About this role
About the position Inland School of Business and Social Sciences , The PhD programme Innovation in Services in the Public and Private Sectors (INSEPP) , invites candidates to apply for a 3-year PhD research fellowship, to work with the broad field of crisis preparedness and crisis management within a framework of governance and organizational innovation. Depending on the department`s needs, and the candidate`s competence and preferences, the position may be transformed into a four-year position with 25% teaching duties. The purpose of the PhD Research Fellowship for the admitted candidate is to undergo a research training programme that leads to the successful completion of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment. The candidate is expected to participate actively in INSEPP’s activities. After commencement, the candidate must apply for admission to the PhD programme within three months. An agreement for admission to the PhD programme must be in place within six months after commencement. The candidate will be part of the Department of Organisation, Leadership and Management and relevant research groups. In addition to INSEPP, these environments represent a valuable resource for PhD studies. The workplace is Campus Lillehammer or Campus Rena. Contact information: Associate Professor, Martin S. Time, phone number: +47 400 13 495, e-mail: [email protected] Head of PhD programme Marit Engen, phone number: +47 61 28 81 07, e-mail: [email protected] About the project The topic of this PhD project is the management of cyber resilience and vulnerability towards hybrid threats during prolonged crises and heightened geopolitical tensions. Illustrations of such vulnerabilities are, but not limited to, telecommunications networks and state-level digital platforms, which have potentially far-reaching consequences for governance, national security, and public service continuity. The project is placed within a broader context of innovation, with a particular emphasis on organizational and institutional innovative change based on the concept of total preparedness. A basic assumption of the project is that crisis conditions can be critical drivers of such innovation. Empirically, the project employs a comparative case study design, examining Norway’s highly digitized (but) peacetime context with other more volatile contexts. One relevant context in particular is the Ukraine’s experience of sustained cyber-attacks related to the war with Russia. Ukraine’s experience since 2022 provides a unique setting for studying cyber resilience under prolonged crisis, where continuity has been sustained through innovative state practices, expanded roles for private actors, international partnerships, and reliance on multinational technology providers. The case study will moreover take into account the multi-level governance aspects of total preparedness, including NATO, the EU, the Nordics, in addition to national levels of governance. The project is interdisciplinary and opens for a variety of scientific methods being used, such as interviews, surveys, fieldwork and document analysis. We are seeking a candidate both with interests in and being highly motivated for doing research related to governance, organization, international relations and security policies, and for contributing to a collegium of researchers focusing on crisis preparedness and crisis management. Qualifications The appointed candidate must qualify for admission to the university's PhD programme Innovation in Services in the Public and Private Sectors (INSEPP). You must have the following qualifications: A master's degree or equivalent education in political science, international relations, comparative politics, public administration and public policy or other disciplines relevant to the position. The master's degree must normally constitute 120 ECTS credits, including a master's thesis of at least 30 ECTS credits. A strong academic background from your previous studies. The average grade should normally be B or better from the master's program or equivalent education. If you have an education from abroad, please attach documentation of recognition of foreign higher education from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. If the requested documentation is not possible to obtain within the application deadline, an equivalent assessment can be made by INN University in connection with the recruitment process. Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the applicant's: Academic and personal qualifications to complete doctoral education within the employment period. Ability to work independently and purposefully, as well as to collaborate on research, publishing and, potentially, teaching tasks. Being structured and having a high work capacity. Demonstrating solid theoretical insight and interest. Language: Good proficiency in English, both oral and written. Applicants from non-English speaking countries must document their English proficiency in accordance with the Supplementary Regulations for Admission to the PhD Programme at INN University. Preferably, the candidates should also have good proficiency in one of the Scandinavian languages, as the project requires being able to read and analyze Norwegian documents. In the evaluation and ranking of qualified applicants, emphasis will be placed on: The quality of the project proposal Documented independent research and development work or experience relevant to the project It is mandatory to attach a project proposal of 2000 words (see the section on "How to Apply" below). The assessment of which candidate is best qualified will be a comprehensive evaluation of education, experience, and personal suitability, as well as motivation and other qualification requirements as formulated in the job advertisement. The position and associated tasks must be carried out in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations for government employees, inclu