PhD Candidate in Interdisciplinary Childhood Research: Digital Communities, Gender and Youth Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Norway

NTNU is advertising a 3-year PhD candidate position in interdisciplinary childhood research at the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning (IPL), with the project focus on digital communities, gender and youth. The advertised project examines how boys aged 13–16 negotiate gender, belonging, democracy, and participation in digital and analogue everyday life, with particular attention to social media content, online profiles, trends, comment communities, and the role of algorithmic curation.

The position is linked to the research group Critical Childhood and Youth Studies (CCYS) and the broader interdisciplinary childhood and youth research community at NTNU. The successful candidate will work toward a doctorate while contributing to research, academic publishing, popular science dissemination, and international activities such as conferences and research stays abroad.

Research areas and keywords: childhood studies, education, sociology, anthropology, STS, gender studies, youth studies, digital sociology, online sociality, social media research, democracy, belonging, and inclusion.

Eligibility highlights: applicants must hold a relevant master’s degree (or equivalent) in pedagogy, childhood studies, sociology, anthropology, STS, or a related field; the degree must correspond to a five-year Norwegian programme with 120 ECTS at master’s level. A strong academic record is required, with an average grade of B or better on NTNU’s scale (or equivalent). Applicants must meet admission requirements for the PhD programme in Educational Science, interdisciplinary childhood research track. Good oral and written Norwegian/Scandinavian is required, and English proficiency is also expected.

Preferred experience: pedagogy or childhood studies, gender and diversity studies, internet research or other studies of online sociality, research assistant experience, high digital competence, and familiarity with online cultures and environments.

Funding: this is a salaried PhD stipendiate position at NTNU. The salary is normally NOK 550,800 per year before deductions, depending on qualifications and seniority. The position also includes operating funds for the project and standard Norwegian public pension benefits.

Application package: transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees, CV, a copy or draft of the master’s thesis, a project sketch of up to 1500 words, a short motivation letter, any relevant publications or research work, certificates, and names/contact details for three references. If education was completed abroad, additional documentation of scope and quality is required.

Deadline: 2026-10-07. Applications must be submitted electronically via Jobbnorge.no.