PhD Fellowship in Social studies

Offer Description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a PhD Fellowship in Social studies at the Faculty of Social Studies, Department of Social Studies. The position is vacant from January 1st, 2027.

This is a trainee position that will give promising researchers an opportunity for academic development through a PhD education leading to a doctoral degree.

The hired candidate will be admitted to the PhD program in Social Sciences, Research School in Social Work and Welfare, SWEL. The education includes relevant courses amounting to about six months of study, a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic communication, a trial lecture and public defence. Read more about the PhD education at UiS on our website.

The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively, or four years with both research and other career-promoting work. This will be clarified in the recruitment process.

A career plan will be prepared that specifies the competencies that the Research Fellow will acquire. Access to career guidance will be provided throughout the doctoral education.

Research topic

The position is focusing on the use of digital technology in child welfare services.

Norwegian child welfare services face several challenges related to decision-making processes, systematic practice, the use of research-based knowledge, and technological support. The digitalization initiative “DigiBarnevern” is intended to help address these challenges through the development and implementation of digital tools for case management, communication, and collaboration with service users, as well as between services and administrative levels.

Despite high expectations regarding improved quality and efficiency, research shows that digitalization may also have unintended consequences, such as increased administrative workload, the standardization of complex assessments, and reduced professional discretion. There is therefore a need for more research examining how digitalization unfolds in practice.

The PhD project will explore how digital technologies are integrated into child welfare practice, and how the interaction between technology, child welfare workers, and service users shapes relationships, professional assessments, and work processes. It is particularly desirable that both service users and social workers participate in the study. Previous research has pointed out that service users are rarely included in research on digital social work and few studies investigate how digital technologies are actually adopted and used in child welfare practice. The project is therefore expected to help fill these knowledge gaps.

It is desirable that the project employ qualitative methods such as observation, interviews, and institutional ethnography in one or more child welfare offices. The project will contribute new empirical and theoretical knowledge on digital social work, a research field that is still in an early stage of development both nationally and internationally.

The PhD candidate will become part of strong research environments at the university and collaborative research networks including Østfold University College.

The research project will be supervised by Associate Professor Ida Bruheim-Escobar (principal supervisor), Professor Ingunn Studsrød (co-supervisor), and Associate Professor Marina Snipsøyr Sletten (co-supervisor).

Where to apply

Website: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/302556/phd-fellowship-in-social-studies

Requirements

Research Field: Sociology » Other
Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

We are looking for applicants with a strong academic background who have completed a five-year master degree (3+2) within a field relevant to the project (social sciences, broadly defined) , preferably acquired recently; or who possess corresponding qualifications that could provide a basis for successfully completing a doctorate.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Stavanger both the grade for your master’s thesis and the weighted average grade of your master’s degree must individually be equivalent to or better than a B grade. If you finish your education (masters degree) in the spring of 2026 you are also welcome to apply.

Applicants with an education from an institution with a different grade scale than A-F, and/or with other types of credits than sp/ECTS, must attach a confirmed conversion scale that shows how the grades can be compared with the Norwegian A-F scale and a Diploma Supplement or similar that explains the scope of the subjects that are included in the education. You can use these conversion scales to calculate your points for admission.

You must have good written and oral proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language upon appointment, as data collection will be conducted in Norwegian. The job interview will also be conducted in Norwegian.

It will be considered an advantage if you have a background in social work or a related social sciences discipline, as well as work experience from the child welfare field. Experience with qualitative methods within the social sciences will also be considered an advantage.

Emphasis is also placed on your:

• abiltity and willingness to take initiative and contribute to the project
• professional and personal skills for completing the doctoral degree within the timeframe
• ability to work independently and in a team, be innovative and creative
• having a good command of both oral and written English

Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Good

Languages: NORWEGIAN
Level: Good

Additional Information

Benefits

• a PhD education in a large, exciting and societally important organisation
• an ambitious work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
• access to Lifekeys, a digital service for the preservation of personal mental health and well-being
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 532 200 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which provides favourable insurance- and retirement benefits
• favourable membership terms at a gym and at the SIS sports club at campus
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• "Hjem-jobb-hjem" discounted public transport to and from work
• as an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced
• relocation programme

Diversity

Diversity is a resource in the working and learning environment at UiS. When we have different backgrounds and experiences, we can approach challenges from multiple perspectives and find better solutions. At UiS, we are committed to showing respect for each other's differences and accommodating employees with disabilities. We take into consideration your needs and your situation in various life phases.

If you find this position interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, disability, cultural background, or whether you have been out of the workforce for a period.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview. If you fall into any of these categories, feel free to indicate it when applying for the position. Learn more about the criteria for being considered an applicant in these specific groups here.

The university aims to recruit more men within the subject area. If several applicants are considered to have equal qualifications, male applicants will be given priority.

Selection process

Application

To apply for this position please follow the link "Apply for this job". Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In your application letter, you must state your research interests and motivation for the position.

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• project proposal, a project proposal template can be found here.
• CV with a full summary of your education and experience
• references, certificates/diplomas and other documentation that you consider relevant
• Diploma Supplement or similar and a confirmed conversion scale if this is required
• publications or other relevant research work

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above and that you have attached the necessary documentation.

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 100 MB, they must be compressed before upload.

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants - see Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act. If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

Additional comments

General information

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.

Employment as PhD Fellow is regulated in Regulations to the Universities and Colleges Act, chapter IV. Admission to the doctoral program is regulated in Regulations for the PhD degree at UiS.

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. Based on the committee's statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

The appointee will be based at the University of Stavanger.

It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at, and available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the case of differences of meaning between the texts, the Norwegian text takes precedence.

Website for additional job details: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/302556/phd-fellowship-in-social-studies

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available: 1

Company/Institute: University of Stavanger

Country: Norway

Contact

City: STAVANGER

Website: http://www.uis.no

Street: Kjell Arholmsgate 41

Postal Code: 4021

E-Mail: rekruttering@uis.no