About the Job

The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture at NTNU (KULT, www.ntnu.no/kult), is announcing a 2-year position as a researcher focused on energy and sustainability transitions. The ideal candidate has a strong background in science and technology studies (STS), but candidates from other social sciences will also be considered.  

The successful candidate will join the internationally oriented Centre for energy, climate and environment (CLEEN) which is involved in a wide range of research projects. Empirically, the projects span topics such as renewable energy, sustainability and everyday life, carbon capture and storage, neighbourhoods and energy communities, digitalization, transport, climate adaption and the circular economy. Analytically, we are interested in socio-technical dynamics of change, justice implications of transitions, public engagement and citizenship, and understanding actors, agency and practices in the context of innovation and technology adoption processes. The ideal candidate is someone who shares similar interests and can bring complementary ideas and perspectives to the group.

The researcher will be involved in national and international research projects. One example is the Norwegian Centre for Energy Transition Strategies (FME NTRANS). Beyond conducting research, the successful candidate will be involved in research coordination and leadership, project development, as well as various forms of public outreach and dissemination. There are also opportunities within the department to get involved in adjacent activities such as supervision of students and teaching.

You should apply for this position if you are an ambitious researcher who is interested in developing a strong line of research and career within STS and sustainability transitions. You will be working with a growing community of collaboratively oriented scholars who actively engage in their work, research community and society. Ideally, you are interested in contributing to such a collaborative culture of research, as well as doing research that matters beyond academia. Although the position is listed as two-year, it is connected to a department that offers good possibilities for extensions for the right candidate. The Department of Interdisciplinary Studies of Culture places high value on the employees’ well-being and is committed to fostering a friendly work environment with good work-life balance and reasonable expectations of workloads.  

Your immediate leader is Head of department Guro Korsnes Kristensen.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Conduct empirical and analytical research in various research projects focused on energy and sustainability transitions.
• Present, communicate and disseminate work at relevant national and international venues.
• Produce scientific publications based on such work. 
• Be responsible for and organize activities such as a bi-weekly webinar within FME NTRANS, workshops, conferences etc.
• Help with project organization and management, including various forms of reporting e.g., to funding agencies.
• Participate in research project development.
• Be an active participant in the day-to-day activities at the Department of interdisciplinary studies of culture and the relevant research projects.

Qualification requirements

The successful candidate must:

• Hold a PhD within science and technology studies (STS). Candidates with backgrounds in other social science or humanities disciplines may also be considered. Examples include Sociology, Political Science, Geography, Anthropology
• Have strong research interests within social scientific studies of energy, sustainability, climate change, transitions, transformations, or related topics and themes
• Demonstrate a proven track-record of academic publishing at an international level on relevant topics
• Have strong qualitative research skills and experience e.g., with interviews, focus groups, ethnographic observation, or document analysis
• Have strong organizational and collaborative skills
• Have excellent English skills (written and oral)

The following will be considered an advantage:

• Experiences with collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects
• Research project management experiences
• Participation in developing and writing research proposals for research funding at national and European level
• Knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistical analysis
• Fluency in a Scandinavian language

We offer

Salary and conditions

The gross salary for the position of researcher (code 1109) is normally remunerated at gross from NOK 646.000– 777.900 before tax per year, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

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

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite that you can be present at and accessible to the institution daily. 

About the application

The application should contain:

• CV
• A maximum 2-page statement and motivational letter describing how your own research interests and motivations align with the position
• 3 references
• A list of publications
• Relevant documentation and transcripts

The application with attachments should be marked HF 2023/37399 and must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge. For relevant applicants we will gather references and conduct interviews.

Publications and up to three 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 assessment of the best qualified applicant, we will emphasize education, experience and personal suitability as well as your motivation for the position. 

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA. This means that we pay special attention to the quality and professional breadth of these works. We also consider experience from research management and participation in research projects. We place great emphasis on your scientific work from the last five years.

General information

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 protected]) or researcher Gisle Solbu ([email protected]). If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Elisabeth Leite ([email protected]).

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: 04.12.2023

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 seven departments in the Faculty of Humanities.

Deadline 4th December 2023
Employer NTNU – Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Dragvoll, 7491 Trondheim