PhD Research Fellowship in Religion and Crisis – Oslo, Norway

VID Specialized University has up to two 100% positions as a PhD Research Fellow within the thematic area of religion and crisis. Religion has historically played an important role in times of crisis, as is the case today, both globally and locally, at an individual as well as collective social level. The complexity and ambivalence of religion in past, present and future crises scenarios is thus invitational for a broad investigation of topics addressing religion’s empowering and disempowering entanglements in times of sudden changes, uncertainties, and critical life events. In this open call, both ‘religion’ and ‘crisis’ are treated as wide-ranging concepts crosscutting into temporal and spatial variations, encompassing multi-dimensional understandings, approaches and analyses. The salience of religion, religiosity, and religious meaning-making in the ambiguous realm of different types of crises can be studied on micro, meso and macro levels through a variety of nuanced perspectives, for example cognitive, spiritual, emotional, socio-political, existential, embodied, and discursive perspectives.

The following list is not exhaustive of topics for further examination, but indicative of broader entanglements in which religion and religiosity are expressed, experienced, and negotiated:

  • Religion and politics (including geopolitics, soft power, electoral influence, diplomacy, etc.)
  • Religion and conflict (war, forced displacement, antagonisms)
  • Religion and extremism (radicalisation, terrorism, xenophobia, islamophobia, antisemitism)
  • Religion and the environment (eco spirituality in response to climate change)
  • Religion in natural disasters (including past and present pandemics)
  • Inter-religious and intra-religious antagonism among religious communities and institutions
  • Religion as hope, comfort, resource and revival in faith and practice
  • Religion in apocalyptic notions and end-time scenarios
  • Religion and artificial intelligence/technology transformations
  • Religion and secularism
  • Religion and identity contestations

PhD programmes at VID

The position as research fellow aims at achieving a PhD Degree after completed research training at one of the University’s PhD programmes. An achieved PhD degree is a relevant qualification for positions within and outside academia.

The stipulated length of the PhD position is 3 years.

The position will be within the PhD-programme in Theology and Religion.

More information about the PhD programmes at VID can be found on our website: https://www.vid.no/en/research/

Applicants are requested to specify the connection between their own project proposal and the PhD programme (see “Template for project description”).

General criteria for appointment as a research fellow are stipulated in the Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow, research fellow, research assistant and resident.

The position will organizationally located at Center of Mission and Global Studies. The workplace can be located in Stavanger, Oslo or Bergen.

The project proposal should also relate to one of VID’s research groups. The proposal should state which group the research fellow plans to join: https://www.vid.no/en/research/research-groups/ .

Qualifications and personal abilities

Requirements for the position:

  • Master’s degree (120 ECTS) in religious studies, history of religion, comparative religion, sociology of religion, anthropology of religion, theology, psychology of religion or other fields of study relevant to the call. Grades on the master’s thesis and relevant average grades on the master’s program must both normally correspond to B or better in order to be considered
  • Good written and oral presentation skills in English
  • Ability to work targeted and independently

The following are also desirable:

  • Experience with relevant research and development work
  • Ability to work well with others
  • Ability to carry out and complete major tasks

In an overall assessment of the applicants, emphasis is put on personal qualifications, relevant competence and research experience.

Diversity is one of the characteristics of a good working environment. We encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of gender, functional abilities and cultural background. VID would like to have more people with a minority background in scientific positions and people with a minority background are therefore encouraged to apply.

Project description

All applicants must write a project description. The project description must use the following template: https://www.vid.no/filer/vids-mal-for-prosjektbeskrivelse/

It is important that all points mentioned in the template are covered in the project description. The project description can be written in English or a Scandinavian language. The length of the project description should be of minimum 3500 words and maximum 4500 words (references, tables and all other text included).

We offer

  • Opportunities of academic development with highly qualified and committed colleagues
  • A value-based and church based specialized university with high academic teaching- and research ambitions relevant to society and the church
  • Membership in the State Pension Plan with beneficial loan- and pension terms
  • VID conforms to the main agreement between the Enterprise Federation of Norway (VIRKE) and Employees Union. The position is placed in code 1017 Stipendiat of the collective agreement, salary table 20, alternative 10, salary grade 54 (NOK 491 200). The salary will be adjusted yearly according to the collective agreement.

Application

Please upload the application, CV, diplomas, transcripts, diploma supplements and project description through the «Apply here» link above. It is the full responsibility of the applicant to submit a complete application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Diploma supplements for non-Norwegian diplomas must be included when relevant. Documents in other languages than English or Norwegian, must include an official translation as well. For applicants with an education that cannot be documented with Diploma Supplements, confirmation of education, its content and grade must be produced.

A sorting committee will select the applications and are to be assessed by the expert committee. Please note that applicants not selected for expert assessment will not receive a written evaluation of the project description. The decision of the sorting committee will not be distributed.

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee based on applicant competence, relevance to the call and the quality of the project description.

Emphasis will also be placed on the interview conducted with relevant applicants. References will also be obtained for relevant applicants, and it is requested that 2-3 references are identified in the application. Applicants invited to the interview must be able to submit certified copies of diplomas and certificates.

If you have documents that cannot be sent electronically, please contact HR-department at Ingrid.dahn@vid.no

Application deadline: 1. June 2022

Starting date: 2. January 2023 or by agreement.

For further information about the position contact centre director Anna Rebecca Solevåg at +47 51516244 or anna.solevag@vid.no

Comitted to humanity – locally and globally

VID Specialized University is an accredited, private higher education institution. With approximately 560 employees and 5590 students VID is the third largest private higher education institutions in Norway.

VID Specialized University undertakes education and research in the fields of health and social sciences, educational science, management, diaconia and theology. The University offers approximately 50 study programmes at bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels, and our objective is to develop as a national institution through regional cooperation.

The University has campuses in Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Sandnes and Tromsø.

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