PhD position
The Department of Information Science and Media Studies, University of Bergen, has one vacant 100% position as PhD fellow in the area of Media Production and Digital Storytelling. The fellowship period is set to 4 years, with the main goal of resulting in a PhD degree for the employee.
The Department of Information Science and Media Studies is a multidisciplinary department at the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Bergen. The position is associated with the Research Group for Computer Games and Virtual Environments, a cross-disciplinary research group that focuses on the social and cultural aspects of digitally generated and technologically mediated spaces relating to interactive and immersive technologies such as computer games and extended realities, spanning the sociocultural aspects and the user practices related to such environments as well as the properties and affordances of the environments themselves.
The PhD position will be based at the Center of Excellence in Digital Narrative (CDN), a world-leading center of research excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway. The center investigates emerging forms of digital narrative and how cultural contexts are reshaping their use and function. The candidate will have the opportunity to work with the games studies and interactive digital narrative node and other relevant research projects in the Center. Candidates can find out more about the Center for Digital Narrative at uib.no/cdn
About the project/work tasks:
The PhD project should strengthen the department’s research on digital narratives. Applicants must propose a PhD project that is rooted in moving image production, and uses this to investigate emergent digital narrative forms or technologies, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, AI-based video production, virtual cinematography, game-based storytelling, interactive art, etc. The project will also ideally engage with current practices in, and be able to generate new knowledge about, the interstices between linear narrative forms (notably filmmaking) and interactivity. Its focus may fall within (or move across) fiction, documentary, hybrid fiction/non-fiction, or experimental approaches to digital storytelling. The project should include the design and development of prototypes or artistic works that incorporate and explore digital narrative and that form an integral part of the overall research project.
Qualifications and personal qualities:
- Applicants must hold a Master’s degree in media production, interaction design, digital culture, visual arts, game design, or similar. The Master’s thesis must be submitted before the application deadline. It is a requirement that the degree must be fulfilled before commencement of the position. The requirement is a grade B or better on the Master’s thesis and for the Master’s degree in total.
- Applicants will teach primarily on the Bachelor’s programme in Film and Television Production, and so should also have sufficient media production skills to be able to contribute to teaching that focuses on visual storytelling and video production techniques.
- Applicants must be able to work independently, structured and have good collaborative skills as well as an enthusiasm for research. Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Ambitions and potential will also be evaluated.
The workplace is Bergen. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.
About the PhD position:
The duration of the PhD position is 4 years, where 25% is dedicated to obligatory duties associated with teaching and administration. The plan for this part of the position is developed in collaboration with the Department of Information Science and Media Studies at the beginning of the employment period.
As a PhD research fellow, you will take part in the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, UiB. Admittance to the PhD programme is based on a research proposal to be attached with this application. The employment period for the successful candidate may be reduced if he or she previously has been employed in a PhD position.
To be eligible for admission you must normally have an educational background corresponding to a master’s degree with a scope of 120 ECTS credits, which builds on a bachelor’s degree with a scope of 180 ECTS credits (normally 2 + 3 years), or an integrated master’s degree with a scope of 300 ECTS credits (5 years). Master’s degrees must normally include an independent work of a minimum of 30 ECTS credits.
We can offer:
- A good academic and social environment with high research quality.
- Salary NOK 532 200 (code 1017, pay grade 54) in the state salary scale. Further promotions are made according to length of service in the position.
- A good insurance scheme and pension plan through enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Good training and welfare benefits
Your application must include:
- A cover letter including a brief account of your research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
- A research proposal must accompany the application. The proposal should present the topic, the research problem(s) and choice of theory and methods. The proposal should also include a progress plan for the different parts of the project. The proposal should be between 1,500-2,000 words, excluding references.
- CV including a list of academic publications.
- Up until 3 academic publications, in addition to your master’s thesis or equivalent thesis.
- Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
- The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of them must be the main advisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent thesis.
Applications containing all attachments must be submitted electronically by the link on this page marked “Apply for this job”. If you have a master’s degree from a foreign educational institution, or a 2-year discipline-based master’s degree (or the equivalent) in a subject area other than the one associated with the application, you may later in the application process be asked to submit an overview of the syllabus for the degree you have completed.
We kindly ask the applicants to follow the guidelines for applicants to research fellowship positions at the Faculty of Social Sciences closely, please see: http://link.uib.no/?1js5s.
The application has to be marked: 24/325 Closing date: Februar 18, 2024
Applications submitted without a cover letter and applications sent as e-mails will not be considered. Only the submitted documents will be subjected to an expert assessment.