PhD Research Fellow in Documentary Production and Ethics (Artistic Research)

University of Stavanger; Norway; On-site; NOK 522,000 - 638,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Norwegian language courses

Health services

Public transport discount

Job summary

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a three-year PhD Fellow position in Documentary Production and Ethics, commencing 1 January 2027. The fellow will be admitted to the PhD programme in Artistic Research and receive supervision, mentoring, and career planning as part of a structured doctoral education.

The project focuses on ethical issues in documentary practice, AI impacts, authenticity and trust, with the aim to develop knowledge and practice through production and written

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field from a Norwegian or international institution.
• The degree should preferably be of recent date.
• The grade for the master’s degree should correspond to a grade of B or better.

Responsibilities

• Conduct artistic research in documentary production and ethics.
• Develop the doctoral project within the thematic framework of documentary practice and ethics in a changing technological environment.
• Be affiliated with the Documentary and Ethics Research Group and contribute to its activities.
• Complete the PhD programme within the three-year employment period.

Education

Master’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Stavanger Department Department of Media and Social Sciences Research Field Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 20 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Oslo) Country Norway Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The University of Stavanger invites applicants for a three-year position as PhD Fellow in Documentary Production and Ethics at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Media and Social Sciences. The position is available from 1 January 2027.

This is an educational position primarily intended to provide promising documentary practitioners with the opportunity for professional development through education in the PhD programme in Artistic Research.

The successful applicant will be admitted to the PhD programme in Artistic Research, established by the University of Stavanger in collaboration with the University of Agder. The programme represents the artistic disciplines’ equivalent of doctoral research education, with documentary production serving as the central component of the doctoral work. The production must be accompanied by explicit written reflection and analysis. More information about the doctoral programme in Artistic Research can be found on our website.

As a PhD Fellow at UiS, you will receive supervision and support for your academic and professional development through mentoring, skills development, and career planning.

In accordance with good academic practice and research ethics standards, the doctoral education shall qualify candidates to conduct artistic research at an international level, as well as to undertake other work in society requiring a high level of artistic insight and competence.

Research topic

We are seeking a documentary practitioner working in film or audio who, through artistic research, wishes to investigate, develop, and critically reflect on their own artistic practice in relation to documentary storytelling, ethics, and new technology.

The core focus of the project is ethical issues in documentary practice and how these are challenged and transformed in response to new technologies. Fact-based storytelling raises fundamental questions concerning, among other things, truthfulness, authenticity, and trust. Technological developments have long influenced how documentary practitioners engage with such questions, both through new possibilities for production and dissemination and through the emergence of new ethical dilemmas. Developments in artificial intelligence (AI) have brought renewed attention to and intensified many of these issues, including those related to verification, production, dissemination, and audiences’ encounters with documentary forms of expression.

The PhD project shall investigate ethical issues in documentary practice in light of technological developments and consist of documentary production and written reflection and analysis. The artistic production shall constitute the primary and most substantial component of the project. Central questions concern how documentary truthfulness and ethical principles are challenged, and how the documentary field can respond to these challenges through the development of knowledge, practice, and critical reflection.

Possible approaches may include exploring how AI influences the ethics of documentary representation, authenticity, and trust; how documentary practitioners relate to new technological tools; or how ethical issues manifest themselves within various relevant societal contexts. Ethical dilemmas emerge and become visible in concrete production processes and artistic choices, where questions of fact, authenticity, trust, and technology must be addressed in practice. Through the combination of documentary production and critical reflection, the candidate may investigate these dilemmas from within the artistic process itself and develop knowledge about how they arise, are negotiated, and are managed in documentary work.

The specific research question shall be developed by the candidate within this thematic framework of documentary practice and ethics in a new technologically changing environment. The project must be grounded in the candidate’s own documentary practice and may include both national and international perspectives.

The candidate is expected to be at the forefront of knowledge regarding current developments, practices, approaches, and discussions in the field of documentary production. Upon completion of the programme, the candidate should be able to develop, articulate, and realise documentary projects of high complexity and professional relevance, and to communicate their work in ways that generate attention and engagement around the issues addressed. Through the doctoral education, the candidate shall be able to identify and address relevant ethical issues and pursue their artistic practice with professional integrity.

The candidate will be affiliated with the Documentary and Ethics Research Group.

We encourage applications from active practitioners working in film or audio documentary production. Production must constitute the core of the project.

To qualify for admission to the PhD programme, you must hold a master’s degree in a relevant field from a Norwegian or international institution, or possess equivalent qualifications that provide a basis for admission to doctoral studies. The degree should preferably be of recent date.

Following individual assessment, documented artistic competence and production experience may provide a basis for admission to the programme.

The academic relevance of the master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) will be assessed in relation to the proposed project. Relevant documentation, such as written work, documentary productions, and other artistic work, must therefore be included with the application.

The grade awarded for the master's thesis and the weighted average grade for the master's degree should both correspond to a grade of B or better. Applicants educated at institutions using grading systems other than the Norwegian A–F scale must submit a verified conversion scale showing how their grades correspond to the Norwegian grading system. You may use these conversion tables to calculate your admission score.

Further emphasis will be placed on whether you:

• are a practising documentary practitioner at a professional level that will enable you, upon completion of the three-year PhD programme in Artistic Research, to demonstrate artistic practice at a high international level
• have the willingness and ability to reflect on your own documentary practice and to collaborate within an academic and artistic environment
• are motivated and possess the academic and personal qualifications necessary to complete the doctoral education within the employment period
• work well both independently and in collaboration with others, and are innovative and creative
• are well organised and capable of handling a demanding workload
• have good oral and written communication skills in English.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Research Field Other

Additional Information

As a PhD Fellow at UiS, you will receive

• a PhD education at a university with a strong societal mission and ambitious academic goals
• an ambitious and inclusive research environment. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
• free Norwegian language courses if you do not have proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 at the time of employment.
• access to Lifekeys , a digital service that supports mental health and well-being
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, code 1017, NOK 580000 gross per year, with salary progression during the employment period. A statutory 2% contribution is deducted for membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation committed to reducing sick leave and promoting and inclusive working life
• access to the Hjem-jobb-hjem programme, offering discounted public transportation to and from work
• access to comprehensive health services, generous parental leave arrangements and a well-developed welfare system.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is a strength at the University of Stavanger. Different experiences, perspectives and backgrounds contribute to better solutions and a positive working and learning environment. We welcome applicants with diverse qualifications, life experiences and perspectives, and encourage all qualified candidates to apply, regardless of gender, age, disability, cultural background, or whether they have experienced periods outside the workforce. UiS is committed to supporting employees in different stages of life and to providing reasonable accommodation for employees with individual needs.

In accordance with applicable regulations, at least one qualified applicant with a disability, a gap in their CV, or an immigrant background will be invited for an interview. If this applies to you, you may indicate this in the application portal. Read more about the scheme here .

The University seeks to improve gender balance in PhD positions within this field and therefore particularly encourages men to apply. In cases where applicants are considered equally qualified, men may be given preference in accordance with applicable regulations.

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute The University of Stavanger, Department of Culture and Language Country Norway State/Province Rogaland City Stavanger Postal Code 4021 Street Kjell Arholmsgate 41