PhD Fellowship in Biological Psychology

The PhD fellowship leads to a doctoral degree and gives you the opportunity to develop research expertise in an active and stimulating academic environment. Through the doctoral education, you will acquire knowledge, skills and experience that qualify you for a further career in research, higher education, and other knowledge-intensive sectors.

The successful candidate will be admitted to the PhD programme in Social Sciences, Research School in Psychology (PSYENCE). The programme includes coursework, an independent research project culminating in a doctoral thesis, participation in national and international research communities, dissemination of research, a trial lecture, and a public defence of the thesis. For more information about the PhD education at UiS, please visit 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.

The position is for three years of pure research training and is associated with the UiS Biopsychology Research Group.

Research Topic

The successful candidate will be affiliated with the research project PRIME (Physiological Reactivity in Health and Disease: Mechanisms and Effects) is led by Professor Bianka Karshikoff. PRIME investigates physiological reactivity – the body’s capacity to respond to stress and immunological challenges – along two interconnected lines of research:

1. Individual differences in physiological reactivity, and how these are related to health and personality.
2. Early chronic pain as a distinct and understudied population, focusing on individuals within the first year of persistent musculoskeletal pain.

The project is interdisciplinary, spanning psychology, endocrinology, and immunology, and uses experimental methods and physiological biomarkers.

We are looking for a candidate with a genuine interest in this area of research or in one or more of the study components. Within the overall framework of the project, there is also scope to further develop the research and design sub-studies with a clear individual focus, in collaboration with Professor Karshikoff.

A more detailed description of the study is available at www.uis.no and in the project registry.

Project Proposal

As part of the application, you are required to submit a preliminary project proposal for a PhD project within the research area described above.

In the proposal, we ask you to give a brief description of how you might further develop the study, for example through an independent research question or research direction within the overall framework of the project.

The project proposal should give a sense of your scientific reasoning and will be considered as part of the overall assessment. The final direction of the PhD project will be developed in collaboration with the supervisors and will depend on available resources, data, and practical feasibility. During the first three months of the employment period, the project proposal and progress plan will be further developed in collaboration with the supervisors and finalized as the PhD project plan. A project proposal template can be found here.

Qualifications

You must have a strong academic background with a five-year master's degree within a subject that is relevant to the project (psychology, neuroscience, biomedicine, cognitive science, or related fields), or equivalent qualifications that provide a basis for undertaking doctoral studies, preferably obtained recently.

Your master's thesis grade and weighted average grade for the master's degree must both correspond to a grade of B or better.

If you have completed your education at an institution that uses a grading scale other than A-F, please provide documentation explaining how your grades correspond to the Norwegian grading scale. You may use these conversion tables to calculate your admission score.

If you are completing your master's degree in the autumn 2026, you are also welcome to apply.

The assessment emphasizes your potential for research within the field and the personal aptitude to complete the doctoral programme within the employment period.

We will also place emphasis on whether you:

• demonstrate high academic integrity and a strong commitment to quality in your work
• are curious and motivated to carry out the research project and contribute to academic communities and collaboration across disciplines
• have a documented interest in biological psychology, psychophysiology, psychoneuroimmunology, stress and/or pain research
• have experience with quantitative and statistical methods, as well as motivation and potential for research within the field
• are able to work effectively both independently and in collaboration with other researchers
• demonstrate the ability for critical reflection, innovative thinking, and independent problem-solving, and work in a structured and goal-oriented manner
• have good collaboration and communication skills and contribute to a constructive working environment
• have good command of English, both written and spoken

It is an advantage if you:

• have previous laboratory experience
• have proficiency in a Scandinavian language, given the nature of the data collection

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, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 580 000 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (Statens pensjonskasse), which provides favourable pension and insurance schemes
• favourable membership terms at SiS Sports Centre and the university sports club
• 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
• relocation support
• 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 women to apply. In cases where applicants are considered equally qualified, women may be given preference in accordance with applicable regulations.

Do you have questions?

Feel free to contact us if you would like to know more about the position:

• Professor Bianka Karshikoff, phone: 518 314 88, e-mail: bianka.karshikoff@uis.no

If you have questions about the recruitment process, please contact:

• HR-rådgiver Christina Storm, phone: 518 317 53, e-mail: christina.storm@uis.no

How to Apply

Apply for this job by clicking "Apply for this job" button on this page.

In Jobbnorge, you must register at least your application, relevant education and work experience, as well as language skills. In your application letter, please describe your research interests, your motivation for applying for the position, and how your background is relevant to the research project.

The following documentation must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• project proposal, see template available on our website.
• CV with a complete overview of your education, experience, and any scientific or scholarly work
• diploma and transcript of records documenting completion of a master's degree. If you have not yet completed your master's degree, you must submit an up-to-date transcript of records
• Diploma Supplement or equivalent documentation, and a confirmed grade conversion scale if required
• publications or other relevant research work
• references and other documentation considered relevant to the application

The documentation must be provided in a Scandinavian language or in English

Applications will be assessed based on the information available in Jobbnorge when the application deadline expires. Please ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your qualifications and experience meet the requirements described in the announcement, and that all required documentation has been uploaded. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 100 MB, the files must be compressed before upload.

UiS only considers applications and attachments submitted through Jobbnorge.

Information about applicants may be made public even if an applicant has requested not to be included on the public list of applicants, cf. Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act. If such a request is not granted, you will be notified.

Terms of Employment and Recruitment Process

UiS is subject to the Norwegian Security Act. Employees are expected to demonstrate security-conscious behaviour and comply with applicable security and export control procedures. In the appointment process, attributes such as reliability, sound judgement and loyalty will be emphasised.

Employment as PhD Fellow is regulated in Regulations to the Universities and Colleges Act, chapter IV. Admission to the doctoral programme is governed by the Regulations for the degree of Philosophia Doctor (PhD) at the University of Stavanger.

Your qualifications for the position, based on the documentation registrered in Jobbnorge by the application deadline, will be assessed by an internal committee. Based on the committee's assessment, selected candidates will be invited to an interview. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. Read more about the recruitment process on our website.

The PhD work will primarily be carried out at the University of Stavanger. It is a condition of employment that the successful candidate resides in a location that enables regular presence at and active participation in the academic environment during normal working hours.

The position is advertised in both Norwegian and English. In the event of any discrepancy between the texts, the Norwegian version shall prevail.

UiS - challenge the well-known and explore the unknown

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for green and sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.
In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.
Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown.

The Faculty of Social Sciences has approximately 2,000 students and 180 employees. The faculty offers degree programmes at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, as well as a professional degree programme. The studies are based on a combination of theoretical and practical knowledge, interdisciplinarity, and collaboration with public and private organisations. The faculty consists of the Department of Media and Social Sciences, the Department of Psychology, and the Department of Social Sciences.

The Department of Psychology offers the following study programmes: Psychology, including a three-year Bachelor's degree and a two-year Master's degree, a one-year programme in Psychology, and a professional degree programme starting in autumn 2026. The department also hosts PSYENCE, a graduate school in Psychology that forms part of the doctoral education programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The department currently has 25 staff members and approximately 500 students affiliated with it.