Oslo Metropolitan University - Externally funded research project 

OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University is Norway’s third largest university, with nearly 22,000 students and more than 2,200 employees. OsloMet has a dynamic stimulating research intensive academic environment and an attractive employment framework. OsloMet is a diverse and urban university with an international profile; its main campus is in the city center, providing a vibrant setting to study, conduct research, and work.

Call for Expression of Interest for a joint application under the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme – Call: MSCA-PF-2023

Centre for Research on Pandemics & Society - PANSOC is an Oslo Metropolitan Centre of Research Excellence studying the societal aspects of pandemics. PANSOC currently consist of 10 researchers, including 1 professor, 3 post-docs, 1 research assistant and 5 affiliated researchers and PhD students. 

We hereby invite top-class researchers of any nationality, who have a PhD degree and maximum eight years of research experience after having obtained their PhD degree, to apply for the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska Curie Action Postdoctoral Fellowship (call HORIZON-MSCA-PF-2023) to conduct research at OsloMet for a period of two years.

See recruitment video of PANSOC. 

Area of research

COVID-19 is an ongoing pandemic with more than 20 million excess deaths globally. The 1918 flu pandemic killed up to 100 million people within a similar span of time. In both pandemics not all individuals had an equal risk of illness and death. COVID-19 deaths have been disproportionately among the elderly, while deaths in 1918 were disproportionately among young adults.

We are seeking proposals for research on the COVID-19 pandemic or historical pandemics of influenza or other diseases. Potential research questions could include:

• Migration/mobility including nomadic peoples.
• Cross-national control and prevention policies.  
• Diversity/background of groups that write preparedness plans or make up official public health response groups, maybe comparing approaches in different countries. 
• Epidemic spread and behaviors among older teens/young adults.
• Mental health issues like loneliness in elderly or single people. 
• School/Education practices and impacts.
• Political/economic/social/ecological aspects related to disease emergence.
• Potentially vulnerable or at-risk groups namely: people without housing, incarcerated, sexual and gender minorities, health care workers, persecuted ethnic or racial groups, Indigenous populations, internally displaced persons or asylum seekers, those living in conflict settings or places affected by humanitarian emergencies, and other hard-to-reach populations.

Successful candidates will be supervised by Professor Mamelund. He has 27 years of experience studying the demography of epidemic diseases and has published extensively on the 1918 influenza pandemic, influenza in general and preparedness planning. See recent publications and projects on COVID-19 and influenza: PANSOC blog or Mamelund’s, profile at OsloMet (oslomet.no/en/about/employee/masv/) and profile at ResearchGate (researchgate.net/profile/Svenn-Erik-Mamelundresearchgate)

With this call for Expression of Interest, we invite researchers to submit their application accompanied by CV (including publication list) and a one-page project description (no pre-defined format and excluding references), that will be the basis for selecting a maximum of two candidates with whom we will collaborate for developing competitive MSCA-PF proposals. The cooperation for the proposal development will be carried out remotely, with regular online communication via email and virtual meeting platforms. Applicants who are successful in getting their proposals funded by the EU, must relocate to work at the Centre for Research on Pandemics & Society, at OsloMet main campus, in the center of Oslo.

Starting Date

The EU shall inform the results on the MSCA-PF-2023 applications in February 2024. Successful applicants are expected to be available to start the fellowship project from within the two months following the announcement of results and no later than summer 2024.

Main duties of the position

The successful candidate will primarily work on the MSCA fellowship funded project, but will be integrated at the PANSOC, taking part in internal seminars and our international webinars. The candidate will specifically be introduced with PANSOC’s national and international network of researchers. In agreement with the candidate, he/she would be included in other ongoing projects and/or in the development of grant applications processes.

Expected qualification of applicants

Candidates must have a PhD in history, sociology, geography, demography, economics, medicine, psychology, epidemiology, medical biostatistics, anthropology or global health, as the minimum requirement. We are primarily looking for experienced researchers who wish to use this period as an opportunity to further develop their research, and to develop longer term research collaborations with OsloMet and other organisations conducting research in the field. The candidates must be eligible for a MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship: have a PhD successfully defended by the deadline (mid-[SEM1] September 2023), a maximum of eight (8) years research experience after PhD, and not having worked/studied in Norway more than 12 months in the last three years.

We are looking for applicants who have

• Excellent skills in statistical methods and in using statistical programs such as SAS, Stata, SPSS etc., if a quantitative project is proposed.
• Knowledge of societal, medical and historical context and quality and availability of quantitative or qualitative data in the field.
• An excellent track record in research and publications, necessary for being able to develop a competitive MSCA fellowship application.
• Commitment to develop a competitive MSCA-PF grant application
• An open and cooperation-oriented nature, with strong abilities for independent academic work
• Excellent command / highly proficient spoken and written English

Assessment and selection of candidates

Evaluation will be based on the qualification and project idea. Interested candidates must submit with their application the following documents:

• CV (including research track record and list of publications)
• A one-page description of the project idea for which a MSCA-PF grant will be applied (no pre-defined structure and excluding references).

Five candidates will be invited for a virtual interview from whom 2 will be invited to write applications with the endorsement of OsloMet, under the supervision of Professor Svenn-Erik Mamelund and with the support of other PANSOC members and the professional research administration staff at OsloMet. Candidates will be informed of the results of the internal pre-selection to apply by the end of March 2023.

The deadline to apply to the MSCA-PF is mid-September 2023.

Original documents about your qualification must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet performs document inspections in order to give you as a candidate a proper evaluation and to ensure a fair competition. Proposals will be pre-selected based on internal evaluation and the availability of suitable supervision. All documents that you hand in to OsloMet, including your proposal idea, will be handled in full confidentiality, and strictly following GDPR regulations.

Selected candidates must participate in the virtual masterclass on MSCA-PF, a two-day workshop organised by OsloMet on 19-20 April 2023 to provide applicants with detailed information and explanation of the application template to complete their proposal in compliance with the EU Commission requirements.

The postdoctoral position

Successful applicants who obtain a MSCA-PF grant will be offered a position at OsloMet to be hired as postdoctoral researchers, in conditions as explained below.

We offer:

OsloMet offers assistance in developing competitive Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship proposals. Then, to successful applicants who are awarded the MSC-PF grant, we offer:

• Flexible working conditions
• An inclusive and friendly work environment at Norway’s third largest and most urban university
• Unique academic network with the possibility for the right candidate(s) to pursue his/her academic goals under the auspices of Professor Svenn-Erik Mamelund
• Free Norwegian language classes 
• Working location in downtown Oslo with multiple cultural offers
• On-boarding assistance for relocation and other services

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway (oslomet.no/en/work)

The position adheres to the Norwegian Government’s policy that the national labour force. It is important for OsloMet to reflect the population diversity, all qualified candidates from any nationality are welcomed to apply. OsloMet is an IA (Inclusive Workplace) organisation and operates in compliance with the Norwegian IA agreement. We make our active endeavour to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. If there are periods in your career when you have not been working, under education or training, you are also eligible to apply. Questions may be directed to the contact persons (per below).

Remuneration:

The competitive fellowship opportunities are 100% funded and include living and mobility allowances.

• Type of employment: Temporary position
• Contract type: Full time
• Annual Salary: Approx. EUR 60,000
• Starting day of employment: Expected starting date is between 1 April and 1 September 2024
• Number of positions: 1 – 2
• Working hours: 37.5 hours/week

Other information

If you would like more information about the call, feel free to contact:

• Florissa Abreu, R&D and External Funding Support, Florissa.Abreu@Oslomet.no
• Svenn-Erik Mamelund, Professor, masv@oslomet.no

Address: Oslo Metropolitan University, Pilestredet 46, Oslo 0350, Norway

Call application deadline: 31st January, 2023

Reference number: 22/09153