PhD Fellowship in Systemic Design and Circular Solutions for the Aquaculture Industry

We have a vacant PhD fellowship in Systemic Design and Sustainability at the Department of Product Design at OsloMet. The candidate will become part of the research group Systemic Design and Sustainablitity. The PhD work will contribute to the theoretical fields of systemic design, sustainability in design as well as circular solutions for plastics and aquaculture. The position is located at our Campus at Kjeller near Lillestrøm. The duration of the position is three years. The position requires admission to our PhD program Innovation for Sustainability.

The aim of the SirkAQ project is to promote the transition from linear to circular economy in aquaculture by establishing and implementing sustainable circular value chains for plastics from end-of-life equipment from the aquaculture industry through reuse, repair, lifetime extension and use of recycled materials in new products. The purpose is to optimize resource use as well as reduce the environmental and climate footprint of aquaculture, where the vision is "zero plastic waste by 2030". SirkAQ is a Green Platform funded project and the candidate will work actively with all involved partners in the project which are: SINTEF Ocean, OsloMet, Norner Research AS, Future Materials, Oceanize, Sinkaberg-Hansen, Hallingplast and ScaleAQ. 

Area of Work

Systemic design can be described as the combination of systems theory and design practice. This involves investigating systemic structures, dynamics and relationships related to the area being studied in order to better describe the effect of a design intervention. In this context, design is considered to include the development and change of product, service, organization and social structure as well as system. 

Through system dynamic methods, the PhD candidate will map, visualize and analyze relationships and dynamics based on data obtained both in the various work packages in the project and through their own study. The candidate will also describe possible interventions and the potential effect these may have on the aquaculture industry and the environment in general on the basis of the research. In general, the programme will provide new knowledge in the fields of circular design and systemic design. The PhD delivery will seek to communicate end results to both the aquaculture industry in general and will further be relevant to the areas of business planning (industrial ecology), natural resource management, production, maintenance, communication and cooperation between developers, authorities, industry, etc.  

The PhD candidate will be supervised by internal supervisors at OsloMet Professor Tore Gulden and Associate Professor Kristin S. Wigum. The PhD candidate will be included in the academic environment at the department and international research networks in systemic design and sustainability. The aforementioned supervisors are active in the development of the international research environment in systemic design and sustainability in the collaborative and teaching network European Systemic Design Lab ESDL and the research conference Relating Systemic Desgin RSD to name a few. The PhD candidate with supervisors will participate in international conferences with a view to networking and presentation of research methods and results.

Qualification requirements and terms

• Master's degree in design or equivalent related disciplines. The degree must involve 120 ECTS credits 
• Good oral and written English skills

Admission to the PhD programme Innovation for Sustainability at the Faculty must be applied for within three months of appointment, approval of this application is a prerequisite for taking up the position.  The admission requirement entails a minimum grade of B on the master's degree and a minimum grade of C on the bachelor's degree. See information about criteria here. Candidates who already have a PhD in nearby fields of study are not eligible to apply. 

General criteria for appointment to academic positions are covered by Forskrift om ansettelsesvilkår for stillinger som postdoktor, stipendiat, vitenskapelig assistent og spesialistkandidat.

The following will be considered and advantage

• Education/courses in systemic design and interest in the field
• Education/courses in sustainability/circular economy
• Proficiency in a Scandinavian language 

We are looking for candidates who 

• Want a research career
• Want to enter a larger research project with several actors
• Enjoys working in both business and academia
• Want to immerse themselves in aquaculture, environment and sustainability issues

It is important for OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and we welcome all qualified applicants. We work actively to develop further as an inclusive workplace and to facilitate the workplace if you need it. If you have periods in your life where you have not been in work, education or training, you are also welcome to apply with us.

Expert committee

As an applicant, you will be assessed by an expert committee. You must upload the following documents in the application by the application deadline:

• Application letter describing your motivation for applying, and what makes you particularly suitable (experience, competence, personal qualities and skills)
• Project description (up to 5 pages + references, A4, font size 12). The proposal shall include: Problem definition(s), research question, theoretical foundation and methodological approach, relevant knowledge in the research area and a timetable for the education- and research plan. The final project description will be prepared in collaboration with the assigned supervisor when applying for admission to the PhD programme. The project description must be written in English or a Scandinavian language. 
• CV and copies of diplomas and transcripts of bachelor´s and master´s degree (which list subjects and grades) and certificates. Diplomas and certificates must include credits and grades (A–F). Please note that a description of the grading system at the university/country in which you took your degree must be included. This must be a public document with a stamp from your university. Foreign diplomas must be translated into English by the institution that has given the diploma
• Copy of thesis/master's thesis
• Any other scientific work that you wish to be assessed by the expert committee
• Name and contact info (phone and e-mail) of at least 2 references that can explain competence and personal qualities
• Applicants from countries where English is not a first language must be able to present the result of an official language test. The following applicants are exempt from this language requirement: Applicants from EU/EEA countries.
  
  o   Applicants who have completed at least a year of study in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the UK or the USA.
  o   Applicants holding an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma
  o   The following language tests are approved documentation: TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge. Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). On these tests, at least these scores should have been achieved : TOEFL: 600 (paper-based sample), 92 (Internet-based sample). IELTS: 6.5, where none of the sections should have a lower score than 5.5 (only the Academic IELTS test is approved).
  
  

We only process applications sent via our electronic recruitment system and all documents must be uploaded in order for your application to be processed. The documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language. Translations must be authorised. You must present originals at a possible interview. OsloMet carry out checks of documents, so that you as a candidate will receive a real evaluation and fair competition. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

We can offer you

• An exciting job at Norway's third largest and most urban university
• Opportunities for academic development within a stimulating interdisciplinary research environment and participation in an active research group
• The opportunity to participate in various international research networks
• Good loan and pension schemes in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare schemes
• Workplace in central Oslo with several cultural offerings

Other information

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

• Head of Department Einar Stoltenberg, email: einar.stoltenberg@oslomet.no 

The salary for the position is in accordance with the pay scale for state employees, position code 1017 research fellow, NOK 501 200 per year. 

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology.

The appointment assumes that the candidate hired must be physically present at and available to the Department. 

We use an electronic recruitment system. If you want to apply for the position, register your application and CV by using the button "log in and apply for the position".

Application deadline: 05.04.2023
Reference number: 23/01143