Postdoctoral position in critical perspectives/political economy of AI at AI LEARN

Knowledge that shapes society

UiB aims to be among Europe's leading universities, internationally recognized for high quality in research and education. As a social institution, we shall contribute to sustainable and democratic development and be an attractive and inclusive place of study and work.

Video: https://youtu.be/M5n6RnScNgA Postdoctoral position

We welcome you to apply for a vacant position as a postdoctoral fellow in critical theory / political economy of AI at SLATE, The Faculty of Psychology. The position is a fixed-term position of 3 years, linked to the AI LEARN center, and is funded by the University of Bergen.

About AI LEARN

AI LEARN is a new national center dedicated to strengthening human learning through responsible, human-centered artificial intelligence. In a world where AI systems are changing the way we learn, work, create, lead, and participate in democracy, our center addresses the opportunities and dangers of hybrid intelligence – humans and machines working and learning together. Our goal is to establish an internationally leading interdisciplinary hub that promotes fundamental research, responsible innovation, robust governance, and broad capacity building. AI LEARN is a consortium consisting of 35 national and international partners from academia and the public and private sectors.

Six national research centers for artificial intelligence were launched in the autumn of 2025. Here, researchers will collaborate across disciplines to meet societal challenges, understand how AI affects us, develop new technology, and promote innovation in both industry and the public sector. The centers are part of and funded by the government's multi-billion NOK investment in artificial intelligence over the next five years (regjeringen.no) through the Research Council.

About the project/tasks:

About the project: The position is linked to the cluster Governance, Ethics & Regulation and provides the opportunity to contribute to research at the intersection of reconfigurations, practices, networks and/or collaborations and explores various human–AI constellations with a focus on democratic participation and human rights.

The place of work is Bergen, Norway.

Tasks:

• Investigate and explore power dynamics, shifting human agency, and forms of human flourishing in current, emerging, and future forms of AI systems, anchored in relational and socio-politically constituted processes and in the context of human learning
• Conduct qualitative empirical research anchored in critical theory and the political economy of technology to contribute to the design of ethical frameworks that can inform the political overview within AI policy and AI regulation. Additionally, contribute to competence building within various learning contexts and illuminate the conditions for individual and collective possibilities for action.
• Disseminate research results and participate in the public sphere through various channels, for example, op-eds, scientific articles, conference contributions, blog posts, etc.

Qualifications and attributes:

You must:

• have a relevant Norwegian Ph.D. degree or equivalent education within one or more of the following fields, or combinations thereof: sociology, political science, educational science/pedagogy, science and technology studies (STS), media studies, or other relevant fields, or have submitted your doctoral thesis for evaluation before the application deadline. It is a prerequisite that the doctorate is obtained before employment can take place
• be able to document sustained engagement with the social, political, and ethical dimensions of AI in learning contexts, based on critical theory, philosophy, or historical-materialist approaches, and have demonstrated the ability to translate conceptual frameworks into governance tools, political analyses, or strategies for participatory design in learning contexts.
• work independently and structured, and have the ability to collaborate with others
• be able to work in interdisciplinary teams
• have very good written and oral English skills

It is an advantage if you:

• can document good skills in interdisciplinary collaboration

About the postdoctoral position:

The postdoctoral position is a fixed-term position, with the main purpose of developing your research profile and competence so that you can qualify to apply for a position as Associate Professor. The fixed-term period for this position is three years. No one can be employed for more than one fixed-term period as a postdoctoral fellow at the same institution.

Applicants shall, upon employment, submit a proposal for the qualification work containing a progress plan. For postdoctoral positions linked to externally funded projects, the completion of the qualification work plan will take place in dialogue with the project leader/center leader. It is a prerequisite that the person employed completes the project during the employment period.

We offer:

• A unique opportunity to be part of building a national AI center
• A strong interdisciplinary research environment and a large national and international network
• A position as postdoctoral fellow (code 1352) in the state salary scale. This currently constitutes an annual salary of NOK 685,900 gross. Further advancement occurs according to seniority in the position.
• Membership in Statens pensjonskasse
• Good welfare schemes

The application must include:

• A short statement about your research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• Names and contact information for two references, one of whom must be the main supervisor from your doctoral education
• CV
• Transcripts and diplomas. If you have not yet completed your doctorate, you must provide confirmation that the thesis has been submitted.
• Relevant certificates
• List of scientific work (publication list)
• Copies of scientific publications that you believe should be taken into account in the assessment (max 3)

Applications and attachments with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded to Jobbnorge.

General information:

Contact information: Anja Salzmann, anja.salzmann@uib.no

Diversity is a strength and enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

We encourage men to apply. If several applicants have approximately equal qualifications, the rules for moderate gender quotas apply.

The University of Bergen utilizes increased transparency during recruitment for scientific positions.

Information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the applicant list. If the request is not honored, the applicant shall be notified of this.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. If you check this box in the application, you may receive positive treatment. We always invite at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups to an interview. More about the recruitment process here.