Nominated by
- Ellen Aasland Reinertsen, Doctoral Research Fellow, Faculty of Theology
Election platform
If I am elected, I will endeavour to the best of my ability to ensure good working conditions for employees and that their labour rights are taken seriously. Personally, I have experienced the transition from having a secure, permanent position to being temporarily employed at UiO, with all that it entails – for good or bad. My time in public sector, outside academia, enables me to set clear goals for what it should be like to be a temporary employee in academia. Temporary employees in scientific positions are also hired in the public sector, and therefore it goes without saying that we should have the same rights as other employees in the public sector. Being in a good position for a safe career path, in a workplace with good scientific research conditions, is essential to produce good research, whether one as a temporary employee aims for a work life in private sector or in academia.
Human resources policy
During your time as a temporary scientific employee, whether it is as a scientific assistant, fellow research assistant or post-doctoral researcher, you need to be able to do activities that qualifies you as a permanent employee. This should encompass experience with lecturing and research in a work environment that is willing to learn, and at the same time facilitates interdisciplinary work. UiO is one of the leading Nordic universities, and all three groups of temporary employees are crucial in the effort to make us even better.
What surprised me most when I became a fellow research assistant was that you must be ill for over 14 consecutive days to extend the work relationship correspondingly. It is unsustainable that many people are worried about getting ill. Self-notification should not lead to an extension of the contract period, but a sick leave should be sufficient, whether it is one or 14 days.
Scientific assistants are relatively invisible at UiO but is a group with a clear goal to succeed in academia. These are important recruitment positions that can inspire people to choose an academic career. At the same time, it frees up crucial research time for the scientific employees. Therefore, I wish to boost projects that set aside funds for scientific assistant positions have an increased chance of support (i.e. funding).
The minor subjects
The university has a social mission, and this social mission also includes safeguarding the breadth of the professional environment. This also means that we must strengthen our smallest professional environments that is struggling with visibility in media and where the social mission is less obvious. It is UiOs responsibility to make sure these disciplines become more visible in the recruitment work and that interdisciplinary work is built up in a way that benefits the minor subjects. We cannot leave it to the students’ field of interest to decide which subjects are important to have at the university.
Research freedom
The academic freedom is a prerequisite for UiO to be ahead. To strengthen this freedom, I believe one should open for more free Ph.D. positions and post.doc positions, as well as making sure the university welcomes applicants without a permanent position for NFR-funding. The politics should not, through finance, put restrictions on what is interesting and useful research. This entails that UiO must make a loud and clear position against financing studies based on the number of applicants and produced study points.
About me
I am an educated theologian, currently working towards a Ph.D. degree in church history. I worked as a vicar in The Church of Norway between 2011-2019, and I am active member of The Red Party (Rødt) as well as chairman in Norwegian Hymnological Association (NHF). During my student years I was a representative for the theological student committee (TSU) in the student parliament. I am currently representing temporary academic staff in the Faculty Board at The Faculty of Theology.