PhD Fellow in Green Transition and Indigenous Peoples' Rights

at  UiT Norges Arktiske Universitet

Changing Arctic Research School
The transdisciplinary Changing Arctic research school brings together PhD candidates and supervisors from all seven faculties at UiT the Arctic University of Norway. The research school has a focus on renewable energy, food security, health and welfare. “Changing Arctic” will collaborate with actors in private and public sector. The research outcomes will contribute to resilience and transformation in the Arctic and will thus operationalize Sustainable Development Goals.
The training will provide PhD candidates with knowledge, professional and transferable skills, and general competences that enables them to contribute to innovative and sustainable solutions for the Arctic. The research school will arrange courses, seminars, workshops, and excursions, and will organise secondments in private enterprises, NGOs, and public institutions. This is to ensure the relevance of project outcomes and enhance the employability of the PhD graduates. Read more about the research school Changing Arctic | UiT.
The position
The Faculty of Law has a vacant position for applicants who wish to obtain the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD). The position is affiliated with the Changing Arctic Research School.
The position is a fixed term position for a duration of four years. The nominal length of the PhD programme is three years. The fourth year is distributed as 25 % each year and will consist of teaching (10 %) and other duties such as secondments and interactions with the industry or the public sector (15 %). The objective of the position is to complete research training to the level of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a prerequisite for employment, and the programme period starts on commencement of the position.
The workplace is at UiT Campus Tromsø. You must be able to start in the position within a reasonable time after receiving the offer. The Research School starts on the 18th of august 2025.
Field of research: Green Transition and Indigenous Peoples’ Rights
The project’s field of research will be on green transition and Indigenous peoples’ rights. Transition to renewable energy is essential to mitigating the dangerous impacts of anthropogenic climate change. Indeed, a rapid transition to clean and sustainable energy by developing renewable energy infrastructures and technologies is required to reach the global climate goals. However, green energy transition pathways – i.e. the laws, policies, and mitigation measures, particularly development of large-scale renewable projects on indigenous territories – may pose significant impacts on the rights, livelihoods, and unique cultural identity of Indigenous peoples.
The central research question is whether and to what extent (under what legal conditions) may Indigenous (cultural) rights be balanced against, and potentially restricted by, other fundamental rights particularly the right to a healthy environment within the framework of the green energy transition. The project may include a specific case study, for example, focusing on the Norwegian approach to energy transition and the rights of the Sami people. In this respect, the project should examine Norway’s legal and policy framework on the development and regulation of onshore wind energy projects and explore whether and to what extent they are crafted to address the rights of the Sámi people without abandoning Norway’s climate change mitigation targets.
The project must examine relevant international human rights instruments pertaining to indigenous peoples, practices of UN treaty monitoring bodies, and jurisprudence of relevant regional human rights courts and commissions, as well as domestic courts on just transition litigations. The project may draw on perspectives from other disciplines including social and natural sciences.
Sectors for secondments may include Indigenous peoples’ organizations, such as the Sami Council or the Sami Parliament, the energy sector or NGOs or public sector institutions dealing with human rights and/or environmental issues. Supervisors will be allocated based on the student’s preferences and the supervisors’ suitability for the project and their availability.
Contact
For information about the project and field of research, please contact Researcher Endalew Enyew:
Email: endalew.l.enyew@uit.no
Telephone: 77 62 52 04
For information about the position, please contact Vice-Dean for Research Magne Frostad:
Email: magne.frostad@uit.no
Telephone: 77 64 41 95
For information about the Changing Arctic Research School, please contact Professor Michaela Aschan and senior adviser Hanne Risan Johnsen:
Email: ChangingArctic@uit.no
Qualifications
The successful applicants must fulfil the requirements for admission to the Faculty’s PhD programme. Information about requirements is available here.
The applicants must have a five years Master’s degree in Law or Cand. jur. with good grades. The Faculty may accept equivalent education in law from foreign universities.

The position also requires:

• A master’s thesis
• Applicants must document fluency in English language. Nordic applicants can document their English capablities by attaching their high school diploma.
• The applicants must understand Norwegian or a Scandinavian language (documented level A2), or commit himself/herself to participate in the Norwegian Language Courses held by the UiT at the outset of the employment.
• The applicants must present a description outlining the academic basis of the PhD project. The project description should be max. 8 pages, literature references included. It shall include a description of the theme, research question(s) and a reasoning of the choices. It shall also indicate the methodologies to be used. The applicant may be asked to supplement the description.

It is considered an advantage if you have:

• Working experience in the field in question
• Experience from working in a team
• Publications and/or reports

In the assessment, the emphasis is on the applicant’s potential to complete a research education based on the master’s thesis or equivalent, and any other scientific work. The project description will also be considered. In addition, other experience of significance for the completion of the doctoral programme may be given consideration.
Emphasis will be put on the candidates potential for research, motivation and personal suitability for the position.
As many as possible should have the opportunity to undertake organized research training. If you already hold a PhD or have equivalent competence, we will not appoint you to this position.
Stig Brøndbo
Inclusion and diversity
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is working actively to promote equality, gender balance and diversity among employees and students, and to create an inclusive and safe working environment. We believe that inclusion and diversity are a strength, and we want employees with different competencies, professional experience, life experience and perspectives.
If you have a disability, a gap in your CV or immigrant background, we encourage you to tick the box for this in your application. If there are qualified applicants, we invite at least one in each group for an interview. If you get the job, we will adapt the working conditions if you need it. Apart from selecting the right candidates, we will only use the information for anonymous statistics.

We offer

• Involvement in an interesting research project in a transdisciplinary research school
• A good and interdisciplinary academic environment with dedicated colleagues
• Good career opportunities, and high employability after successful graduation
• A stunning Arctic landscape and diversity of outdoor activities
• Flexible working hours and a state collective pay agreement
• Pension scheme through the state pension fund

Norwegian health policy aims to ensure that everyone, irrespective of their personal finances and where they live, has access to good health and care services of equal standard. As an employee you will become member of the National Insurance Scheme which also include health care services.
More practical information about working and living in Norway can be found here: https://uit.no/staffmobility
Application

Your application must include:

• Cover letter explaining your motivation and research interests
• CV
• Diploma for bachelor’s and master’s degree
• Transcript of grades/academic record for bachelor’s and master’s degree
• Explanation of the grading system for foreign education (Diploma Supplement if available)
• Documentation of English proficiency (Nordic applicants can document their English capablities by attaching their high school diploma)
• Documentation of proficiency in Norwegian or a Scandinavian language (level A2)
• References with contact information
• Master’s thesis, and any other academic works
• Project description (max. 8 pages)
• Application for admission

The applicants must present a description outlining the academic basis of the PhD project. The project description shall not exceed 8 pages, literature references included. It must include a description of the theme, research question(s), and a reasoning of the choices. It should also indicate the methodologies to be used, and what actors outside the academia to involve. Any necessary costs for field work must be covered over the yearly alloted individual research allowance (annum), or via funds applied for by the applicant from outside sources. The final project description will be developed in cooperation with the supervision team after employment.
All documentation to be considered must be in a Scandinavian language or English. Diplomas and transcripts must also be submitted in the original language, if not in English or a Scandinavian language. We only accept applications and documentation sent via Jobbnorge within the application deadline.
Assessment
The applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The committee’s mandate is to undertake an assessment of the applicants’ qualifications based on the written material presented by the applicants, and the detailed description draw up for the position. A copy of the assessment report will be sent to all applicants.
The applicants who are assessed as best qualified will be called to an interview. The interview should among other things, aim to clarify the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability for the position.
General information
The appointment is made in accordance with State regulations and guidelines at UiT. At our website, you will find more information for applicants.
A shorter period of appointment may be decided when the PhD Fellow has already completed parts of their research training programme or when the appointment is based on a previous qualifying position PhD Fellow, research assistant, or the like in such a way that the total time used for research training amounts to three years.
Remuneration for the position of PhD Fellow is in accordance with the State salary scale code 1017. A compulsory contribution of 2 % to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund will be deducted.
We process personal data given in an application or CV in accordance with the Personal Data Act (Offentleglova). According to the Personal Data Act information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure. You will receive advance notification in the event of such publication, if you have requested non-disclosure.
Eallju - Developing the High North
UiT The Arctic University of Norway is a multi-campus comprehensive university at the international forefront. Our vision is to be a driving force for developing the High North. The Northern Sami notion eallju, which means eagerness to work, sets the tone for this motive power at UiT. Along with students, staff and the wider community, we aim to utilise our location in Northern Norway and Sápmi, our broad and diverse research and study portfolio and interdisciplinary advantage to shape the future.
Our social mission is to provide research-based education of high quality, perform artistic development and carry out research of the highest international quality standards in the entire range from basic to applied. We will convey knowledge about disciplines and contribute to innovation. Our social mission unites UiT across various studies, research fields and large geographical distances. This demands good cooperation with trade and industry and civil society as well as with international partners. We will strengthen knowledge-based and sustainable development at a regional, national and international level.
Academic freedom and scientific and ethical principles form the basis for all UiT’s activities. Participation, co-determination, transparency and good processes will provide the decision-making basis we need to make wise and far-sighted priorities. Our students and staff will have the opportunity to develop their abilities and potential. Founded on academic integrity, we will be courageous, committed and generous in close contact with disciplines, people and contemporary developments.
We will demonstrate adaptability and seek good and purposeful utilisation of resources, so we are ready to meet the expectations and opportunities of the future. We will strengthen the quality and impact of our disciplines and core tasks through UiT’s three strategic priority areas.
Deadline
25th February 2025
Employer
UiT The Arctic University of Norway
Municipality
Tromsø - Romsa
Scope
Fulltime
Duration
Fixed Term
Place of service
Hansine Hansens veg 18, 9019 Troms

Please refer the Job description for details