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At Department of Government, and Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism, we are recruiting a PhD candidate in political science. This position is based in the research project PROTECT (Protecting child rights and public safety: Premises for the integration of child’s best interest and crime prevention). We are looking for a candidate with high ambitions, strong qualifications in methodologies, a keen interest in comparative research and a clear motivation in the PROTECT research area. The duration of the position is three years. The start date is January 1, 2027. It is expected that the candidate who is hired will reside and work in Bergen.
The position is a temporary position aimed at qualifying for a PhD degree. A Master’s degree is a requirement for employment.
The Department of Government, one of seven departments within the Faculty of Social Sciences, specializes in political science, studies of public policy, public administration, welfare state, democracy and participation, as well as political institutions and organisation. Research at the department is structured around dedicated research groups. The PROTECT project is situations in the research group Law, Politics and Welfare.
PROTECT is a five-year socio-legal research project on children’s rights and crime prevention. The project is led by Professors Marit Skivenes (political science) and Linda Gröning (law) and funded by the Research Council of Norway. The project will explore how welfare states can address the challenge of children engaging in serious violent crimes in a way that protects children’s rights, and at the same time provide public safety and prevent crime and social exclusion. The project focuses on two key institutions that play pivotal roles in addressing this group of children: the child protection system and the criminal justice system. PROTECT will conduct pioneering interdisciplinary research by combining criminal law and political science, innovative methodological approaches, and cross-country examinations. For the PhD position in political science, it is the project proposal’s work packages 3 and 4 that is relevant to focus on.
Applicants are encouraged to read more about the project at uib.no/en/protect. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the principal investigator for further details (marit.skivenes@uib.no / +47 959 24 979).
The Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism addresses core themes in the social sciences by examining the government’s use of power toward its citizens and the justifications of state interventions into people’s lives. Important areas of empirical focus are welfare state models, child protection systems, and children’s rights.
The research at the Centre is comparative - between nations, systems, and individuals, and includes leading researchers across the world. We are an interdisciplinary group including political science, sociology, law, and psychology. In Bergen, the Centre for Research on Discretion and Paternalism is involved in research collaboration with the Centre on Law and Social Transformation (UiB/CMI), FAIR, a Center for Excellence at the Norwegian Business School https://www.nhh.no/en/research-centres/fair/, and Centre on Criminal Justice and Agency | UiB.
The selection of candidates will especially consider the academic grades, the methodological and quantitative competencies, and the quality of the project proposal and its fit with the PROTECT project.
About the PhD position (applies to university PhD positions): The duration of the PhD position is 3 years. The employment period for the successful candidate may be reduced if he or she previously has been employed in a PhD position.
As a PhD research fellow, you will take part in the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, UiB. 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. It is expected that the topic of the master’s degree is connected to the academic field to which you are seeking admission.
A project 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. Admittance to the PhD programme will be based on the research proposal. The faculty has prepared a guide for writing project descriptions.
The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge following the link on this page marked “Apply for this job”.
The application deadline is June 30, 2026.
Applications submitted without a project description or applications sent as e-mails will not be considered. Only submitted documents will be subjected to an expert assessment.
Further information about the position is obtainable by contacting Principal Investigator Marit Skivenes – marit.skivenes@uib.no - phone: +47 95924979.
Practical questions regarding the application procedures should be directed to HR Adviser Gudrun Horvei - gudrun.horvei@uib.no
Appointed research fellows will be admitted to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences. Questions about the programme may be directed to Adviser-PhD Elina Troscenko, elina.troscenko@uib.no
Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.
Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.
We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity. For further information about the recruitment process, click here.
Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrtp6VxMeJ4&index=2&list=PLf8ZIYfAO0qjhROTj6SthDbSScg0lSO6G
The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.
There are seven departments at Faculty of Social Sciences. Read more about the faculty and departments.
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