PhD Fellow in Innovation Studies (AI)

The AIP project investigates the economic effects of artificial intelligence (AI). Some expect that AI will lead to positive impacts in terms of innovation, productivity and economic growth. Others point to possible economic harms such as technological unemployment, increasing market concentration and exacerbation of income inequalities. Public policies will have a crucial role to shape the direction and extent of these effects. 

The project will investigate the trade-off between growth and inequality effects of AI, and analyze how public policies for AI should be designed in order to take this trade-off into account. 

Professor Fulvio Castellacci at the TIK Centre is the PI of the project.

The PhD fellow will contribute to the AIP project by focusing on one (or more) of these research themes: (1) factors affecting AI adoption in firms; (2) effects of adoption of AI on firms’ innovation, productivity and economic growth; (3) labor market impacts of AI; (4) effects on market concentration and income inequalities.

Applicants will be assessed on the quality and relevance of the project proposal, their academic grades and their academic experience and personal skills to carry out the project. The hiring process will include an interview.

• Applicants must hold a two-year Master’s degree (or equivalent qualifications) and meet the formal requirements for admittance to the Faculty of Social Sciences’ PhD program.
• The Master’s degree must be of high quality (grade A or B) and within a specialization of relevance to the economics of innovation and/or the economics of ICTs / AI. 
• Applicants must document experience with and/or a well-described interest in the field of economics of innovation and the economics of ICTs / AI.
• Experience with one or more of the following empirical research methods will be considered an advantage: applied microeconometrics and causal inference; machine learning and data science. 
• Experience with one or more of the following computing skills will be considered an advantage: Natural Language Processing and LLMs; R; Python.
• Applicants must be fluent in English. Applicants who have completed their education outside of the EU/EEA-area and who do not have English as a native language, must document language skills:
  • TOEFL, with a minimum result of 550 on the Paper-based Test (PBT), or 80 on the Internet-Based Test (iBT) OR
  • IELTS, with the result 6.0.

Please see Admission requirements for exemptions from language criteria.

• Non-Norwegian speakers hired after 1.8.2025 will be required to take Norwegian language courses (15 ECTS at A2 level)
• The successful candidate is expected to take active part in activities like seminars and workshops at TIK. Residency in or close to Oslo is therefore expected.

• Professor Fulvio Castellacci
• Head of Administration Inger Johanne Ullern

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we cannot, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian),  Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 26 500 students and 7 200 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

TIK Centre for Technology, Innovation and Culture is a cross disciplinary unit at the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Oslo. TIK is home to 40 staff members working in research, education and research communication in innovation and science and technology studies (STS). A major part of TIK’s activity is externally funded research. TIK also offers postgraduate education; a PhD-programme and two Master programmes. The Centre also hosts OSIRIS - Oslo Institute for Research on the Impact of Science.