertise in psychotherapy as a field of research.

Knowledge or expertise in the new global middle-class as a field of research.

Knowledge or expertise in India as an ethnographic region.

Demonstrable capacity to complete writing projects within deadlines.

What we offer

Salary according to “SKO 1017 PhD Fellow “, payrate NOK 501 200 - 544 400 per annum depending on qualifications

Funds for research, travel, conference participation and dissemination, books and equipment

A stimulating and international research environment

A friendly and inclusive workplace allowing for a good work-life balance

Access to Norway's excellent public services and welfare schemes, including generous parental leave provisions and affordable and

accessible childcare (including the university`s kindergartens)

Norway's capital with its rich cultural life and easy access to beautiful nature

Practical support for international staff moving to Norway (international staff may also benefit from tax cuts in their first years)

How to apply

The application with attachments must be submitted in our electronic recruiting system. Please follow the link “apply for this job”. The online application must include the following items, which are to be submitted before the deadline ( Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language):

Cover letter (statement of motivation and research interests, 1-2 pages)

CV (including a complete list of education with grades, positions, pedagogical and administrative experience, publications and other qualifying activities)

Research plan (maximum 4 pages) outlining how the candidate envisages completing the work to be undertaken during the course of the term of appointment.

A list of publications and academic work (if applicable)

A list of reference persons: 3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only).

International applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system.

The application deadline is 20.04.2023. The screening and evaluation of candidates will begin immediately. We expect the whole evaluation process, from the application date to an offer being made to take up to two months. The expected start date is August 2023, in order to start the faculty PhD training programme.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship 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.

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.

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.

Contact information

Head of Department: Rune Flikke Project leader: Professor Keir James Cecil Martin

For questions regarding the position: Senioradviser Hilde Spjelkavik Kveseth

For questions regarding Jobbnorge and the recrutiment process: HR-adviser Rebecca Hynes

About the University of Oslo

The University of Oslo is Norway's oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

The Department of Social Anthropology The Department of Social Anthropology was founded in 1964 and is today a highly ranked anthropology department. Our researchers study society and culture through extensive, ethnographic fieldwork. The Department of Social Anthropology educates students at bachelor's-, master's and ph. d.-level.

Deadline

20th April 2023

Employer

University of Oslo

Municipality

Oslo

Scope

Fulltime (1 positions) Fulltime (%)

Duration

Fixed Term

Place of service

The Department of Social Anthropology, UiO