About the position
The Faculty of Health and Social Sciences at University of Inland Norway (INN) invites applications for a PhD research fellowship in the field of Public Health and Criminal Justice. The PhD Research Fellow will join the Section for Public Health, which is part of the Department of Public Health and Sports Sciences. In addition, the PhD Research Fellow will be a member of the Critical Public Health Research Group and join three other PhD fellows at various stages of their programme.
The place of work is campus Elverum. The duration of the PhD Research Fellow is 4 years, of which 25 per cent of the time each year comprises required duties associated with research, teaching, and dissemination of results. The employment period may be reduced to 3 years without research, teaching and supervision obligations.
It is a requirement that the PhD research fellow qualifies for admission to the
University's PhD programme in Health and Welfare (HELVEL). The final project plan of the doctoral education programme must be approved and agreed upon no later than three months after starting in the position. Applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered.
About the project
Prisoners’ health and wellbeing is significantly worse compared to the general population in Norway, and incarceration is a contributing factor in this inequality. However, we know little about the specific ways in which prison structures and processes exert their effects on health and wellbeing nor how this might be related to rehabilitation and future social reintegration. The PRISM-NOR project aims to shed light on these issues. We use the World Health Organization’s ‘health promoting prisons’ concept as a theoretical lens to understand how prisons could be more productive, health promoting institutions. Eleven prisons in central and east Norway will be strategically selected. Data will be collected via a quantitative prospective cohort study to track prisoners’ health and wellbeing during a twelve month period of incarceration, with six-month follow-up post-incarceration where possible. At the individual level, validated instruments will be used to measure different dimensions of physical and mental health alongside accelerometry to measure, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep. At the prison level, factors relating to routines and sanctions, prison climate, and the physical environment will be measured. The data will be used to explore how prisoners’ health and wellbeing changes over time and which aspects of prison life are associated with different dimensions of health and wellbeing. A registry linkage study will be carried out to identify predictors of successful re-integration into society. PRISM-NOR thus aims to generate an evidence base to inform Kriminalomsorgen discussions on organizational change towards becoming a more productive health promoting prison.
Please contact Miranda Thurston, Professor of public health, miranda.thurston@inn.no or Ingeborg Barth Vedøy, Associate professor, ingeborg.vedoy@inn.no to access more information about the project. Candidates are required to submit a four-page critical reflection document, which will be included in the candidates' overall evaluation. See more information below.
Qualifications
We welcome applicants with relevant theoretical and practical experience and education. We are seeking a highly motivated candidate who wants to address the educational challenge of completing a PhD in a stimulating collaborative environment. You should have the interpersonal skills to work as part of a team, both at INN, regionally and internationally, alongside being willing to show initiative and take on responsibilities yourself. In particular, a PhD requires you to be an independent learner with the capacity and capability of performing demanding tasks within defined time frames and within a context of supervision.
It is a requirement that the PhD research fellow qualifies for admission to the University's PhD programme in Health and welfare Applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered. To be admitted to the doctoral program, the applicant must normally have a minimum master's degree or master's level (120 credits, §3 master's in the Norwegian system) or equivalent education.
Furthermore, you must have a strong academic background from your previous studies, ie. the average grade should normally be B or better from the master's program (120 credits) or equivalent education. Calculation of the average grade is based on the credits for each course and for the master's thesis. Applicants with weaker grades than what is normally required for admission must document that they will be able to complete a doctoral degree. In cases where the education has been approved with the use of the grades passed / failed, the applicant is admitted after an individual assessment. If you have education from abroad, you can contact HR-dir for approval of your education, alternatively a similar assessment will be made in connection with the application process. Candidates finishing master`s degree after the application deadline can also be considered, with the requirement that the average grade of B or better is obtained before employment. Complete degree certificate must be forwarded as soon as possible.
Specific requirements are:
The following would be an advantage:
Emphasis is also placed on the following:
- Awareness of, and insight into the ethical issues involved when researching vulnerable groups such
as prisoners.
- Good interpersonal, oral and written communication skills
- A good productive work ethic
- Flexibility in the context of collaboration and independence
Language proficiency
- Applicants must have excellent communication skills in Norwegian or other Scandinavian language, both oral and written.
- Applicants must be proficient in both written and oral English. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must document English compentence in accordance with the Supplementary provisions for admission to the PhD program at INN.
Evaluation of candidates for the position will be based on a total assessment of educational background, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation and other eligibility requirements, as defined in the advertisement. In addition, the following will be emphasized: quality of the four-page critical reflection document, documented independent research and development work or experience relevant to the project.
The position and associated tasks must be carried out in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations for government employees, including also the Act on Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology, etc. Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, come into conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to take up the position at University of Inland Norway. Necessary approvals must be maintained throughout the employment relationship.
How to apply
Your application must include:
- Application letter including a brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position
- Four-page critical reflection document outlining ethical, methodological and practical considerations and how to deal with them to maintain the quality of the project. This must be written in English.
- CV detailing your relevant educational background and experience (registered in Jobbnorge's form).
- Copies of academic diplomas and transcripts (A certified English translation of all educational documents is required unless the documents are in Norwegian.)
- A list of publications.
- The names and contact information for two referees.
- Any other documentation you would like us to consider.
Attachments must be uploaded as separate files. If the attachments exceed 30 MB, they must be compressed prior to upload. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all attachments are uploaded. Documents submitted after expiry of the deadline will not be considered in the evaluation of your application.
We offer
- An exciting and challenging position at a developing institution
- Position is paid and placed in position code 1017, PhD candidate in the Government Salary Scale
- Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension, with among other things, good pension and insurance schemes.
For more information about INN University as an employer, please see here.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0FVnszhpJYGeneral information
For further details about the position, please contact
- Miranda Thurston, Professor of public health, Elverum campus, +4762430276
- Ingeborg Barth Vedøy, Associate Professor, Elverum campus, +4762430345
INN believes that there is strength in inclusion and diversity. We desire employees with different competencies, professional combinations, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to an even better way of solving problems. We will facilitate for employees who need assitance to realise their goals. Relevant adaptations can be, for example, technical aids, adapting furniture or adjusting routines, work tasks and working hours.
If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in the CV or immigrant background, we shall call at least one applicant in each of these categories for an interview. In order to be considered as an applicant in these groups, the applicants must meet certain requirements. You can read more on this here: https://arbeidsgiver.difi.no/positivsaerbehandling.
We encourage applicants to tick in Jobbnorge if they have a disability, a gap in their CV or immigrant background. The ticks in the jobseeker portal form the basis for anonymised statistics that all state-owned enterprises report in their annual reports
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.