Bergen University

Deadline: August 27, 2019

At the Department of Information and Media Science’s branch in the media cluster Media City Bergen, there are two vacant PhD positions available within the fields of media technology and innovation. Both positions are for 4 years and 25 percent of the total appointment time is dedicated to duty work at the Department.

The positions are part of the Department's branch in Media City Bergen (MCB). MCB is an internationally leading, innovative knowledge cluster within the fields of media technology and media production. Here, the Department is co-located with companies such as TV2, NRK, BT, Vizrt, Vimond, IBM, and ITV Studios. Those who are appointed will develop their own research projects leading to a doctorate. As part of their work, the candidates are also expected to contribute to teaching in the field of media technology and innovation and to cultivate a dialogue between the research environment and the industry in Media City Bergen.

The fields of media technology and innovation are important in research and social contexts. In the media cluster, Media City Bergen puts emphasis on furthering innovation both in education, research and industry. All organizations and companies experience pressure to be innovative and inventive, while at the same time being able to understand and master both volatile and permanent technological change. All disciplines, occupations and sectors in society are experiencing this.

About the project/work tasks:

The University of Bergen contributes to innovation in Media City Bergen through research-based knowledge and teaching, often in collaboration with companies in the media cluster.

The two PhD scholarships will strengthen research and contribute to increasing academic activity in the fields of media technology and innovation within journalism and related media content, and within the study of media users and media design. Candidates will in particular be attached to the academic community in Media City Bergen within the areas of media innovation, technology, and production, but also to the disciplines of information science and media studies at the Department of Information and Media Studies.

The two PhD scholarships within media technology and innovation have the following academic thematic focus:

Theme 1: Technology and journalism

As a PhD candidate, you will strengthen research in the area of ​​technology in relation to journalism. This may for example involve the development of new information technology tools for investigative journalism and storytelling, or an exploration of how information technology affects journalistic practice and content. This may be technological solutions for the presentation of journalistic content in new ways, for example immersive journalism for Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR), or intelligent user interfaces for media using artificial intelligence or the like. The candidate will be associated with the Department's academic environment for journalism, media production and media technology in Media City Bergen, including the University’s Center for Investigative Journalism (SUJO) also in Media City Bergen. Collaboration with industry partners in the media cluster is desirable.

Theme 2: Media use, design and technology

As a PhD candidate, you will strengthen research in the areas of media use, design and technology. This may involve methodically satisfactory evaluations using advanced biometric technology such as eye tracking, physiological response measurements, as well as video, field notes and interviewing, as well as statistics, surveys, and A-B testing. Relevant demographic groups to study are children and parents, schoolchildren, young adults, retirees and the elderly. The candidate will be associated with the Department's academic environment within interaction research and human-machine interaction (HCI), and collaboration with industry partners in the media cluster is desirable.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• Masters degree in Media and Interaction Design, Information Science, Informatics, Cognitive Science or similar competence
• • Applicants who have submitted their master thesis at the time of application can apply. It is a precondition that the applicant has obtained the master's degree before the actual hiring can take place.
  • The minimum requirements are generally grade B or better on Master thesis and for the Master degree in total
• Experience with relevant technology from education, teaching and / or research is an advantage.
• Work independently and structured and have good collaborative skills
• Great working capacity and enthusiasm for research
• Utilize written and oral English

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.

About the PhD position (applies to university PhD positions):

About the PhD position:

The duration of the PhD position is 4 years, of which 25 per cent of the time comprises obligatory duties associated with research, teaching and dissemination of results. The employment period for the successful candidate may be reduced if he or she previously has been employed in a PhD position.

About the research training:

As a PhD research fellow, you will take part in the doctoral educational program at the Faculty of Social Sciences, UiB. The program corresponds to a period of three years and leads to the submission of the PhD dissertation. To be eligible for admission you must have completed a Master degree. The educational background must be equivalent to a five-year Master education, including a two-year Master degree and a Master thesis at least 30 ECTS. It is expected that the topic of the Master degree is connected to the academic field to which you are seeking admission.

We can offer:

• Salary at pay grade 54 upon appointment (Code 1017) on the government salary scale (equivalent to NOK 479 600,- per year). Further promotions are made according to length of service in the position
• A job situated in vibrant media cluster with innovative research and industry environments and very good facilities
• A good and professionally challenging working environment
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• A position in an inclusive workplace (IA enterprise)
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• A 2000-3000 word long statement about the applicants motivation for applying for the PhD position – including how you will fit the position. This text must clarify whether you apply for the position that focuses on “Technology and Journalism” or the position that focuses on “Media use, design and technology”. The text must also include a discussion about how your academic background and research interests are relevant to the position, and the theoretical and methodological perspectives that are particularly relevant for your research as a PhD candidate
• The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of them must be the main advisor for the master's thesis or equivalent thesis
• CV
• Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor's and master's degrees.
• Relevant certificates/references
• A list of academic publications
• Academic publications that you want to submit for assessment (including your master’s thesis or equivalent)

If you have a master's degree from an institution outside of the Nordic countries, or a 2-year discipline- based master's degree (or the equivalent) in a subject area other than the one associated with the application, you may later in the application process be asked to submit an overview of the syllabus for the degree you have completed

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge following the link on this page marked “Apply for this job”.

The application has to be marked: 19/7019

Closing date: August 27, 2019

Applications submitted without a project description or applications sent as e-mails will not be considered. Only submitted documents will be subjected to an expert assessment.

General information:

Additional information about the position is obtainable by contacting Head of Department, Professor Leif Ove Larsen, e-mail Leif.Larsen@uib.no, phone (+47) 55 58 41 16.

Practical questions regarding the application procedures should be directed to senior officer Bodil Hægland, phone +47 55 58 90 53, e-mail: bodil.hagland@uib.no.

Appointed research fellows will be admitted to the doctoral education program at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Further information about the program is available on the webpage http://www.uib.no/en/svf/37940/doctoral-education. Questions about the program may be directed to senior officer Hanne Gravermoen, e-mail: hanne.gravermoen@uib.no, phone: +47 55 58 90 68.

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here .