PhD Fellowships in Quality and Safety in Healthcare 

 

Job description

The University of Stavanger has two vacant PhD positions in Quality and Safety in Healthcare at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Quality and Health Technology. 

The positions are available from 01.11.2025. 

 

One of the positions is linked to the research project “Improving quality and safety in healthcare through supervision and use of artificial intelligence”, the other to the research project “Prehospital teamwork and simulation of complex patient pathways”.

These are trainee positions that will give promising researchers an opportunity for academic development through a PhD education leading to a doctoral degree.

 

The hired candidates will be admitted to the PhD program in Health and Medicine. The education includes relevant courses amounting to about six months of study, a dissertation based on independent research, participation in national and international research environments, relevant academic communication, a trial lecture and public defence. Read more about the PhD education at UiS on our website.

The appointment is for three years with research duties exclusively, or four years with both research and other career-promoting work. This will be clarified in the recruitment process.

 

Research topics

One PhD fellowship will be hired for each of the following two research projects:

1. Improving quality and safety in healthcare through supervision and the use of artificial intelligence
Supervision is central in ensuring quality and safety in healthcare systems nationally and internationally. In Norway, there is a significant increase in the number of cases handled by the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision and the County Governors. The growing number of cases, combined with limited resources for case processing, is unsustainable and results in prolonged processing times. This affects patients, healthcare professionals, and the healthcare system. The development and application of artificial intelligence (AI) in supervisory work can contribute to innovation in supervision methodology. This may include new ways of reviewing cases, cross-case analyses, thematic inspections, and risk monitoring, and there is a need for research to support evidence-based supervision.

The aim of the project is to develop new knowledge about how AI can contribute to innovation in supervision methodology and to understand the implications for supervisory practices and for quality and safety in healthcare.

 

The project will consist of three studies:

1. How AI can be used to prioritize risk areas within supervision activities based on existing data held by supervisory authorities.
2. How the conduct of supervision can be supported by AI, including ethical challenges and opportunities, and what is needed for successful implementation from the perspective of supervisory staff.
3. How AI can be used by supervisory authorities to follow up actors in healthcare services including ethical and practical challenges and opportunities for improving quality and safety. The study will also investigate how practitioners perceive new methods and international experiences with the use of AI in supervisory activities.

 

The appointed candidate will be affiliated with the research centre SHARE – Centre for Resilience in Healthcare. SHARE is one of eight centres at the University of Stavanger. The centre is an internationally recognized research hub within quality and safety in healthcare contributing to the development of new knowledge and measures to better define the conditions that promote high quality and safe care for patients. The project is a collaboration between SHARE, the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision, and Stavanger University Hospital. The projects will also benefit from international networks and regulatory collaborations in Europe.

 

2. Prehospital teamwork and simulation of complex patient pathways
Prehospital care requires rapid and effective decision-making, collaboration across different team constellations, and adaptation to unpredictable situations. This is particularly important considering the coordination between ambulance services and other actors (e.g. emergency medical communication centres, emergency departments, out-of-hours medical services). Existing training in multi-team collaboration often focuses on acute care scenarios involving high-impact injuries, typically in the context of accidents. This project will instead focus on collaboration in complex patient pathways, such as stroke care, cancer care, and elderly care. These patient groups follow different pathways, but all involve frequent interactions with services, requiring effective coordination between various teams.
 
The project aims to contribute new knowledge on collaboration in the prehospital setting, with a particular focus on the multi-team setting. It will further explore how simulation can be used as a pedagogical tool to improve multi-teamwork and collaboration in complex patient pathways.

 

The project will consist of three studies:

1. Mapping and modelling of interaction patterns in different patient pathways (e.g. stroke, cancer, elderly care). The objective is to map existing patient pathways and develop case descriptions with an emphasis on prehospital collaboration.
2. Development of simulation scenarios for complex patient pathways. The objective is to develop and pilot simulation scenarios adapted for different user groups to enhance their collaboration competence.
3. Evaluation of simulation-based training and its impact on paramedic competence. The objective is to examine the different user groups’ transition from education to practice, focusing on both measured and perceived collaboration competence in complex patient pathways.

 

The appointed candidate will be affiliated with the research group Teamwork and adaptation in complex patient pathways. The research group aims to establish knowledge on the prerequisites for good teamwork in different complex patient pathways with a specific emphasis on adaptations and multi-team systems. The project is a collaboration between the research group, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology Gjøvik, and Oslo University Hospital. The projects will also benefit from the European research project Tools4Teams.

 

Project proposal

As an applicant, you must prepare a preliminary project proposal for doctoral project within one of the research topics described above, which explains the problem, relevance, theoretical and methodological approach. Your preliminary project proposal will be included in the application assessment.

 

During the first three months of the employment period, the project proposal and progress plan will be further developed in cooperation with your supervisors and completed for the final plan for the PhD-project. A project proposal template can be found here.

The proposal must be a maximum of 5 pages and is considered a compulsory attachment.

 

Qualification requirements

We are looking for applicants with a strong academic background who have completed a five-year master degree (3+2) within health sciences or social sciences, preferably acquired recently; or possess corresponding qualifications that could provide a basis for successfully completing a doctorate. If you finish your education (master’s degree) in the spring of 2025 you are also welcome to apply.

Applicants with an education from an institution with a different grade scale than A-F, and/or with other types of credits than sp/ECTS, must attach a confirmed conversion scale that shows how the grades can be compared with the Norwegian A-F scale and a Diploma Supplement or similar that explains the scope of the subjects that are included in the education. You can use these conversion scales to calculate your points for admission.

 

You should be fluent in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language when taking up the position.

 

Emphasis is also placed on your:

• motivation and potential for research within the field
• professional and personal skills for completing the doctoral degree within the timeframe
• ability to work independently and in a team, be innovative and creative
• ability to work structured and handle a heavy workload
• having a good command of both oral and written 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 an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma
• 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

 

We offer

• a PhD education in a large, exciting and societally important organisation
• an ambitious 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.
• colleague-based guidance programme (NyTi) if teaching is a part of your position
• access to Lifekeys, a digital service for the preservation of personal mental health and well-being
• salary in accordance with the State Salary Scale, l.pl 17.515, code 1017, NOK 541 800 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.
• automatic membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund, which provides favourable insurance- and retirement benefits
• 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

 

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 men within the subject area. If several applicants are considered to have equal qualifications, female applicants will be given priority.

 

Contact information

More information on the positions can be obtained from professor Siri Wiig (research topic 1), phone: +47 51834288, or +47 90511290 email: siri.wiig@uis.no, professor Karina Aase (research topic 2), phone: +47 92612615, email: karina.aase@uis.no or Head of department Nina Hjertvikrem, phone: +47 99087099, email: nina.hjertvikrem@uis.no.

Information about the appointment procedure can be obtained from HR-advisor Annette Lothe Molnes, e-mail: annette.l.molnes@uis.no.

UiS

 

Application

To apply for this position please follow the link “Apply for this job”. Your application letter, relevant education and work experience as well as language skills must be registered here. In your application letter, you must state which of the positions you are applying for, your research interests and motivation for the position.

 

The following documents must be uploaded as attachments to your application:

• project proposal, a project proposal template can be found here. 
• CV with a full summary of your education and experience
• references, certificates/diplomas and other documentation that you consider relevant
• Diploma Supplement or similar and a confirmed conversion scale if this is required
• documentation on competence in English if this is required
• publications or other relevant research work

 

Applications are evaluated based on the information available in Jobbnorge at the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above and that you have attached the necessary documentation. 

The documentation must be available in either a Scandinavian language or in English. If the total size of the attachments exceeds 30 MB, they must be compressed before upload.

Please note that information on applicants may be published even if the applicant has requested not to be included in the official list of applicants – see Section 25 of the Freedom of Information Act. If your request is not granted, you will be notified.

 

UiS only considers applications and attachments registered in Jobbnorge.

 

General information

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. If your application is considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter legislation, it will be rejected without further assessment.

 

Employment as PhD Fellow is regulated in “Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow and research fellow, research assistant and resident“.

Your qualifications for the position, based on documentation registered in Jobbnorge, will be assessed by an internal expert committee. Based on the committee’s statement, relevant applicants will be invited to an interview before any recommendations are made. References will also be obtained for relevant candidates. More about the hiring process on our website.

 

The appointee will be based at the University of Stavanger, with the exception of a stay abroad at a relevant centre of research.

It is a prerequisite that you have a residence which enables you to be present at/available to the academic community during ordinary working hours.

 

The position has been announced in both Norwegian and English. In the case of differences of meaning between the texts, the Norwegian text takes precedence.

 

UiS – challenge the well-known and explore the unknown

The University of Stavanger (UiS) has about 12,000 students and 2,200 employees. The university has high ambitions. We strive to have an innovative and international profile, and be a driving force in knowledge development and in the process of societal change. Our common direction is driven by consideration for green and sustainable change and equitable social development, through new ways of managing natural resources and facilitating better cities and local communities. Energy, health and welfare, learning for life are our focus areas.
 
In constant collaboration and dialogue with our surroundings, regionally, nationally and internationally, we enjoy an open and creative climate for education, research, innovation, dissemination and museum activities. Academic life at the University of Stavanger is organised into six faculties comprising various departments/schools and National Research Centres, as well as the Museum of Archaeology. We are a member of the European Consortium of Innovative Universities. The university is located in the most attractive region in the country with more than 300,000 inhabitants. The Stavanger region has a dynamic labour market and exciting cultural and leisure activities.
 
Together with our staff and students we will challenge the well-known and explore the unknown.
 
The Faculty of Health Sciences offers  bachelor’s programmes in Nursing and Paramedic, master’s programmes in Health Sciences with specializations in Public Health Nursing, in Midwifery, in Drug Abuse and Mental Health, in Prehospital Services and in Nursing with specializations in Anesthesia, Intensive Care or Surgical Nursing, and a continuing education programme in Cancer Nursing.

The faculty further offers research education (PhD) in Health and Medicine and the research school PROFRES – National Research School for Professions-Oriented and Practice-Relevant Research in the fields of Health, Welfare and Education. The Faculty of Health Sciences has the following main research areas: Professional Relations in Welfare Professions, Health Promotion in Chronic Ailments, E-learning, Health Technology and Simulation, Life Phenomena and Caring, and PARTAKE: Community Participation. The research centre SHARE – Centre for Resilience in Health Care are also part of the faculty. There are currently 250 employees including students and postdocs, and 1400 students at The Faculty of Health Sciences.

 

The department´s main objective is to facilitate high-quality care for patients and user in healthcare services. The department’s scientific profile is focused on patient safety, health technology, patients’ rights, and the involvement of service users, patients, and next of kin. Overall, the department emphasise an interdisciplinary approach, featuring engagement from students, patients, users, and healthcare professionals in all core activities. There are currently 105 employees, including research fellows and postdocs, at the departement. Competence among department staff spans all levels of healthcare services.