PhD Position in Long-term Climate Governance
Oslo Business School at Oslo Metropolitan University (OsloMet) invites applications for a temporary position as PhD scholar in long-term climate governance. The position is connected to the ERC-funded research project CAMELOT – Capacities for More Effective Long-term Climate Governance and is expected to start in April 2027.
The position is three years full-time but can be extended to four years if teaching assignments are included. The PhD Research Fellow will be based in the academic unit Public Administration and Governance at Oslo Business School and will be enrolled in OsloMet's PhD programme in Social Sciences, specialization Business Administration, Innovation and Governance (BIG).
The successful candidate is expected to complete the doctoral degree during the period of employment.
About CAMELOT
Many of today's most consequential governance challenges, including climate change and Earth system risks, unfold over decades, centuries, or longer. Yet political institutions and decision-making processes often struggle to engage effectively with such long-term futures.
CAMELOT investigates the capacities that enable individuals, groups, and institutions to think about and govern for the long term. The project develops new theory on long-term governance capacities and studies whether and how such capacities can be strengthened through experimental and participatory research. It brings together insights from political science, public administration, environmental governance, sustainability science, futures studies, psychology, and related fields.
CAMELOT is a five-year research project funded by a European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant and led by Associate professor Manjana Milkoreit at OsloMet.
CAMELOT project website
About the PhD project
The PhD scholar will develop an independent research project that contributes to CAMELOT's overarching objective of understanding and strengthening capacities for long-term climate governance.
The project should be theoretically informed and empirically grounded and involve original empirical research designed and conducted by the PhD candidate. The research may build on, extend, or enable comparisons with research undertaken elsewhere in CAMELOT, but should not depend on data collection undertaken in other parts of the project.
We welcome innovative proposals addressing questions related to long-term governance capacities. Possible research directions include, but are not limited to:
- investigating how narratives and stories about long-term climate futures influence imagination, understanding, attitudes, decision-making, or other capacities relevant to long-term governance
- examining how engagement with long-term climate futures differs across climate risks, Earth system tipping elements, audiences, social groups, professional communities, or political and cultural contexts
- studying how scenarios, foresight, simulations, serious games, or other futures-oriented interventions affect capacities for anticipatory and long-term governance
- developing and evaluating educational or professional interventions designed to strengthen capacities for engaging with long-term climate futures
- investigating whether and under what conditions changes in long-term governance capacities translate into changes in reasoning, decision-making, or action
Applicants are encouraged to propose original research questions and approaches that extend beyond these examples while demonstrating a clear connection to CAMELOT's overarching research agenda.
A range of methodological approaches may be appropriate, including quantitative, qualitative, experimental, and mixed-methods research. The proposed research must be feasible within the period of employment.
The candidate will conduct their own research while working closely with the CAMELOT team. They will benefit from interaction with CAMELOT's theoretical, experimental, and participatory research and may develop complementary or comparative studies building on concepts, methods, interventions, or findings developed within the project.
Qualification requirements
We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:
- master's degree of 120 ECTS or equivalent in political science, public administration, environmental governance, sustainability science, sociology, psychology, futures studies, science and technology studies, human geography, or another field relevant to the position
- grade of B or better on both the master's thesis and the master's degree overall, or an equivalent academic record
- demonstrate knowledge of research methods relevant to the proposed PhD project
- strong analytical and academic writing skills
- excellent written and spoken English
Candidates who are close to completing their master's degree may apply, provided that the degree is completed before the start of the position.
It will be an advantage
It will be considered an advantage to have knowledge of or previous research experience related to one or more of the following areas: climate or environmental governance; public policy; long-term or anticipatory governance; futures and foresight; environmental or political psychology; narratives and communication; Earth system risks and tipping points; or experimental and intervention-based social science.
Experience with empirical data collection and analysis, participation in research projects, academic publishing, or interdisciplinary research will also be considered an advantage.
General criteria for employment as a Research Fellow are stipulated in the Regulations relating to the Universities and University Colleges Act.
Admission to the doctoral program is a prerequisite. Admission to the doctoral program is based on a comprehensive assessment of the application, including the relevance and quality of the project description. A finalized project plan for the employment period is required completed and acknowledged within 3 months from the date of employment.
See information about admission criteria to the PhD-programme.
It is important for OsloMet to reflect the diverse and multicultural populationof our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavors to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. If there are periods where you have not been in work or have been studying or in training, you are also welcome to apply.
We offer
The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary and international research environment working at the intersection of climate governance, public policy, futures research, and the social sciences.
The position offers:
- exciting job tasks at Norway’s third largest university
- opportunities for academic development in a professional research environment
- three-year full-time position with 100% salary; possibility to extend to 4 years with teaching duties
- beneficial pension arrangements with the Norwegian State Pension Fund
- good employee welfare arrangements
- free Norwegian classes to employees
- working location in downtown Oslo with multiple cultural offers
- close integration into the ERC-funded CAMELOT research team and the Public Administration and Governance research environment at Oslo Business School
- close supervision and intellectual exchange with researchers working on long-term governance, climate governance, experimental social science, futures and anticipation, and science-policy engagement
The position provides an opportunity to develop an independent scholarly profile while being embedded in a larger international research project with strong connections to academic and policy communities.
The salary for the position is in accordance with the Basic Collective Agreement for state employees and OsloMets pay policy for PhD Candidate in code 1017), corresponding to 550 800 NOK per year. From the salary, 2% will be deducted in pension contributions for the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK). (double check salary in the salary plan booklet and pay scales set by OsloMet).
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHi5avzdHIkApplication Process
If you wish to apply for the position, you must do so through our recruitment system.
Please upload the following documents together by the application deadline:
- an application letter (maximum two pages) explaining your motivation for applying and how your background, research interests, and experience are relevant to the position
- a project proposal (maximum five pages, excluding references), following the requirements above
- CV
- certificates and transcripts for bachelor's and master's degrees, including grades; The certificates/diplomas must include ECTS grades (A–F). Foreign diplomas must be translated into English by the degree-conferring institution.
- a copy of the master's thesis and up to two published academic works
- names and contact information for two reference persons. Reference letters are not required at the application stage.
We only consider applications submitted through our electronic recruitment system, and all documents must be uploaded for your application to be considered. The documents must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Translations must be authorized, and you will be asked to present originals if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet verifies documents to give candidates a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
For relevant positions, OsloMet conducts background checks of applicants in cooperation with an external provider, in order to verify information contained in available documents. Background checks are always carried out with the candidate’s consent, and employment in these positions is conditional upon an approved background check. Relevant applicants will receive further information about this.
Other information
If you would like more information about the position, feel free to contact:
- Head of unit Siri Brorstad Borlaug, (+47) 993 05 003
- Associate professor Manjana Milkoreit, (+47) 922 81 887