Vacancies: 2 Researcher Positions (PhD fellowships)
Application Deadline: 1 April 2008
NTNU Social Research Ltd. Trondheim invites applications for two four years research positions as
PhD fellows. The positions entail a 25 percent teaching assignment, and provide the opportunity to
work in an international research institution with high academic standards and a cross-disciplinary
environment. The PhD fellowships are financed as part of an Outstanding Young Investigator award
from the Research Council of Norway for a research project on “Media Systems, News Content and
Public Perception of Political Reality” led by Toril Aalberg. The project seeks to advance our
understanding of how the information given by the news media to the public may vary between and
within different media systems, and how this information influences public’s knowledge and
perception of political reality. A brief description of the project can be found at
http://www.svt.ntnu.no/iss/Toril.Aalberg/mediasystems.html A full copy of the project proposal is
available on request.
We are particularly interested in applications from candidates with research interests related to this
project, but also welcome applications from persons with broader interests in political science and
communication. The two PhD fellows will work closely with an interdisciplinary team of
researchers, and will receive close supervision from the project leader. Progress on the doctorate
will be supported through regular presentation at internal PhD seminars and opportunities to present
work at international academic conferences and workshops. A progress plan will be agreed upon
between the candidate and supervisor.
Applicants must have the following qualifications
* Hold an M.A. or equivalent in sociology, political science, communications or psychology
* Be fluent in English and a Scandinavian language or alternatively be fluent in English and Dutch.
In addition, as many as possible of the following qualifications are desirable
* Background in political communication
* Good skills in research methods and data analysis
* Social and communicative skills in order to be able to function in a group
* Interest in and experience with interdisciplinary and international collaboration.
The candidate will be expected to be in residence in Trondheim and will have a workplace at the
Department of Sociology and Political Science at the Norwegian University of Science and
Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. NTNU is committed to promoting the careers of female
researchers and to fostering a more ethnically diverse work force. Women and persons of ethnic
minority background are encouraged to apply. The starting date for the position is 1 July 2008 or as
early as possible thereafter.
The application should include:
1) A completed PhD Stipend Application Form (download hyperlinked document)
2) A PhD project description of 6–10 pages, written in English or a Scandinavian langue, outlining
a) main research questions, b) expected innovation or ‘value-added’ of the project, c) relationship to
the various aspects of the joint project, where applicable and d) a progress plan including an
overview of milestones/outputs
3) A curriculum vitae
4) Certified copies of transcripts from higher education
5) Contact details for three references
The PhD candidates will be responsible for applying to, and enrolling in a compatible PhD program
at NTNU. The PhD project description will be the foundation of the application to the organized
research training programme at the Faculty of Social Science and Technology Management.
If the applicant is not already enrolled in the PhD-programme, an application for enrolment must be
attached to this application. The enrolment form can be found here:
http://www.ntnu.no/studies/allstudies/progsinnor/subareas/samfunn/phpol/phpol_forms
Only applications from candidates who are appointed to one of the vacancies will be considered
outside the ordinary rounds of application to the programme. The rules and regulations for PhD
enrolment and degrees can be found here:
http://www.ntnu.no/eksternweb/multimedia/archive/00013/PhD_regulations_13755a.pdf
The starting salary for a PhD fellow at NTNU is salary step 43 (NOK 325.600; approximately
€40.400 yearly) NTNU Social Research Ltd has a pension scheme in the Norwegian Public Service
Pension Fund (Statens Pensjonskasse).
For more information about the Department of Sociology and Political Science at NTNU see
http://www.ntnu.no/iss/english. Applications should be sent electronically to
Heidi.Storkersen@samfunn.ntnu.no or by regular mail to NTNU Samfunnsforskning AS, 7491
Trondheim, Norway, by April 1, 2008. Please mark the application with ”Stipendiatstilling”
Questions and queries can be addressed to Toril Aalberg (toril.aalberg@svt.ntnu.no) + 47 73598359
.