PhD Candidate in Information Systems

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology; Trondheim; On-site; NOK 522,000 - 638,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Open environment

Norwegian language training

Academic freedom

Job summary

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology is inviting applications for a PhD Candidate in Information Systems at the Department of Computer Science (IDI). The four-year PhD project focuses on sociotechnical analysis of digital identity infrastructures, employing qualitative methods and empirical data collection from stakeholders.

The role includes teaching duties, international collaboration and dissemination of results.

Qualifications

• Master in Information Systems or equivalent.
• Degree must include a major independent project (min 30 ECTS).
• Solid expertise in sociotechnical perspective and qualitative methods.
• Good fluency in English, both written and spoken.
• Strong academic background with a good grade average.

Responsibilities

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate.
• Carry out high-quality research within the project description.
• Publish academic papers and disseminate findings.
• Contribute to collaboration with project teams and research groups.
• Participate in international activities and conferences.
• Teach in courses at the department.
• Engage in career-promoting activities.

Skills

Sociotechnical perspective

Qualitative research

English fluency

Education

Master in Information Systems

Job description

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 8,6000 employees and 44,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

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The Department of Computer science (IDI) has a vacancy for a PhD research fellow within the field of Information Systems (IS). The position is suited for candidates with a critical yet constructive sociotechnical analysis of complex technological development, adoption and use. Candidates need expertise and interest in qualitative, interpretative and critical research methods as the work will entail working empirically with data collection from a wide set of stakeholders, drawing on interviews, observations and document analysis.

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

The position is for 4 years. Your immediate leader will be the head of the ISCHI unit.

The EU Digital Identity ( EUDI) Wallet is currently being deployed, with the intention to provide citizens with easier and expanded access to public and private services. Digital identity wallets will potentially become a critical socio-technical infrastructure also in Norway, and raises challenges related to issues such as privacy, fairness, stakeholder engagement and securityi. On this background the project's overall goal is to develop knowledge, methodologies and competencies that strengthen Norway's ability to deploy and maintain secure, privacy-preserving and democratically aligned digital identity wallets. Truly interdisciplinary, the challenges cut across issues of digital sovereignty, identity management, security technologies, and sociotechnical practices and imaginaries. Presently, critical, digital infrastructures are strongly dependent on foreign technology platforms, which limits the options for maintaining national and democratic control and accountabilityi. Safe, digital identities are part of the critical infrastructure of our everyday societies. They enable a wide set of public and private services (cf. DigDi r for Norwegian context). However, existing solutions and infrastructures for digital identites come with several challenges including but not limited to the following.

Many are operated and controlled by corporate entities typically from Big Tech. Having our critical, digital infrastructures dependent on Big Tech make them vulnerable hence undermines our digital sovereignty. While sufficient up till now, the type of security methods and technology in widespread use today are not quantum-safe, i.e., they are vulnerable to breaches with the advent of working quantum algorithms. To illustrate, the widely used RSA public key scheme underpinning many existing solutions including Norway’s BankID is not quantum safe.

EUID involves the standardisation and coordination across countries in Europe with diverging existing solutions, experiences and expectations, which suggests that actually achieving comprehensive standardisation could be challenging.

The present PhD project is to analyse the technical, political, institutional and cultural conditions for digital wallets in a Norwegian context. More specifically, important aspects of the PhD project are to understand: (i) the ecosystem (‘infrastructure’, ‘assemblage’) of existing solutions, practices and habits where new, digital wallets are to fit, (ii) the historic evolution of digital identity infrastructures (partly extending, partly substituting, partly competing with alternatives) and (iii) a comparative perspective contrasting Norway’s experience with relevant other European efforts.

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Contribute to collaborative research activities and meetings within the project and the affiliated teams and research groups
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions
• Teaching duties in relevant courses at the department
• Other career-promoting work

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment. The PhD is obliged to conform with the regulations concerning changes and developments within the position, and/or the organizational changes concerning activities at NTNU.

Required selection criteria

• Master in Information Systems or what corresponds. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis
• Solid, documented expertise in sociotechnical perspective
• Solid, documented expertise in qualitative research methods
• Good fluency in English, orally and written
• The quality and relevance of the project outline (see details below) will be an important part of the overall assessment of candidates.
• You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• While not strictly required, fluency of a Scandinavian language is a strength because of qualitative research methods
• Experience with research and scientific publication is a strength

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

• Are intellectually curious and strongly motivated for the subject.
• Are able to work independently and take initiative
• Are eager to collaborate and invite others in
• Have strong professional and analytical skills.
• Are open to feedback and willing to develop your ideas through discussion and collaboration with colleagues and supervisors.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is for four years for the PhD project.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in [subject area] (link to possible website)within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme through out the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act , and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

About the application

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English.

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• An application letter that specifies your motivation for the position (both for pursuing a PhD generally and for the specific topic) and that describes your academic background and you as a person (1 page)
• A project outline giving an overall description of how you would approach the proposed research project explaining the societal relevance for exploring this topic, suggesting a research problem definition and relevant theoretical perspectives, and your thoughts on research design and the way forward (maximum 1500 words)
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's and Master's degrees
• CVCopy of your Master's thesis. If you have recently submitted your Master's thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Master's degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Possible certificates and relevant publications, or other scholarly work
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

If the application lacks any of these, it will not be considered.

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both Bachelor's and Master's education, in addition to other higher education. If your institution uses "diploma supplement" (normal for most European institutions), you must attach this. A description of the documentation required can also be found here . If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint work will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint work, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

When assessing the best qualified, we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education, experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position, ambitions, and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and COARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Eric Monteiro, [e-mail]. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact [e-mail].

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage.

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Computer Science

We are the leading academic IT environment in Norway, and offer a wide range of theoretical and applied IT programmes of study at all levels. Our subject areas include hardware, algorithms, visual computing, AI, databases, software engineering, information systems, learning technology, HCI, CSCW, IT operations and applied data processing. The Department has groups in both Trondheim and Gjøvik. The Department of Computer Science is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology

NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology