PhD Research Fellow in Norwegian professional language use in the workplace

University of Agder (UiA); Norway; On-site; NOK 496,000 - 606,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Inclusive environment

Modern facilities and welfare

Job summary

The University of Agder (UiA) invites applications for a 100% PhD Research Fellow position in Norwegian professional language use in the workplace. The role is linked to the Center for Norwegian Professional Language, with a focus on education, work, and language development.

Starting Oct 1, 2026, or as agreed, the appointment is funded for up to eight years with extensions possible. The successful candidate develops an independent doctoral project and joins a national research effort

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nordic studies, Norwegian as a second language, linguistics, multilingualism, communication, or related field with a B or better on the master's thesis.
• Competence in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language at the B2 level.
• Good presentation skills in English (written and oral).
• Candidates in the final stages of their master’s degree may apply.

Responsibilities

• Develop an independent doctoral project aligned with Center for Norwegian Professional Language and work package 2.
• Outline theoretical perspectives, materials and methods for studying Norwegian professional language in the workplace.
• Contribute to research in education, research and work contexts and publish findings.
• Collaborate with the Department of Nordic and Media Studies and other partners.

Skills

Teamwork

Independent work

Systematic work

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Education

Master's degree in Nordic studies or related field with thesis grade B or better

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Agder (UiA) Research Field Language sciences Languages Language sciences Linguistics Language sciences Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 9 Nov 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Norway Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

About the position

A 100% position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Humanities and Education, as a PhD Research Fellow in Norwegian professional language use in the workplace for a period of three years. The position is affiliated with the Center for Norwegian Professional Language at the Department of Nordic and Media Studies, located at Campus Kristiansand. The starting date is October 1st 2026 or as agreed with the Faculty.

The Center for Norwegian Professional Language is a national initiative funded by Research Council Norway. Together with a number of partners, the center is the largest national professional language research environment. The Professional Language Center aims to coordinate a long-term national effort for Norwegian language research, development, and education in terminology and professional language use, language and work, lexicography, onomastics, and language technology. The center was launched on September 1st 2025, and has funding for up to eight years (five years with the possibility of a three-year extension).

The University of Bergen coordinates the center and has national and international partners, including the University of Agder. The position advertised will be linked to the Department of Nordic and Media Studies at the Faculty of Humanities and Education, University of Agder. The department has approximately 55 academic staff and focuses on teaching and research in teacher education, Nordic studies, and communication and media studies. Together with the Department of Foreign Languages and Translation, the department offers two PhD specializations (linguistics and literary studies).

Responsibilities

The position is linked to work package 2, “Professional language in education and work,” at the Center for Norwegian Professional Language (2025-2033). The center's overall goal is to develop new, empirical knowledge about the role professional language plays in society and how professional language functions, is learned, and used in different contexts. Participants in work package 2 will study how professional language is used in education, research, and work at an individual, interpersonal, institutional, and societal level. The overall research questions in the work package are:

• What characterizes individuals' use and learning of Norwegian professional language in monolingual and multilingual contexts, in research, education, and the workplace?
• What factors influence the use of Norwegian professional language in particular, and the conditions for learning Norwegian professional language in different work and educational contexts?
• What are the consequences of acquiring or not acquiring professional language skills for individuals?
• What measures can strengthen parallel language practices and the conditions for using Norwegian professional language across educational and workplace contexts?

The position advertised at UiA will be linked to the use, development, and learning of professional language at work. Applicants must develop an independent doctoral project within these frames. The project outline submitted with the application must be linked to the objectives of the Center for Norwegian Professional Language and explain how the PhD project contributes to research in work package 2. Furthermore, the outline must present and discuss theoretical perspectives, materials, and methods for how the applicant plans to study Norwegian professional language use in the workplace.

More information about the Center for Norwegian Professional Language can be found here .

• Master's degree in Nordic studies, Norwegian as a second language, linguistics, multilingualism, communication, or another relevant field with a grade of B or better on the master's thesis
• The candidate is expected to have to document competence in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language at the B2 level
• Good presentation skills in English, both written and oral

This year’s candidates/candidates who are in the closing stages of their master’s degree can also apply.

The working language at the University of Agder is Norwegian. The successful candidate must be proficient in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language, both written and oral. Good knowledge of English, both written and oral, is also required.

• Experience with conducting fieldwork and data collection in research
• Experience with qualitative analytical methods
• Ability and willingness to work in a team on research and publishing
• Ability to work both independently and in a team
• Ability to work systematically and purposefully

Personal qualities and suitability for the position will be emphasised.

We offer

• professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
• a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
• modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers

The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.515, code 1017 PhD Research Fellow, NOK 550 800 gross salary per year.A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.

General information

UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV.

The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning the acts relating to Control of Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology . Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions.

Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment.

In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right.

In case of discrepancies between the Norwegian and the English version of this description, the Norwegian version takes precedence.