PhD Position in Ethical Aspects of Natural Language Processing (NLP) at the Department of Information Science and Media Studies University of Bergen in Norway

The University of Bergen, a leading European institution renowned for its research and education, invites applications for a PhD position at the Department of Information Science and Media Studies. This four-year, full-time position offers a unique opportunity to explore the ethical aspects of Natural Language Processing (NLP), focusing on challenges such as bias, fairness, value alignment, and safety in contemporary language technologies.

The project aims to address the growing need for methods to understand and mitigate ethical risks associated with NLP-based systems, which are increasingly deployed in society. Candidates may investigate how ethical issues arise from data collection, model training, alignment techniques, or deployment. Research directions include measuring and mitigating social and cultural biases, evaluating safety and harm prevention mechanisms, studying value alignment, and developing robust evaluation and mitigation frameworks. The project scope is flexible, allowing candidates to propose related topics and pursue multiple sub-projects, all contributing to the broader goal of building ethically aware and socially responsible language technologies.

Applicants must hold a Norwegian master's degree or an equivalent foreign master's degree in a relevant discipline such as NLP, Computational Linguistics, Language Technology, or Computer Science with specialization in NLP or machine learning. The master's thesis must be submitted before the application deadline, and the degree must be completed before starting the position. A grade B or better is required for both the master's thesis and the degree overall. Good programming skills in Python are essential. Experience with neural approaches, generative language models, high-performance computing environments, and prior work with large language models is advantageous but not mandatory. Proficiency in written and oral English is required; proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language is advantageous. Applicants should demonstrate independence, structure, effective collaboration, and enthusiasm for research.

The PhD position includes 25% teaching, supervision, and administrative tasks at the Department. The place of work is Bergen, and daily physical presence at the Department is required. The successful candidate will participate in the PhD programme at the Faculty of Social Sciences, which corresponds to three years and leads to the PhD degree. Admission is based on a research proposal (5-8 pages) outlining the topic, research problems, theory, methods, and a progress plan. The application must also include a cover letter, summary and full master's thesis, CV, certificates, transcripts, and reference contacts. Applications sent by email or without a project description will not be considered.

The position offers a salary of NOK 568,700 per year, with automatic annual increases for up to four years, enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, and good welfare benefits. The University of Bergen values diversity and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or age. Women and applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV are especially encouraged to apply. At least one qualified applicant from each of these groups will be invited for an interview as part of the university's commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

For further information about the position, contact Associate Professor Samia Touileb ([email protected]). Practical questions regarding the application procedures can be directed to Adviser – HR Gudrun Horvei ([email protected]). Questions about the PhD programme may be directed to Senior Adviser Elina Troscenko ([email protected]).

Applications must be submitted via the Jobbnorge portal by 7th June 2026. For more details and to apply, visit Jobbnorge.