PhD Fellow in Linguistics

About the position

At Institutt for språk og kultur, Fakultet for humaniora, samfunnsvitenskap og lærerutdanning, there is a vacancy for a position as a PhD Fellow in linguistics.

The PhD fellowship is a training position and aims to complete research training up to a doctoral degree. Admission to a doctoral program is a prerequisite for employment, and the study period begins upon commencement of the position.

The position is for a period of 3 years and full-time PhD studies with the possibility of an extension through a completion grant. If the doctoral thesis is submitted within the standard study period of 3 years or within 3.5 years, the fellow qualifies for a completion grant of 12 or 6 months, respectively. The completion grant shall be used for qualification-promoting measures, including university pedagogy courses, teaching, and other tasks at the faculty. More about the completion grant scheme can be found here.

The place of work is UiT in Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving an offer.

Institutt for språk og kultur (ISK)

Institutt for språk og kultur (ISK) is an institute with great thematic breadth and a very active research environment. There are approximately 140 employees in total, primarily at the Tromsø campus, but also at the Alta campus. The institute has approximately 500 students.

The institute hosts some of the leading linguistic environments in the world, including representation by the Center for Language, Brain and Learning (C-LaBL). In addition, there are research groups in language acquisition (AcqVA-Nor), cognitive linguistics (CLEAR), Sámi language technology (Giellatekno and Divvun), as well as sociolinguistics, multilingualism, and revitalization (MultiNor).

The institute's research environments in literary studies, art history, and media and documentation studies are, among others, organized in the research groups Arctic Voices, Engaging Conflicts in a Digital Era (ENCODE), Health, Art and Society (HAS), Interdisciplinary Phenomenology (IP), Pax Slavia in FLux: European Contexts (PSIF), and Worlding Northern Art (WONA).

ISK offers teaching in linguistics, literary studies, art history, media and documentation studies, English, Kven, Finnish, Nordic, Russian, Sámi, Spanish, and German, as one-year studies, bachelor's or master's degree programs, as well as three international master's programs. The institute has study tracks in North Sámi, Spanish, English, Nordic, and Russian (subject 1 and subject 2), and German as subject 2 in the teacher education 8-13. Additionally, the institute is responsible for Sámi as a subject in primary school teacher education (at mother tongue level and as a second language). The institute also offers doctoral education in culture/literary studies, art history, media and documentation studies, and linguistics.

Information about the research environment

The institute's research environments in linguistics are mainly organized into the Center for Language, Brain and Learning (C-LaBL) and the research groups Acquisition, Variation and Attrition with focus on Norwegian contexts (AcqVA-Nor), Cognitive Linguistics: Empirical Approaches to Russian (CLEAR), Giellatekno, and Multilingual North – Diversity, Education and Revitalisation (MultiNor). Additionally, the institute has a center in Sámi lexicography.

Institutt for språk og kultur has a strong and varied academic environment in linguistics where research is conducted on a wide range of different languages, such as English, Finnish, Kven, Norwegian, Russian, Spanish, German, and Sámi languages. The research groups also work with many other languages, and projects on languages not listed above are also welcome. The various research groups have different focuses, and potential applicants are recommended to visit the research groups' websites and contact relevant supervisors for more information.

About the project

The candidate is free to develop their own project within linguistics, but it must be linkable to one of the institute's research groups.

Thematically, the project must be within the framework of UiT's strategy and the faculty's strategic long-term plan and be linked to a research group or a center at the institute. The project must be academically relevant to the institute's research activity and be able to be supervised by employees at the institute. Themes within Kven and Sámi are particularly desired.

For information about research centers and groups at ISK, see their websites:

• Center for Language, Brain and Learning (C-LaBL)
• Acquisition, Variation and Attrition with focus on Norwegian contexts (AcqVA-Nor)
• Cognitive Linguistics: Empirical Approaches to Russian (CLEAR)
• Giellatekno (also includes Sámi lexicography)
• Multilingual North – Diversity, Education and Revitalisation (MultiNor)

Applicants must submit a project outline with the academic basis for the doctoral project. The project outline must not exceed 5 pages - literature references should be attached but are not counted towards the page limit. It must contain a description of the topic, research questions, and a justification for the choices. It should also describe which methods will be used. The final project outline will be developed in collaboration with the supervisor. It is important that the applicant has an appropriate background and is motivated to work on the project. A template for the project outline can be found here (Bokmål)/here (Nynorsk).

Contact

More information about the position can be obtained from Institute Director Cathrine Theodorsen:

• telephone: +47 77 64 55 89
• e-mail: cathrine.theodorsen@uit.no

or Merete Anderssen, Professor in English Linguistics:

• telephone: +47 77 64 42 54
• e-mail: merete.anderssen@uit.no

Qualifications

Necessary qualifications:

• Master's or equivalent in a field relevant to the project, such as a Master's in linguistics, a Master's in a specific language with a Master's thesis within a linguistic topic, but also within language acquisition, psycholinguistics, or applied linguistics. Documented completion of a Master's degree is a condition for taking up the position. You can still apply if you are close to submitting or have recently submitted your Master's thesis. You must attach a draft of the thesis and a statement from the supervisor or the institution regarding when the thesis is expected to be completed. You must submit transcripts for the degree, even if it is not completed.
• Good skills in English. Nordic applicants can document this with transcripts from upper secondary school.

Desirable qualifications:

• Knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language

In the assessment, emphasis will be placed on the applicant's potential to complete research training based on the Master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific works. Consideration will also be given to the project description/project outline. In addition, professional practice and other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral studies will be taken into account.

In the evaluation, we will also emphasize personal suitability and motivation for the position. We are looking for candidates who, among other things, have:

• Good collaborative skills
• Abilities for good communication and interaction with colleagues and students
• Abilities and desire to contribute to a good working environment

As many as possible should be given the opportunity to undergo research training. If you have already obtained a doctoral degree or have equivalent competence, you are not eligible for employment in this position.

Admission to the PhD program

For employment as a PhD Fellow, it is a prerequisite that you are admitted to the PhD program at Fakultet for humaniora, samfunnsvitenskap og lærerutdanning and that you participate in organized doctoral studies during the employment period.

Admission normally requires that the applicant has:

• A Bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a Master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated Master's degree of 300 ECTS.
• A Master's thesis with a scope equivalent to 30 ECTS or more if the applicant has a Master's degree of 120 ECTS.
• A Master's thesis with a scope equivalent to 20 ECTS or more if the applicant has an integrated Master's degree of 300 ECTS.

To be admitted, a grade average equivalent to B or better in the Master's degree is required. The grade average also applies to integrated 5-year Master's degree programs where all subjects are included in the calculation. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.

If you meet the admission requirements and are employed in the position, you will simultaneously receive provisional admission to the PhD program. The application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after commencing the position.

For applicants with a foreign educational background, it will be assessed whether the education is equivalent to Norwegian higher education at the Master's level. The assessment follows national approval practices; see Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse. Applicants with education from certain countries must have more higher education to meet the admission requirements, for example, a 4-year Bachelor's and a 2-year Master's. UiT normally approves foreign higher education from countries that have ratified the Lisbon Convention.

Inclusive working life and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway has a personnel policy goal to be an employer that reflects the diversity of society and utilizes the potential in the population's collective competence. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength and want employees with different competencies, combinations of subjects, life experiences, and perspectives.

If you have a disability, gaps in your CV, or an immigrant background, we encourage you as an applicant to check these boxes in the job application portal. If there are qualified applicants, we call in at least one from each group for an interview, and if you get the job, we will make arrangements for you if you need them. Beyond selecting the right candidates, we do not use the checkboxes for anything other than anonymized statistics. Read more in the Employer Portal: arbeidsgiver.dfo.no/strategisk-hr/inkluderingsarbeid/bli-bedre-pa-rekruttering/hvordan-skrive-stillingsannonser-som-inkluderer/positiv-saerbehandling-nar-man-soker-jobb-i-staten

We offer

• You will become part of an exciting research project
• Good career opportunities
• A good working environment with dedicated colleagues
• Good welfare schemes
• Good pension, insurance, and loan schemes in Statens pensjonskasse
• PhD Fellows normally receive 550,800 NOK in annual salary with a 3% increase per year
• Opportunity to apply for a grant for a longer research stay abroad

The application

Please note that the application will only be assessed based on the information submitted by the application deadline via Jobbnorge. It is therefore important that you attach all necessary documents that demonstrate your qualifications for the position.

Your application must include:

• A cover letter with a description of your research interests and motivation for the position
• The application must include information about the connection to a relevant research group at ISK. It must be documented whom you have been in contact with in the research group, and in what way.
• CV
• Official transcripts for Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the original language
• Official transcripts for Bachelor's and Master's degrees in the original language
• Official translation of transcripts and certificates into English or a Scandinavian language, if applicable
• An explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English language skills
• Documentation of Norwegian language skills or another Scandinavian language, if available
• 2-3 references with contact information
• The Master's thesis, and any other scientific works
• Project outline (max 5 pages. Literature references must be attached, but do not count towards the page limit)

Documented completion of a Master's degree is a condition for taking up the position. You can still apply if you are close to submitting or have recently submitted your Master's thesis. You must attach a draft of the thesis and a statement from the supervisor or the institution regarding when the thesis is expected to be completed. You must submit transcripts for the degree, even if it is not completed.

All documentation to be assessed must be in a Scandinavian language or English. If documentation of English language skills is missing at the time of application, it must be documented before commencement.

Assessment

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to conduct an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the application documents and the announcement text. All applicants will receive a copy of the expert committee's assessment.

Applicants who are assessed to be the most qualified will be called for an interview. The interview will, among other things, clarify personal suitability and motivation for the position.

General information

Employment is carried out in accordance with the rules and terms that apply to state employees at any given time, and guidelines at UiT. On our websites, you will find more information for applicants to positions at UiT.

A position as a PhD Fellow is remunerated according to the state regulations, code 1017. A 2% contribution to Statens pensjonskasse will be deducted from the salary. You will become a member of Statens pensjonskasse, which provides you with many benefits in addition to lifelong old-age pension and AFP: 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 are insured against occupational injury or disease, and you get good terms on home loans. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no.

A shorter employment period may be granted if the fellow has already completed parts of their research training program, or when the employment is based on previous employment in a training position, so that the total time for research training is three years.

Personal data provided is processed in accordance with the Act on the Processing of Personal Data. Applicants can request not to be listed on the public applicant list, but the university may nonetheless decide that the applicant's name shall be made public. The applicant will then be notified prior to publication.

About the employer:

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is an internationally leading broad-based university. Our vision is to be a driving force in the North. The North Sámi concept *eallju*, which means industriousness, sets the tone for the driving force in UiT. Together with students, employees, and society at large, we shall utilize our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our academic breadth, and our interdisciplinary advantages to shape the future.

UiT has approximately 18,000 students, more than 4,000 employees, and is established on four main campuses and seven other study locations in Northern Norway and on Svalbard. Our largest campuses are Tromsø, Alta, Narvik, and Harstad. UiT has seven faculties, 40 institutes and centers, and leading research environments within various subjects. The university has 269 study programs and focuses on educational quality.

Academic freedom, scientific, and research ethics principles form the basis for all of UiT's activities. Participation, co-determination, openness, and good processes shall provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and forward-looking priorities. Our students and employees shall have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Founded on scientific integrity, we shall be brave, engaged, and generous - close to the subject, the people, and contemporary developments.

Read more about UiT's strategy towards 2030