DC5 – Digital infrastructures in the public interest

The University of Stavanger (UiS) is Norway’s sixth largest university. The university is located in Stavanger – the energy capital of Norway – with a dynamic job market and exciting culture and leisure activities. UiS has approx. 12,000 students and some 2,200 faculty, administration and service staff. Academic life at UiS is organised into six faculties, comprising a total of 14 departments/schools and two National Research Centres. UiS is a member of European Consortium of Innovative Universities, the leading international consortium of research-intensive universities, with collective emphasis on innovation, creativity and societal impact, driving the development of a knowledge-based economy. UiS focuses on sustainable transitions, with energy, health and welfare as key strategic areas.

The candidate will be based at the Department of Media and Social Sciences, with 70 staff and 900 students studying political science, sociology, and media production.

This PhD project is titled: Digital infrastructures in the public interest and is part of WP5 Digital infrastructures.

In today’s media ecosystem, technical infrastructure is no longer an invisible conveyer of information, but an enabler of communication. The health of the media sphere is determined by the stability and vulnerability, as well as the ownership and independence of digital infrastructures. The shift to Internet-based content distribution also implies that media companies, to a very large extent, have become critically dependent on external, foreign, technology providers for content production and distribution, and organisational management, raising cyber-security challenges.

The position calls for projects that examine the role and potential of telecoms to ensure universal communication infrastructure services, amidst geo-political tensions and ownership concentration in sectors including submarine cables, satellite-based Internet services, CDN market and data centres.

The position calls for projects that examine the robustness of media delivery infrastructure and the transformational role of telecommunication actors in providing public interest content. Areas of research for the PhD project include, but are not limited to:

• The role of national telecoms in the communication infrastructure
• Displacement of telecoms in the internet industries
• Business models for telecom in the internet ecosystem
• Telecom in the broadband, CDN, cable, peering, and data centre industries
• The role of telecom in media distribution
• The political economy of Tier 1 internet provision
• Regulation of the telecom sector.

Methodologies could include qualitative and quantitative methods, mixed approaches as well as computational methods.

Tasks foreseen include research and dissemination activities. The candidate will be associated with the Digital Society Research Group, and will be enrolled in the University of Stavanger’s PhD-programme in Social Science, pending approval of the PhD proposal. The candidate is expected to carry out an extended secondment with Altibox, the largest fibre-based telecommunication company in Norway, based in Stavanger.

The successful candidate will conduct a project under the supervision of Helle Sjøvaag, Professor at the University of Stavanger, and Reza Tadayoni, Associate Professor at Aalborg University.

The PhD position is part of RePIM – Revisioning Public Interest Media, a four-year Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) Doctoral Network dedicated to reimagining the role and future of Public Interest Media in a data-driven, platform-dominated environment. RePIM brings together leading European universities, industry partners, and 12 Doctoral Candidates in an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral training and research programme. The network investigates how Public Interest Media can remain relevant, sustainable, and impactful by transforming how content is produced, packaged, distributed, and supported organisationally and technologically. Through its focus on strategic innovation, organisational change, and media management, RePIM equips its doctoral researchers with advanced analytical and managerial skills to help reshape Public Interest Media across diverse European contexts.

MSCA eligibility requirements

• At the time of recruitment, candidates must not already hold a doctoral degree.
• Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. However, researchers must not have lived or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country (in this case: Norway) for more than 12 months within the 36 months immediately preceding their recruitment date. Candidates must be willing to move to Norway for the duration of the PhD research.

Project-specific profile requirements

• Eligible candidates should have a background in the social sciences, with a full Master’s degree corresponding to the European 3+2 (Bachelor + Master, 120 ECTS) or an equivalent qualification in media and communication sciences, political science, sociology, law, or business and administration studies.
• The candidate needs a B (or equivalent) qualification in their Master’s degree to be eligible for enrolment in the PhD programme in social sciences at the University of Stavanger.
• A background in the telecom industries is an advantage, as is a background or BA in engineering.
• The candidate should be proficient in qualitative and quantitative methods such as research interviews, fieldwork, ethnographic studies, document analysis, content analysis, and computational methods.
• Candidates should be proficient in English.

Requirements for competence in English

A good proficiency in English is required for anyone attending the PhD program. International applicants must document this with a valid test certificate from one of the following tests:

• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based Test (IBT). Minimum result: 90
• IELTS – International English Language Testing Service. Minimum result: 6.5
• Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) from the University of Cambridge
• PTE Academic – Pearson Test of English Academic. Minimum result: 62

The following applicants are exempt from the above requirements:

• Applicants with one year of completed university studies in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, USA
• Applicants with a completed master’s degrees taught in English in a EU/EEA country
• Applicants who are exempt based on HK-dir’s GSU list.

In this role, you will work with researchers at two prominent European institutions in media and communication research. You will collaborate closely with other researchers in a European consortium of leading studies institutes in the field, as well as conduct an industrial secondment with a relevant organisation in your field of research.

The planned starting date is 1 May 2026.

We offer an attractive compensation and benefits package, including the following:

• Enrolment in the PhD programme in social sciences and the Research School in Politics and Society (POLSOC).
• A salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 550,800 gross per year with salary development according to seniority in the position. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• In line with the MSCA programme, the doctoral candidate will also receive a family allowance, if applicable.
• Automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which provides favourable insurance and retirement benefits.
• A vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment, facilitated by the Digital Society Research Group at the Department of Media and Social Sciences.
• Membership in the Nordic Network for Communication Infrastructure Research, led by Professor Helle Sjøvaag, with access to networking events with 30 + researchers from 10 Nordic institutions.
• An internship at Altibox, a telecom based in the city of Stavanger with ventures in TV transmission, mobile, 5G, fiber, CDN, and cable provision.
• An academic secondment at Aalborg University in Copenhagen.
• An interdisciplinary supervisory team with relevant projects in infrastructure research.

Other benefits:

• A PhD education in a large, exciting and socially important organisation.
• A professional work community which is developing rapidly. We strive to include employees at all levels in strategic decisions and promote an informal atmosphere with a flat organisational structure.
• Free Norwegian language courses if you do not have proficiency in Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish at level A2 at the time of employment.
• Access to Lifekeys, a digital service for the preservation of personal mental health and well-being.
• Favourable membership terms at a gym and at the SIS sports club at campus
• employment with an Inclusive Workplace organisation which is committed to reducing sick leave, increasing the proportion of employees with reduced working capacity, and increasing the number of professionally active seniors
• “Hjem-jobb-hjem” discounted public transport to and from work.
• As an employee in Norway, you will have access to an optimal health service, as well as good pensions, generous maternity/paternity leave, and a competitive salary. Nursery places are guaranteed and reasonably priced.
• Relocation programme and language courses.

Diversity:

Diversity is a resource in the working and learning environment at UiS. When we have different backgrounds and experiences, we can approach challenges from multiple perspectives and find better solutions. At UiS, we are committed to showing respect for each other’s differences and accommodating employees with disabilities. We take into consideration your needs and your situation in various life phases.

If you find this position interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, disability, cultural background, or whether you have been out of the workforce for a period.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CV, or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview. If you fall into any of these categories, feel free to indicate it when applying for the position. Learn more about the criteria for being considered an applicant in these specific groups here.

The university aims to recruit more women within the subject area. If several applicants are considered to have equal qualifications, female applicants will be given priority.

Applications are now closed.

Application process:

• Step 1: initial selection based on application file
• Step 2: first round of interviews with long-listed candidates (est. February–March 2026)
• Step 3: second round of interviews with short-listed candidates (March 2026)
• Starting date: est. 1 May 2026.