Stipendiatstilling om kjønn og teknologi

PhD Fellowship in Gender and Technology

Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education

The position

A PhD Student position in gender studies is available in the Centre for Women’s and Gender Research (SKK) at the Department of Philosophy (IFF), Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSL), UiT The Arctic University of Norway. The position is linked to the research initiative Gender, AI and Technological Engagements (GATE): Towards Informed Futures led by Ania Malinowska.

The successful candidate will develop and carry out an original doctoral research project within GATE’s thematic framework, leading to a PhD degree. The candidate will participate in the research environment at SKK and contribute to interdisciplinary exchange on gender, artificial intelligence, technological change, and social life.

The workplace is campus Tromsø. The duration is three years with possibility for one additional year upon completion of the doctoral thesis in time.

Shortlisted candidates should expect to be called for interview by April. Desired starting date in August 2027.

The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.

The PhD fellow position is for a period of three years and full time studies with the possibility of an extension of the appointment period. If the doctoral dissertation is submitted for appraisal within 3 years or within 3.5 years, the PhD candidate is qualified for a completion grant for either 12 or 6 months. The completion grant should be used to further qualification measures such as courses in teaching in higher education, lecturing and other relevant work at the faculty. More information about the completion grant scheme can be found here.

Supervision and research environment

The proposed main supervisor is Associate Professor Ania Malinowska, a cultural theorist and researcher working across technology, affect, gender and culture. Her research combines cultural and gender-informed theory with media archaeology, qualitative inquiry and art-based experimentation. She is the author of Love in Contemporary Technoculture (Cambridge University Press) and Cutting Up Books: A Writing Method in Critical Thinking (Intellect), and co-inventor of Hypnotic AI, a patented AI-based research and art system investigating affective human–technology relations.

Formal supervision arrangements will be confirmed under UiT’s doctoral regulations.

The project / The position’s field of research

Gender, AI and Technological Engagements (GATE) brings gender studies into dialogue with science and technology studies (STS), critical AI studies, affect theory and digital humanities. It investigates how understandings of gender inform the design, use and governance of intelligent systems, and how these systems, in turn, shape identities, affects, social relations, knowledge, work and participation.

The project takes a critical and constructive approach to artificial intelligence. It examines how AI and algorithmic systems can reproduce inequality, exclusion and bias, as well as how gender-
informed research can contribute to more inclusive, equitable and socially responsible technological futures. The High North provides an important context for investigating geographical and linguistic
biases in technological systems and for developing approaches informed by northern and Arctic experiences and histories of technology.

Applicants are expected to propose a focused, feasible doctoral project addressing one or more of the following research directions:

• Gendered assumptions, representation and bias in AI systems, datasets, platforms and interfaces;
• Gender identities and expectations in interactions with AI agents, robots, avatars and digital assistants;
• Affect, trust, intimacy, care and relationships in human–machine encounters;
• Algorithmic feedback loops, data exclusion and the production of gendered knowledge;
• Gendered transformations of labour, automation, expertise and social reproduction;
• Gender-informed, qualitative, digital, historical, experimental or art-based methods for researching intelligent technologies;
• Gender-informed technological design, foresight, governance and emancipatory possibilities;
• AI and technological futures in the High North, including minority languages, Indigenous contexts and geographical inequalities.

Project description should formulate a clear research question, situate it in relevant gender-theoretical scholarship, identify appropriate methods and empirical material, address research ethics, and provide a realistic plan for completion within the appointment period. Proposals may be theoretical, empirical
or practice-based, provided they demonstrate a rigorous gender-theoretical and/or methodological contribution.

Depending on the doctoral project, research may involve qualitative fieldwork, media archaeology, analysis of digital systems, or experimental encounters with technological objects. Opportunities for practice-based experimentation may include engagement with intelligent systems and research hardware such as Hypnotic AI, where relevant and feasible. Access to equipment, laboratory facilities and any particular system is subject to agreement and availability.

The fellow is expected to present research at academic events, participate in the centre’s scholarly activities, and publish or otherwise disseminate findings in appropriate scholarly formats, including open access where possible.

The project description shall not exceed 8-10 pages, literature references included. Template for project description can be found here.

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact:

Associate Professor Ania Malinowska:

• phone: +47 77 64 67 07
• email: ania.malinowska@uit.no

or Head of the Department Melina Duarte

• phone: +47 77 64 4329
• email: melina.duarte@uit.no

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

• A relevant master’s degree, or equivalent qualification in gender studies, humanities, social sciences, Science and Technology Studies (STS), media and cultural studies, or a related field;
• Good written and oral English proficiency.

Applicants must document fluency of in English and be able to work in an international environment. Nordic applicants can document their English capabilities by attaching their high school diploma. Working knowledge of Norwegian or a Scandinavian language is also beneficial.

Desired qualifications:

• Knowledge of gender studies, feminist theory, critical AI studies, STS or digital humanities;
• Experience with qualitative, digital, historical, experimental or art-based research methods;
• Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and socially responsible technology research;
• Feasible and well-prepared research proposal, showing good methodological skills;
• Motivation, research potential and personal suitability.

We will also emphasize motivation and personal suitability for the position. We are looking for candidates who:

• Have good collaboration skills;
• Have good communication and interaction with colleagues and students;
• Wants to contribute to a good working environment.

In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant's potential to complete a research education based on the master's thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. (The project description will also be considered.) In addition, professional experience and other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme will be taken into consideration.

As many people as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.

Admission to the PhD programme

For employment in the PhD position, you must be qualified for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education and participate in organized doctoral studies within the employment period.

Admission normally requires:

• A bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS and a master's degree of 120 ECTS, or an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS.
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 30 ECTS for a master's degree of 120 ECTS.
• A master's thesis with a scope corresponding to at least 20 ECTS for an integrated master's degree of 300 ECTS.

All applicants should have a grade point average of B (or equivalent) on their master’s degree in order to be admitted to the PhD programme. The grade point average also applies to 300 ECTS points integrated five-year master’s degrees, in which all courses are to be included in the grade point average. A more detailed description of admission requirements can be found here.

If you are employed in the position, you will be provisionally admitted to the PhD programme. Application for final admission must be submitted no later than two months after taking up the position.

Applicants with a foreign education will be subjected to an evaluation of whether the educational background is equal to Norwegian higher education, following national guidelines from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Depending on which country the education is from, one or two additional years of university education may be required to fulfil admission requirements, e.g. a 4-year bachelor's degree and a 2-year master's degree. UiT normally accepts higher education from countries that are part of the Lisbon Recognition Convention.

Inclusion and diversity

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.

If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project
• Good career opportunities
• A good academic environment with dedicated colleagues 
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement 
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund 
• PhD Fellows are normally given a salary of 580 000 NOK/year with a 3% yearly increase
• Opportunity to apply for a scholarship for an extended research stay abroad
• Opportunity to join an active and interdisciplinary research environment at the Centre for Women’s and Gender Research (SKK)
• Opportunities for academic collaboration and scholarly exchange across gender studies, critical technology studies and AI research
• Opportunity to apply for funding for a research stay abroad and to develop international research networks
• Possibility of qualifying for a one-year extension to undertake career development activities, including teaching, research dissemination, administration and research
• Close academic supervision and support throughout the doctoral programme
• A supportive and inclusive working environment with dedicated colleagues
• Opportunity to engage in physical exercise during working hours

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.

More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here: Staffmobility

Application

Please note that the application will only be assessed based on the information submitted by the application deadline via Jobbnorge. It is therefore important that you include all necessary documents demonstrating your qualifications for the position.

Your application must include:

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV
• Official diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degree in the original language
• Official transcripts of grades/academic record references for Bachelor's and Master's degree in the original language
• Official translation of diplomas and transcripts of records (ToR) to English or a Scandinavian language, if applicable
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• References with contact information
• Master’s thesis, and any other academic works
• Project description (8-10 pages, included references)

Applicants must hold a master’s degree before taking up the position. Candidates who are in the final stages of completing their master’s degree are also encouraged to apply. In such cases, applicants must submit a draft version of their master’s thesis, an up-to-date transcript of academic records, and a statement from their supervisor or institution confirming the expected date of degree completion. The master’s degree must be completed before the successful candidate takes up the position.

All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. If English proficiency is not documented in the application, it must be documented before starting in the position.

Assessment

The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee's mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants' qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position. A copy of the assessment report will be sent to all applicants.

The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position.

General information

The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.

Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted. You will become a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which gives you many benefits in addition to a lifelong pension: You may be entitled to financial support if you become ill or disabled, your family may be entitled to financial support when you die, you become insured against occupational injury or occupational disease, and you can get good terms on a mortgage. Read more about your employee benefits at: spk.no.

A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.

We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.

In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.

Eallju - Developing the High North

UiT The Arctic University of Norway is an internationally leading broad-based university. Our vision is to be a driving force in the North. The Northern Sami term eallju, which means diligence, sets the tone for UiT's drive. Together with students, staff, and society at large, we will utilize our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our academic breadth, and interdisciplinary advantages to shape the future.

UiT has approximately 18,000 students, more than 4,000 employees, and is established across four main campuses and seven additional study locations in Northern Norway and on Svalbard. Our largest campuses are Tromsø, Alta, Narvik, and Harstad. UiT has seven faculties, 40 departments and centers, and leading research environments in various fields. The university offers 269 study programs and focuses on educational quality.

Academic freedom, scientific principles, and research ethics form the foundation of all UiT's activities. Participation, co-determination, transparency, and sound processes will provide the basis for making wise and forward-looking decisions. Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Rooted in scientific integrity, we aim to be bold, engaged, and generous - closely connected to academia, people, and contemporary developments.

Read more about UiT's strategy towards 2030.