PhD Research Fellowship on Literature and Generative AI

PhD Research Fellowship on Literature and Generative AI

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PhD Research Fellowship on Literature and Generative AI

The Center for Digital Narrative at the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies invites applications for a PhD position on Literature and Generative AI commencing November 2025 or as agreed upon. The position is for a fixed-term period of four years.

About the Department and the Center for Digital Narrative

The Department offers research-based teaching within a wide span of study programs, including Digital Culture, Art History, Theatre Studies, Comparative Literature, Linguistics, Scandinavian Languages and Literature, Old Norse Studies, and Norwegian as a Second Language and Norwegian Languages Courses for international students and employees at the University of Bergen.

The Department hosts the Center for Digital Narrative (CDN), a Norwegian Centre of Research Excellence. The Center focuses on algorithmic narrativity, new environments and materialities, and the shifting cultural contexts in which digital narratives are received and processed. We investigate the ways that the interactions of human authors and non-human agents result in new narrative forms, how the materialities of digital narratives have changed over time, and how cultural contexts are reshaping their materiality, use and function.

The Center for Digital Narrative is a dynamic research environment housed in a dedicated facility in the heart of the University of Bergen campus. The activities of the Center include research group meetings, interactions with international research leaders in digital narrative, researcher training, PhD summer schools, frequent symposia and exhibitions. The successful applicants place of work will be at the Center for Digital Narrative.

About the Project :

The project is part of the research project AI STORIES : Narrative Archetypes for Artificial Intelligence and should result in a PhD in either Digital Culture, Comparative Literature or Nordic Literature. The AI STORIES project is a European Research Council Advanced Grant led by Professor Jill Walker Rettberg, with a team of three postdocs, another doctoral fellow, a research adviser, a data management expert and a research assistant. AI STORIES explores the hypothesis that deep narrative structures in the datasets used to train generative AI models are replicated and perhaps exaggerated in the output of generative AI, and that this could lead to culturally specific narrative biases.

Applicants are required to submit a detailed project proposal for a doctoral dissertation that aligns with the overall research goals for AI STORIES. Please see the project website for more information about the project.

About the PhD position and research training :

The main purpose of the PhD position is to complete a doctoral degree, which qualifies for independent research and other forms of employment that demand specific competency.

The duration of this PhD position is four years. The time allocated to the research project itself is 2.5 years, whilst a total of one year will be devoted to other, career-promoting work such as teaching, dissemination of results and university administration. A plan for this part of the position will be established in collaboration with the Department.

As a PhD candidate, you must participate in the Faculty of Humanities’ ph.d programme. The PhD programme comprises a training component corresponding to 30 ECTS, which corresponds to one semester. The remaining six months will be allocated to this formal training.

Qualifications and personal qualities :

• The applicant must hold a Norwegian master’s degree or the equivalent foreign degree in literary studies (for instance comparative literature studies or Nordic literature), digital culture or a related discipline. It is a condition of employment that the master’s degree has been awarded by the application deadline. Applicants who document a foreign degree will be evaluated according to the regulations of the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education (NOKUT) and The Faculty of Humanities’ PhD Programme plan.
• The applicant must both be able to work independently in a well-structured manner and have good collaboration skills.
• The applicant must be proficient in both written and oral English.

Applicants will be evaluated according to admission requirements in The Faculty of Humanities' PhD Program pt. 2.1.

In assessing the applications, the academic quality and feasibility of the proposed PhD project and the academic qualifications of the candidate will be considered. Further emphasis is placed on strategic considerations, motivation, and the applicant's personal eligibility.

We can offer :

How to apply for the job :

Apply electronically via the link "APPLY FOR THIS JOB". Applicants are required to use the electronic CV form. The application must include :

The application and attachments must be in Norwegian, another Scandinavian language or English. Documents in other languages must be accompanied by certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language. Please ensure that all attachments are in either Word or PDF format and are uploaded to Jobbnorge within the application deadline.

The Evaluation Committee may occasionally request additional documentation be submitted.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview.

For further information about the appointment process, click here.

Formal regulations :

Applicants who have already held a PhD position at the University of Bergen are not eligible to apply for this position.

The employment period may be reduced for candidates who have previously been employed in a recruitment position at other institutions.

The PhD position requires that the successful applicant has their regular workplace at the University of Bergen and adhere to the guidelines which apply to the position.

General information :

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting Professor Jill Walker Rettberg, Co-director Center for Digital Narrative, jill.walker.rettberg@uib.no

Questions or inquiries about the electronic application process can be directed to the Faculty of Humanities at fakadm@hf.uib.no.

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions. Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of applicants. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

We encourage men to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.

Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.

We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.

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Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.

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About UiB

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad.

There are four departments and four centres at Faculty of Humanities. Read more about the faculty and departments.