Postdoctoral Fellow in Political Science

The Department of Political Science is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow (SKO 1352) with specialisation in public policy and administration, comparative politics or international relations. The successful applicant will work with the political science component of the interdisciplinary research project “Renewable energy-driven recycling of CO2 and H2O to consumer products and fuels, (CH-CYCLE)”. The appointment is a fulltime position for a period of three years. Depending on the candidate’s competence and the teaching needs of the department, the fellowship period can be extended up to four years for other types of qualification work including various teaching tasks and obligations.

The primary aim of CH-CYCLE is to understand how to overcome key technological, environmental and political obstacles to renewable energy driven recycling of CO2 and H2O to consumer products and fuels. The political science component of CH-CYCLE explores policies that influence the development of Carbon Removals, and particularly Carbon Capture and Usage. Three political science issues are crucial to CH-CYCLE. First, Europeanization of CCU policies, for instance studies of the relationship between national and EU-level policy developments in countries such as Germany and Norway. Second, examining science-policy relationships relating to CCU. This may include studies of how varying expert communities portray the role of Carbon Capture and Usage in the climate transition, for instance through modelling. Third, studies of CCU relevant policy developments at the national level, for instance explored through process-tracing or large-text assessments. The Postdoctoral Fellow is expected to contribute to cross-disciplinary publications in the CH-CYCLE project. See more information about the project here: Renewable energy-driven recycling of CO₂ and H₂O into consumer products and fuels (CH-CYCLE) - UiO:Energy and Environment

The project is led by Unni Olsbye, Department of Chemistry, and co-organized by Sabrina Sartory, Department of Technology Systems and Elin Lerum Boasson, Department of Political Science. The political science component is led by Elin Lerum Boasson and will form part of the department's research group on Policy, Bureaucracy, and Organisation (PBO). 

About the postdoctoral position

A postdoctoral position is intended to help the successful candidate develop a research profile and competencies that qualify them to apply for a permanent position in academia. To this end, the main focus of this position is to conduct research, including publication and dissemination. In addition, the fellow is expected to actively contribute to the broader research agenda and environment of the CH-CYCLE project. If the postdoctoral researcher does not already possess the teaching/pedagogical qualifications that meet the requirements for an associate professorship (incl. formal training), the department shall facilitate the acquisition of such qualifications during the employment period. Additionally, the position may provide other competencies relevant to the postdoctoral fellow’s future career.

To promote a strategic career path, all postdoctoral research fellows are expected to submit a career development plan, specifying career goals and the competencies that the postdoctoral fellow should acquire, no later than one month after commencement of the postdoctoral period. The department is responsible for ensuring that the plan is followed up and that the postdoctoral researcher has access to career guidance throughout the duration of the postdoctoral fellowship.

Formal qualifications

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree (PhD) in Political Science or a closely related discipline before taking up the post. 
• For applicants who have yet to receive their PhD degree, the Doctoral dissertation must have been submitted for evaluation, or completed and scheduled for submission and evaluation, before the application deadline.