PhD Research Fellow in e-health

About the position

A 100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Social Science/ Centre for e-health as a PhD Research Fellow in e-health, affiliated to the Department of Information systems, for a period of three years, or four years with 25% required duties. The position is located, at Campus Grimstad, but some presence at Campus Kristiansand must be expected.

The starting date is negotiable with the Faculty/Centre for e-health. 

Responsibilities

The healthcare sector recognizes the potential of Immersive technologies for professional training, yet its clinical adoption faces hurdles related to configuration, organisational integration, and upscaling. These hurdles are especially significant to address in the context of psychiatric wards. In this setting, patients’ challenging behaviour such as verbal aggression, threats and insults, is sometimes responded to with unnecessary use of coercive measures and unethical treatment of patients. Central to this is the empowerment of healthcare professionals with the requisite preparedness, empathy and ethical de-escalation skills to effectively manage unpredictable and challenging patient behaviours. The research will take a sociotechnical stance to understand issues such as the composition of immersive training and its adaptability in different settings, collaboration with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to configure immersive training with less resources and incorporate the patient’s viewpoint, and evaluation of the effectiveness and organisational impact of immersive training. 

The position will consist of interdisciplinary research spanning information systems and healthcare. The research will have a participatory focus and include close collaboration with the local hospital and their nurses, patients, and solution providers. Central to the position is also the shaping and advancement of the XR lab located in the i4Health building. Read more about XR-lab here, and about Centre for e-health here. 

A prerequisite for employment is that the candidate is to be admitted to UiA’s PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Science. More information about the PhD program at the Faculty of Social Sciences is to be found here.

Required qualifications

The applicants must qualify for admission to the PhD Program in Social Sciences and must hold a master’s degree in information systems (IS) or closely related areas with an average grade of B or better. 

Applicants must submit a project proposal whose scope lies within the abovementioned topics. The project proposal should comprise a maximum of 2000 words, excluding the reference list. The proposal must contain a preliminary presentation of the problem area, theoretical foundation, methodological approach and planned progression for the doctoral project. The quality of the project proposal will receive a high level of consideration during the application assessment process. 

Further provisions relating to the positions as PhD Research Fellows can be found in the Regulations Concerning Terms and Conditions of Employment for the post of Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Research Fellow, Research Assistant and Resident.

Fluency in written and oral English is a prerequisite.

This year’s candidates/candidates who are in the closing stages of their master’s degree can also apply.

Desired qualifications

The ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

• socio-technical theories
• learning theories
• artificial intelligence
• immersive technologies
• e-health
• participatory research

Competence in Norwegian and/or Scandinavian language is an advantage.

Personal qualities

• Strong communication (both written and oral) 
• Proactive, adaptive and open-minded
• Result-oriented 
• Proven ability to work independently as well as in teams
• Strong motivation to contribute to good working and social environment
• Interested in cross-disciplinary research

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasised. 

We offer

• professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation 
• a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment 
• modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers 
• membership of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 

More about working at UiA.

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 532 200 gross salary per year. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions. 

General information

UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV.

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the acts relating to Control of Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions. 

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right. 

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

Application

The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job".

The following documentation must be uploaded electronically: 

• Academic CV
• Cover letter (max 1 page/500words) with your motivation for this position
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor's-, and master's- degrees. If you have not yet completed your master´s, provide a transcript of courses completed and your estimated date for the master ́s degree completion.
• A copy of the master thesis. 
  • For those who are near to completion, an extended abstract combined with a statement about completion plans. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking the position.
• Academic works - published or under review - that you would like to be considered in the assessment (up to 5 items)
• Research project proposal (max 2000 words). The proposal must contain possible research questions, theoretical foundation, methodological approach and planned progression for the doctoral project. 
• Name and contact information of two references.

The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be available in a Scandinavian language or English. 

Application deadline: 01.12.2024

Contact

For questions about the position: 

• Associate professor, Sofie Wass, e-mail sofie.wass@uia.no
• Professor Elin Thygesen, e-mail: elin.thygesen@uia.no

For questions about the application process:

• Senior Adviser, HR Anna Færavaag, e-mail: anna.c.faravaag@uia.no