University of Oslo PhD Research Fellowship in Music-Related Body Motion

Department
of Musicology

Doctoral
research fellowship in Music-related Body Motion

A
PhD research fellowship on the topic of “music-related body motion” is now
available at the Department of Musicology, University of Oslo.

The
fellowship is part of the project “MICRO – Human Bodily Micromotion in
Music Perception and Interaction” funded by the Research Council of
Norway. The project will investigate how music influences what

we might call
“micromotion”, the smallest controllable and perceivable human body
motion. Central to the project is a series of observation studies and lab
experiments on people’s spontaneous motion to music. The project will also
focus on the development of interactive music systems based on human
micromotion. It is therefore preferable that applicants have knowledge and
skills in one or more of the following: music cognition, motion capture,
statistics of time-series, machine learning, interactive computer music.

The
appointed candidate will be granted full access to the world-class fourMs lab,
with state-of-the-art motion capture systems and sound spatalisation facilities
(http://fourms.uio.no).
It is expected that the candidate will work on an independent sub-project and
be supervised by Associate Professor Alexander Refsum Jensenius (http://people.uio.no/alexanje/).
A postdoctoral researcher will also be recruited to the project.

The
selected doctoral fellow will be required to participate in the researcher
training program of the Faculty of Humanities and complete a PhD dissertation
that is commensurate with the University of Oslo’s requirements for the degree
(see the regulations for the Faculty of Humanities’ researcher training
program). The doctoral fellow is expected to engage in designated research
activities on a 100 percent basis, including active participation in the main
project’s broader research activities. The primary aim of the fellowship is to
complete a doctoral dissertation to be defended at a public defense for the PhD
degree.

The
appointment is for three years. All PhD Candidates who submit their doctoral
dissertation for assessment with a written recommendation from their supervisor
within 3 years or 3 ½ years after the start of their PhD position, will be
offered, respectively, a 12 or 6 month Completion Grant.

Qualifications

A
master’s degree in musicology, psychology, computer science, human
movement science, or similarly related fields that offer a solid
foundation for further research into the area of music-related body
motion. The applicant is required to document that the degree corresponds
to the profile for the post. The final degree needs to be confirmed by the
time of appointment.
Personal
suitability and motivation for the position.

In
assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on:

The
applicant’s estimated academic and personal ability to complete the
proposed project within the time frame
The
applicant’s ability to complete the research training
Good
collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic
communities
The
project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation

Applicants
who have recently graduated with excellent results may be given preference.

We
offer

salary
level 50 -56 (NOK 430 500 – 475 400, depending on level of expertise)
a
stimulating working environment
attractive
welfare arrangements

Submissions

Applicants
must submit the following attachments with the electronic application,
preferably in pdf format:

Application
letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the
position
Curriculum
Vitae (complete list of education, positions, teaching experience,
administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a
complete list of publications)
Transcript
of records of your Master’s degree. Applicants with education from a
foreign university are advised to attach an explanation of their
university’s grading system
Project
description that fits within the aims of the larger project (approximately
3-5 pages, see Template for project descriptions). The
project description must present a feasible progress plan. It is expected
that the applicant will be able to complete the project during the period
of appointment

Please
note that all documents must be in English.

Educational
certificates, master theses and the like are not to be submitted with the
application, but applicants may be asked to submit such information or works
later.

The
master thesis must be submitted before the application deadline, and a final
confirmation of the master degree (certificate/diploma) must be issued before
the time of appointment.

Short-listed
candidated may be invited for an interview at the University of Oslo.

Following
the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, demographic
information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants
even if the applicant opts out from the entry in the public application list.

The
University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose
of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including
research results.

The
University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the
workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.