Two Postdoctoral Fellowships in East Asian Religions (Guanyin, Mazu, Benzaiten) University of Oslo in Norway

Two three-year postdoctoral research fellowships are open in East Asian religions at the University of Oslo, within the ERC-funded project Maritime Goddesses: Transnational Connections, Blue Environments, and Ritual Care in East and Southeast Asia (MARGO).

The positions are research-focused and each fellow will take responsibility for one work package. Postdoc 1 will study the history of Guanyin and/or Mazu from a transnational maritime perspective. Postdoc 2 will study the popular river goddess Benzaiten in Japan. The project sits at the intersection of religious studies, history, anthropology, and related area studies, with attention to maritime networks, ritual practice, and blue environments.

Eligibility highlights: applicants must have completed their PhD dissertation; proficiency in Chinese and/or Japanese is required; and candidates are expected to be able to contribute to a collaborative group project. Team members are expected to live in the Oslo region in Norway because of regular seminars and other team activities.

Funding: the positions are full-time and last for three years. The fellows will have access to funding for fieldwork and conference travel. The post does not specify a salary amount in the social post.

Application materials: a research proposal aligned with the project abstracts, a cover letter, CV, and writing samples. The department will assist with visa applications and other paperwork if needed. Applications that appear to have been created or heavily edited by AI will not be considered.

Deadline: 31 August 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a digital interview in autumn.