Researcher in Media Content Interaction/Accessibility & AI at MediaFutures

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Research scientist 

There is a vacancy for a researcher position at MediaFutures within Media Content Interaction/Accessibility& AI. The position is for 18 months.  We are looking for an ambitious and self-motivated researcher with a strong background in computer science and machine learning to join us in MediaFutures: Research Centre for Responsible Media Technology & Innovation.

MediaFutures is a centre for research-based innovation at the Department of Information Science and Media Studies, University of Bergen, , and is located at Media City Bergen. The centre is a part of the Norwegian Research Council’s Research-based Innovation scheme. MediaFutures is cooperating with industry partners from news media and media technology research topics like media experiences, recommender technology, content production and analysis, content interaction and availability, and Norwegian language technology. The goal is to develop responsible technological solutions to societal challenges like AI, fake news, echo chambers, and political polarisation. The results will be new digital tools, analysis methods, and content types for the future of media. The centre produces outputs, such as groundbreaking prototypes, research papers, software, as well as innovative start-up companies.

Read more about the centre at www.mediafutures.no.

About the project/work tasks:

The candidate will work at MediaFutures in MediaCity Bergen contributing to research and innovation in Media Content Interaction, Accessibility and AI. The candidate will collaborate closely both with researchers and industrial partners, including Schibsted, TV2, VizRT etc. 

The research area Media Content Interaction and Accessibility within MediaFutures aims to develop methods and technologies supporting adapted media experiences for all types of users, regardless of their technical aptitude and personal needs. The focus is to overcome barriers to engagement, understanding, and participation. Such barriers can be related to language, culture, age, knowledge level, or associated with disabilities. Simultaneously, we strive to support media experiences that cater to individual demands, such as the desire for specialised narratives, multi-device and/or multi-modal interaction, advanced graphics, and social integration. We also collaborate with relevant researchers and industrial partners in other MediaFutures research areas.

This researcher position will focus on developing computational methods for analysing and modelling user interaction data (e.g., gaze/eye-tracking data) and applying machine learning and AI techniques to infer user behaviour, attention, and preferences. The work includes designing data processing pipelines, training and evaluating models, and integrating AI-driven components into media applications. For example, how can AI be exploited to produce new media products, fostering more adapted and accessible user experiences while also limiting production costs? How can additional layers of statistics, visualisations, or individual highlights be automatically generated based on user preferences, and incorporated seamlessly into the user experience?

We expect significant contributions to interdisciplinary publications reporting on the project results, as well as an ability to develop prototypes to be showcased to the industry partners in the centre. The position has an orientation towards innovation and will support the transfer of scientific knowledge into prototypes developed by the industrial partners, and the researcher may also aid in the implementation of solutions in real-life applications. 

The candidate will carry out secondments at industry partners in MediaFutures and will also be involved in the development of grant applications or other tasks delegated by the director.

Personnel responsibility rests with the centre leader.

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must hold a Norwegian PhD or an equivalent degree in Information Science, Computer Science, or Artificial Intelligence. They must have submitted their doctoral thesis for assessment before the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded.
• Strong applied programming skills (e.g., Python, data processing frameworks, machine learning libraries such as PyTorch or TensorFlow) are required.
• Background within media technology and AI in journalism is necessary.
• Experience from scientific work (e.g., previous conferences and journal publications) is a requirement.
• Experience in innovation work, grant writing, and proposal authorship is an advantage.
• Great motivation for research and innovation work, interest in the topic, and good knowledge of relevant theory and methods are a must.
• We are seeking candidates who have proven skills to work in a team, as well as the ability to work independently and in a structured manner.
• Proficiency in both written and oral English (this is the working language of the centre).
• Start date: 1st of August 2026.

Potential candidates may be invited to the centre for an interview.

We can offer:

• A good and professionally challenging working environment. 
• Salary at NOK 657 000 per year (code 1109). Further promotions are made according to the length of service in the position. 
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits
• An inclusive workspace at MediaCity Bergen.

For more information about moving to Bergen and Norway, please visit https://www.uib.no/en/hr/74243/what-can-university-bergen-offer-its-employees.

Your application must include:

• A brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these must be the main advisor from the PhD program. 
• CV
• Transcripts and diplomas and official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted.
• Relevant certificates/references.
• List of any works of a scientific nature (publication list).
• Publications (as applicable)

The application and any attachments along with certified translations in English or another Scandinavian language must be uploaded to JobbNorge.

The closing date is May 4, 2026. 

Applications sent by e-mail or without the requested documents will not be evaluated.

The following premise forms the basis for the post as research scientist:

• The research scientist should be a member of the research group in his/her field
• Salary costs should as far as possible be 100% remotely funded
• The research scientist should actively assist in acquiring external project funding for the academic environment, for
• both his-/herself and others, from The Norwegian Research Council, the European Union, and other sources
• The research scientist must expect to have his/her research activity funded by the project that the research scientist and
• its research group are working on
• The Head of Department can instruct the research scientist to work towards a specific research project
• The research scientist may hold positions of trust, participate in committees, boards etc. within UiB.
• The research scientist does not have a teaching obligation, but must expect to supervise Master- and PhD students to the extent that this forms a natural part of the research activities in the research group.
• The research scientist may apply for promotion based on competence according to the regulations for promotion
• The basis of the post is discontinued if project funding comes to an end, and the new lawon Government employees etc. regarding termination of employment and preferential rights will be applied.

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting the interim centre leader Andreas L Opdahl, Andreas.opdahl@uib.no. 

Practical questions about the application process should be directed to the HR adviser Gudrun Horvei, gudrun.horvei@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.

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.