PhD fellow in Societal Security and Disaster Research

The position
A PhD position is available at the Department of Technology and Safety (ITS), Faculty of Science and Technology for candidates interested in technology, natural hazards, and the lived experience of communities This position offers the opportunity for a candidate to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) working as part of a project funded by the Faculty of Science and Technology, The position is for a period of four years The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching and other duties

The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position, ITS is organized under the Faculty of Science and Technology and is located at three campuses: Troms, Bardufoss and Harstad The department has approximately 90 employees and approximately 600 students

It offers undergraduate, master, and PhD programs as well as research in the areas of nautical science, aviation, societal safety, environment, and international preparedness, The workplace is at UiT in Troms You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer, The project / The positions field of research This PhD position is funded by the Faculty of Science and Technology (NT Faculty) to pursue cutting-edge research aligned with the Faculty Strategy One of the key strategic priorities for the NT Faculty is the development of knowledge aimed at resolving critical societal challenges, particularly those related to natural hazards, technology, and the environment in the Arctic and beyond

In Norway, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) continuously monitors numerous sites that pose a high risk of rock avalanches In this context, technology plays a pivotal role in the everyday lives of exposed communities and is central to guaranteeing their safety While there exists a considerable body of knowledge on the technical aspects of monitoring equipment, there is a research gap concerning how this knowledge production takes place in practice and what its social implications are once it is disclosed to exposed communities

The SlowRisk project will address this gap, with special attention to how instrumentation mediates our relationship to the world, The project takes as its starting point the idea that instrumentation in the context of disaster risk and high-visibility early warning systems (EWS) reveals the world anew and is therefore both a generative and a revelatory force in the social realm The candidate is invited to formulate a proposal that zooms in on one or more aspects of the social lives of catastrophic scenarios and prognoses, and how these travel, or are represented, produced, perceived, negotiated, denied, amongst other dynamics Cases may be based on Norwegian sites continuously monitored by NVE, or on comparable cases globally, including in more resource-constrained settings

More specifically, of key interest is the interface between technical knowledge production and everyday life in communities at risk, The candidate is expected to propose a research approach that engages with the project theme and to work closely not only with communities at the proposed research sites but also with technical experts, including scientists, technicians, modelers, and municipal planners The project draws on phenomenological perspectives, including post-phenomenology, but relevant perspectives also include science and technology studies (STS), social studies of science, sociology of knowledge, philosophy of technology, as well as perspectives from risk science, geography, and anthropology In particular, the project invites an instrumental realist approach, which takes the mediating role of instrumentation seriously in considering the lived experience of disaster risk The candidate is also expected to collaborate on research design, data collection and analysis, co-author scientific papers, and represent the institution at relevant conferences and workshops, The applicants must present a description outlining the academic basis of the PhD project The project description shall not exceed five pages, literature references included It must include a description of the topic, the suggested theoretical approach, the research question(s), and the reasoning behind these choices, including the selection of cases (particularly if new cases are proposed, the role of instrumentation or technology must be specified) The proposal should also indicate the methodologies to be employed The final project description will be developed in cooperation with the supervisor team after the position has been assumed, Want to know more about the position

You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage

Read more about your employee benefits at: spk no, A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years, We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova) According tothe Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure, Assessment The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position A copy of the assessment report will be sent to all applicants, The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicants motivation and personal suitability for the position, Eallju Developing the High North

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus comprehensive university at the international forefront Our vision is to be a driving force for developing the High North The Northern Sami notion eallju, which means eagerness to work, sets the tone for this motive power at UiT Along with students, staff and the wider community, we aim to utilise our location in Northern Norway and Spmi, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio and interdisciplinary advantage to shape the future, Our social mission is to provide research-based education of high quality, perform artistic development and carry out research of the highest international quality standards in the entire range from basic to applied We will convey knowledge about disciplines and contribute to innovation Our social mission unites UiT across various studies, research fields and large geographical distances This demands good cooperation with trade and industry and civil society as well as with international partners We will strengthen knowledge-based and sustainable development at a regional, national and international level, Academic freedom and scientific and ethical principles form the basis for all UiTs activities Participation, co-determination, transparency and good processes will provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and far-sighted priorities Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential

Founded on academic integrity, we will be courageous, committed and generous in close contact with disciplines, people and contemporary developments, We will demonstrate adaptability and seek good and purposeful utilisation of resources, so we are ready to meet the expectations and opportunities of the future