PhD in AI-Augmented Leadership: Leader Legitimacy

Handelshøyskolen BI; Oslo; On-site; NOK 600,000 - 650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Teaching 25%

Stipend NOK 623,200 gross

Job summary

BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo invites applications for a four‑year PhD scholarship under the EMANAIRE project on Leader Legitimacy in Augmented Leadership. The candidate will study how AI reshapes leadership, authority and accountability, while conducting rigorous qualitative and quantitative research across organisational settings.

The program emphasizes supervision by BI faculty, interdisciplinary integration, and an intersectoral secondment.

Qualifications

• Master's degree with thesis work or an equivalent research degree is required.
• Strong training in qualitative and/or quantitative research methods is expected.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English; fluency in additional languages is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Study leader–employee–AI triads and how governance shapes leader legitimacy over time.
• Collect and analyse critical incidents involving AI‑supported decisions to understand legitimacy dynamics.
• Investigate when AI‑augmented leadership resembles algorithmic management and how employees respond.
• Explore how AI affects leader identity, responsibility, and willingness to lead.
• Design, pilot, and evaluate interventions that help leaders use AI while maintaining independent judgement.

Skills

Leadership

Organisational behaviour

Legitimacy

Authority

AI in organisations

Qualitative research

Quantitative research

Mixed-methods research

Research ethics

Academic writing

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree with thesis

Research master/M.Phil.

Job description

BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo invites applications for a four‑year PhD scholarship under the EMANAIRE project on Leader Legitimacy in Augmented Leadership. The candidate will study how AI reshapes leadership, authority and accountability, while conducting rigorous qualitative and quantitative research across organisational settings.

The program emphasizes supervision by BI faculty, interdisciplinary integration, and an intersectoral secondment.