OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third-largest university, with 23,000 students and more than 2,600 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and the Romerike region. Our research and education address the needs of working life, the welfare state, and the wider metropolitan region.
About the position
As part of the TRUST sub-project “AI in Professional Conduct,” we seek to hire a PhD candidate who will conduct case-based research as part of an interdisciplinary project group.
The overarching project examines how applications of artificial intelligence reshape practices, norms, and accountability across professional domains. Informed by recent research demonstrating unexpected consequences of AI use in particular professional contexts, the project seeks to incorporate both interdisciplinary perspectives on criteria for evaluation alongside a ‘bottom-up’ approach to the identification of these criteria, bringing in the perspectives of professionals who have first-hand experience from the contexts of use.
Within this project, applicants are invited to propose a PhD project within one of two case areas, which each focus on a professional context: (1) the use of generative AI in research (epistemological aspects, consequences for authorship and peer review, deskilling, research ethics, etc.), or (2) the use of AI tools in the health professions (clinical decision-making, professional responsibility, effects on trust, patient–provider relations, etc.). We welcome empirical, analytical, normative, and mixed-methods approaches. The candidate is expected to contribute actively to the overarching project’s comparative and integrative ambitions.
If you have a promising idea for a relevant project and wish to work in an interdisciplinary research group, we look forward to hearing from you. The application must include a project description (maximum 5 pages excluding list of references), which, for the successful candidate, will be further developed in collaboration with the project group. Applicants must hold a relevant master’s degree in fields such as philosophy, science and technology studies, sociology, political science, law, psychology, or in a health profession.
The position is funded by the Research Council of Norway as part of The Norwegian Centre for Trustworthy AI (TRUST) and is based at the Centre for the Study of Professions (SPS) at OsloMet. The successful candidate is expected to take part in events and activities organized by TRUST and SPS.
The fellowship is for a period of three years, with the possibility of up to one additional year if other career-promoting work is added.
The preferred start date is 1 January 2027.
About TRUST and SPS
TRUST is a Norwegian research centre that seeks to analyse and develop the foundations of trustworthy AI. Its mission is to enable AI systems that are accurate, interpretable, inclusive, fair, safe, sustainable, and well-governed. By uniting expertise from (i) machine learning, statistics, mathematics and data science, (ii) law, and social sciences, and (iii) philosophy, the centre establishes a new framework and approach for advancing trustworthy AI and seeks to produce ground-breaking results that have been tested on real-world problems.
In advancing trustworthy AI, TRUST will develop new AI technologies, support innovation, and investigate the societal consequences of AI, including the effects of AI on democracy, rule of law, and the environment. With a consortium of over 70 partners from academia, industry, government and civil society in Norway and internationally, TRUST’s research is theoretical, methodological, legal, and empirical, and the results are tested in real-world contexts, including healthcare, mobility, governance, security, and climate resilience. Users, citizens, and civil society organisations are involved in evaluating the trustworthiness of research and innovation.
TRUST is funded by the Research Council of Norway and its public and private partners, and is led by the University of Oslo, SINTEF and the Norwegian Computing Center (NR).
The Centre for the Study of Professions (SPS) is a leading research and doctoral training environment in the Nordic region in the field of professional studies, conducting interdisciplinary research on a broad range of occupations and professions. We apply qualitative, quantitative, historical, and philosophical approaches in studies at the individual, institutional, and societal levels, and examine both common features and distinctive characteristics of professions.
Our researchers and PhD candidates come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, and the centre is characterised by considerable theoretical and methodological diversity. More than 50 people are affiliated with the centre, over half of whom are PhD candidates. We encourage you to explore previous and ongoing doctoral projects at the centre, a presentation of some of our current candidates, and our alumni pages, which provide insight into the wide range of career paths available after completing a PhD at SPS.
Qualifications and conditions
- Completed two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent, with a grade of B or better on the master’s thesis
- Excellent oral and written English skills
Functional proficiency in a Scandinavian language
The PhD candidate must have SPS as their place of work during the fellowship period.
The offer of a PhD position is contingent upon admission to the PhD programme in the Study of Professions prior to commencement.
Assessment criteria
In the evaluation of applicants, emphasis will be placed on:
- the quality of the submitted project proposal
- the project’s relevance to the call, the TRUST centre, and SPS’s strategic plan
previous academic work and grades from higher education
Applicants who already hold a PhD degree will normally not be considered.
General criteria for appointment as a PhD candidate are set out in the regulations relating to the Universities and University Colleges Act (Lovdata).
Desired qualifications
- Strong interest in research, interdisciplinarity, and the societal implications of artificial intelligence
- Strong analytical abilities
- Good communication skills
- Independence, creativity, the ability to see tasks through to completion, and strong collaborative skills
Personal suitability will be emphasised.
OsloMet aims to reflect the diversity of the population in our region, and we welcome all qualified applicants. We are actively working to further develop as an inclusive workplace and will provide accommodation where needed. Applicants with periods outside of employment, education, or training are also encouraged to apply.
What we offer
- Academic development in creative research environments at SPS and TRUST
- Close integration into an active research group at the centre
- A large and inclusive PhD community
- Opportunities for research stays abroad during the fellowship period
- A strong doctoral programme with excellent supervision
- Good loan and pension schemes through the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
Flexible working hours and strong welfare benefits
The position is remunerated in accordance with the collective agreements for public employees and OsloMet’s salary policy, under position code 1017 (PhD candidate), currently NOK 550,800 per year as starting salary.
Application process
Applicants must upload the following documents:
- Application letter and CV
- Copies of diplomas and transcripts, including grades from higher education (bachelor’s and master’s), as well as any relevant certificates. Foreign education should preferably be approved in advance, and approval documentation must be attached. Information here: Do you have education from abroad and want to work in Norway? | HK-dir
- Applicants who submitted their master’s thesis in spring 2026 may submit documentation of their final grade by 1 September if this is not available at the application deadline. Documentation should be sent by email to advisor Tatiana Shipulina: tatiana.shipulina@oslomet.no.
- A project proposal of maximum 5 pages, excluding references
- The master’s thesis
- Any additional academic work to be considered by the evaluation committee, along with a list of publications (if applicable)
- A separate statement describing any use of AI tools in preparing the application and/or project proposal
Applications will be assessed by an appointed committee. Based on this assessment, a selection of the most qualified candidates will be invited for an interview. The university’s appointments committee makes the final decision on employment.
OsloMet has endorsed the principles of the DORA declaration and is committed to following its recommendations.
We only process applications submitted through our electronic recruitment system. All documents must be uploaded for the application to be considered. Documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Translations must be certified. Original documents must be presented if invited to an interview. OsloMet verifies documentation to ensure fair and proper evaluation.
For relevant positions, OsloMet conducts background checks of applicants in cooperation with an external provider, in order to verify information provided in available documents. Background checks are conducted only with the candidate’s consent, and employment in these positions is conditional upon an approved background check. Relevant applicants will receive further information about this.
About OsloMet
OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway's third-largest university, with 23,000 students and more than 2,600 employees. We have campuses in central Oslo and the Romerike region. Our research and education address the needs of working life, the welfare state, and the wider metropolitan region.
For more than 200 years, OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University has contributed to building the knowledge and expertise that underpin the Norwegian welfare state. Today, OsloMet is a modern, urban university with strong academic environments in teacher education, health and social sciences, social research, design, and technology.
