PhD Fellowship in Politics & Social Sciences

The University of Stavanger (UiS) invites applications for a PhD Fellowship on the consequences of the “AI Revolution” for higher-educated professionals in Norway. The position is located at  the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Department of Media & Social Sciences.

This position offers an opportunity to conduct an original research project on how higher-educated professionals perceive and handle their exposure to Al-related technological change, and how this affects their social and political attitudes and behaviours. By doing this project, you will develop in-depth knowledge of the social and political effects of technological change and the “AI Revolution”. You will also get hands-on skills in social science and media studies research methods, especially qualitative methods. 

A PhD Fellowship will give promising researchers an opportunity for academic development through a PhD education leading to a doctoral degree.

You will be admitted to the PhD program in Social Sciences. The education includes relevant courses amounting to about six months of study, a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic communication, a trial lecture and public defence. Read more about the PhD education at UiS on our website.

The position is available from December 1st 2025, the appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively.

Qualification requirements

We are looking for applicants with a strong academic background who have completed a five-year master degree (3+2) within political science, media/journalism studies, sociology, economics, psychology or a related discipline, preferably acquired recently; or who possess corresponding qualifications that could provide a basis for successfully completing a doctorate. If you finish your degree by September 1st 2025 you are also welcome to apply.

To be eligible for admission to the doctoral programmes at the University of Stavanger both the grade for your master’s thesis and the weighted average grade of your master’s degree must individually be equivalent to or better than a B grade. 

Applicants with an education from an institution with a different grade scale than A-F, and/or with other types of credits than sp/ECTS, must attach a confirmed conversion scale that shows how the grades can be compared with the Norwegian A-F scale and a Diploma Supplement or similar that explains the scope of the subjects that are included in the education. You can use these conversion scales to calculate your points for admission.

We also put empasis on:

• interest in digitalisation, AI technology, political and social attitudes and behaviour, and the media and/or finance & insurance industries;
• strong skills in qualitative research methods (interviews, focus groups, document analysis), preferably documented with thesis project(s), work experience, or similar. Additional knowledge about and interest in quantitative methods (e.g., survey and/or experimental social science methods) or mixed-methods approaches would be an advantage;
• an ability to use, and/or willingness to learn, relevant software tools (e.g., NVivo);
• strong motivation for and clear potential to contribute to international social and media science research;
• an ability to work both independently and as part of a team;
• a structured approach to work, resiliency, and curiosity.

You must have good communications skills in English (see below) and Norwegian or another Scandinavian language, as interviews, research data and information gathering are conducted inn Norwegian.