PhD Research Fellow in Information Systems at the Faculty of Social Sciences

About the position

A fix-term 100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Social Sciences as a PhD Research Fellow in Information Systems, affiliated to the Department of Information Systems, for a period of three years. The position is located, at the present, at Campus Kristiansand.

The starting date is negotiable with the Faculty.

The position is part of the MARIE Skłodowska-CURIE ACTIONS Doctoral Networks Industrial Doctorates (MSCA-DN-ID) Project AGORA - trAining younG researchers On shaping Metaverse for business and social vAlue. The recruited researcher will be ‘Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellow’. Recruitment involves physical mobility. The fellow will be part of the Human-Centered AI (HCAI) group at the Department of Information Systems, that conducts research on AI-enabled systems that meet human needs while preserving human control. The fellow must spend half of its time at UiA and half of its time at a non-academic partner (see details below on secondment).
Department of Information Systems offers a bachelor-, master- and PhD-degree in Information Systems, and a master´s degree in cyber security in collaboration with Department of ICT at Campus Grimstad. The department offers a one-year program in Information Systems, and courses in the teacher´s education and in the master´s program in Health- and social informatics, and further education in Information Systems. With around 53 employees (Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant professors, Post-docs- and PhD- Research Fellows and administrative staff), the department is one of the largest information systems research groups in Norway.

Responsibilities

Governance structures for Metaverse. As Metaverse spaces go beyond national boundaries, multiple regulations may be applicable, while different regulations may shape the physical and digital worlds. However, these are intertwined in the Metaverse. Thus, the administrators of Metaverse environments may be required to execute certain governance policies as this may become fundamental for purchasing NFT’s and trading them across different spaces. This project will focus on governance policies for virtual and physical spaces which are connected, as well as, with responsibility assignment to the Metaverse space creators, administrators and users. The fellow will have the following main responsibilities:

• Conduct a literature review on governance structures.
• Conduct theoretical and empirical research contributing to the development and understanding of governance structures and mechanisms that can support the Metaverse ecosystem and explore and elaborate on the different roles required.
• Participate and contribute to communication and dissemination activities.
• Author relevant to the project publications and reports.

Secondment: Host: ACEin, length: 18 months.

Required qualifications

Provisions relating to the positions as PhD Research Fellows can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

• Not be in possession of a PhD degree at the date of recruitment.
• Mobility Requirement: Candidates should not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Norway for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the recruitment date.
• The applicants must qualify for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, with a specialisation within Information Systems, and must hold a master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant area of study, with an average grade of B or better. Applicants who are in the process of finishing their master’s thesis are also welcome to apply for this position. More details to be found here.
• Applicants must submit a project proposal whose scope lies within the abovementioned position. The project proposal should comprise a maximum of 5000 words, including the reference list. The proposal must contain a preliminary presentation of the problem area, theoretical foundation, methodological approach and planned progression for the doctoral project. The quality of the project proposal will receive a high level of consideration during the application assessment process. 
• Fluency in written and oral English is a prerequisite.

The University, on its side, is committed to securing good supervision for the successful applicants.

Desired qualifications

Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Metaverse technologies
• Governance in Information Systems contexts

Emphasis will be placed upon the project description and the relevance it has with regard to the subject in question and the research environment at the faculty.

Personal qualities

• Result-oriented
• Excellent analytical skills
• Proven ability to work independently as well as in teams
• Strong motivation to contribute to good working and social environment

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasised.

We offer

• professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
• an open, positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
• modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers 
• membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 532 200 salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions. In addition, recruited fellows will be eligible to receive supplementary mobility and family allowance (in case of family obligations). The exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment.

General information

EDI – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability, or an incomplete CV. We are committed to diversity. We understand that some under-represented groups may feel less confident applying if they are not certain they meet all criteria. We encourage all candidates to think broadly about their strengths, including transferable skills. Ultimately, we will choose the best candidates for the positions.

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interviews. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right. Data will be handled in line with GDPR or relevant data protection laws.

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for the position".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:

• Academic CV
• Cover letter (max 1 page/500words) with your motivation for this position
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, and master's- degrees. If you have not yet completed your master, provide a transcript of courses completed and your estimated date for the master´s degree completion.
• A copy of the master thesis. For those who are near to completion, an extended abstract combined with a statement about plans to complete the thesis. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Academic works - published or under review - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 5 items)
• Project proposal (max 5000 words). 
• Name and contact information of two references.

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English.

Application deadline: 20.05.2024

Contact

For questions about the position:

• Professor Ilias Pappas, tel. +47 38 14 14 49, e-mail ilias.pappas@uia.no
• Professor Polyxeni Vassilakopoulou, +47 38 14 24 18, email polyxenv@uia.no

For questions about the application process:

• Adviser Harald Haukom, phone +47 38 14 23 33, e-mail harald.haukom@uia.no