TWO 2-YEAR POSITIONS AS POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS IN THE FIELD OF LEGAL–EMPIRICAL STUDIES

are available at the University of Oslo, Faculty of Law, Department of Private Law (http://www.jus.uio.no/ifp/english/).

Two postdoctoral positions are available, each for two years, to do legal-empirical research as an important part of the project “Sustainable Companies”, funded by the Norwegian Research Council.

The general objective of the project is to examine how to integrate the overarching goal of sustainable development and especially its environmental dimension as a decisive factor in the decision-making in companies. The main goal is at the end of the project period to be able to present workable and realistic proposals for necessary changes in the regulation of companies, which may function as models for legislators and researchers. Read more about the project here: http://www.jus.uio.no/ifp/english/research/projects/sustainable-companies/.  

As an important part of this project, legal-empirical research into the role and position of board members in companies is to be undertaken. The two postdoctoral researchers are to carry out this research under the guidance of the core project team, led by Associate Professor Beate Sjåfjell. The postdoctoral researchers will disseminate their project results at project workshops, conferences and in peer-reviewed publications. This project offers the opportunity to become a part of a vibrant new research group on Companies, Society and the Environment at the Faculty of Law in Oslo, and an integrated part of an international research team, working towards a common goal.

Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian PhD/doctoral degree, in law or in social sciences. Candidates who have submitted their doctoral thesis for evaluation at a Norwegian research institution before the closing date for the application, may also apply. For candidates writing their doctorate at a foreign research institution, the doctoral thesis must be submitted before the closing date and the doctoral degree must be completed within five months after the closing date. The doctoral thesis as well as letter of confirmation from the research institution must be submitted together with the application.

Experience with legal-empirical research is an advantage, but not a condition, as guidance will be given with the structuring as well as the carrying out of the empirical research. The language of the project is English, and the applicants should therefore have a good command of the English language, written and spoken. A good command of a Scandinavian language is an advantage and may be made a condition for one of the postdoctoral positions, but not for both. Qualified applicants from all countries are encouraged to apply.

The main purpose of postdoctoral research fellowships in general is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions. For this project, a significant aim is also to provide a legal-empirical basis for the project as a whole. In assessing the applications, special emphasis will therefore be placed on the assumed academic and personal ability on the part of the candidates to complete their projects within the given time frame. As the project team will define the legal-empirical research projects of the postdoctoral researchers, a project description is not required. Rather, applicants are requested to write a short proposal (maximum 5 pages) indicating their ideas on how to structure research into the role, position and motivation of board members. For this purpose, the complete project plan will be sent to all potential applicants who declare their interest by contacting project leader Beate Sjåfjell (beate.sjafjell@jus.uio.no).

Short-listed applicants may be invited for an interview at the University of Oslo.

The successful candidates may start in August 2010 or as soon as possible thereafter.

Applicants are requested to submit a complete overview of their education, former positions and other relevant experience, a complete publication list, and up to three scholarly publications.

Applicants must accordingly, within the closing date, submit four copies of:

·         A letter of application (in English)

·         A proposal for the methodology of the postdoctoral projects, maximum 5 pages (in English)

·         A CV (a complete overview of the applicant’s education, former positions and other relevant experience; in English)

·         Expanded applicant form, http://www.admin.uio.no/opa/ledige-stillinger/english/sokerskjema_GBR.rtf

·         Copies of certificates, diplomas and recommendations (in English or Scandinavian, or with certified translations into English). Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their university’s grading system.

·         A full publication list (in English, with titles in other languages than English or Scandinavian translated into English)

·         Up to three scholarly publications, with an overview indicating their relevance for this application. The submitted publications must be in English or in a Scandinavian language unless otherwise specifically agreed upon beforehand. If the submitted publications are co-authored, the division of work between the authors must be confirmed in the form a co-author statement.

Guidelines for appointments to postdoctoral research fellowships at the University of Oslo may be obtained at http://www.uio.no/admhb/reglhb/personal/tilsettingvitenskapelig/regulationstermcondition.xml.

As these positions are for two years each, there are no teaching obligations.

The University of Oslo is an equal opportunity employer and particularly seeks to recruit more women and more ethnic minorities to Norway in academic positions. Both women and ethnic minorities are therefore encouraged to apply.

The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees aiming to secure rights to research results.

For further information please contact
the project leader, Associate Professor Beate Sjåfjell, beate.sjafjell@jus.uio.no, tel. (+47) 22 85 93 81, or 
Vice-Dean Inger Johanne Sand, i.j.sand@jus.uio.no, tel. (+47) 22 85 94 50.

Pay Grade: 57-64 (from NOK 438,500 to NOK 499,500) depending on qualifications and seniority.

Closing date for applications: May 11, 2010

Ref.no.: 2010/3938

The application, marked with reference number 2010/3938 and including the requested attachments should be sent in quadruplicate to:

The Faculty of Law
P.O. Box 6760 St. Olavs plass 5
NO-0130 Oslo
Norway

Application papers may instead be sent via e-mail to: postmottak@jus.uio.no, with publications sent separately to the postal address.