About the position

Inland School of Business and Social Sciences, The PhD programme Innovation in Services in the Public and
Private Sectors (INSEPP), invites candidates to apply for a 3-year PhD research fellowship, to work with the
broad field of innovation studies with particular focus on neurodivergence in the workplace and innovation.
Depending on the department’s needs, and the candidate‘s competence and preferences, the position may be
transformed into a four-year position with 25% teaching duties.

The purpose of the PhD research fellowship for the admitted candidate is to undergo a research training
programme that leads to the successful completion of a doctoral degree. Admission to the PhD programme is a
prerequisite for employment. The candidate is expected to participate actively in INSEPP’s activities. After
commencement, the candidate must apply for admission to the PhD programme within three months. An
agreement for admission to the PhD programme must be in place within six months after commencement.

The candidate will be part of the Department of Organisation, Leadership and Management and the People and
Organization research group (P&O) and OASIS (Organisasjon, arbeid og socialpsykologi i samfunnet) research
group. In addition to INSEPP, these environments represent a valuable resource for PhD studies.

The workplace is Campus Lillehammer.

Contact information:
Professor Annette Risberg, phone number: +47 62 43 04 28, e-mail: annette.risberg@inn.no 
Head of PhD programme Marit Engen, phone number: +47 61 28 81 07, e-mail: marit.engen@inn.no 

About the project

The PhD candidate will independently drive the project as part of a research environment working on inclusion,
equality, and diversity. The main supervisor conducts research on neurodiversity in the workplace. The second
supervisor conducts research on diversity and inclusion and has expertise in research methods. The third
supervisor conducts research on organizational psychology and innovation.

Project Background
Neurodivergent diagnoses — including autism, ADHD, and dyslexia — are increasing among both children and
adults. At the same time, neurodivergent individuals face high unemployment rates, limited career
opportunities, and persistent workplace discrimination. While neurodivergence has received growing attention
in discussions of innovation and organizational competitiveness, workplace practices often remain grounded in
neuronormative assumptions that privilege neurotypical ways of thinking and working. Research indicates that
such assumptions are embedded in organizational and HR systems through misrecognition, superficial inclusion
efforts, and unreflective routines, which may obscure or undervalue neurodivergent contributions.
Drawing on diversity and inclusion research and innovation theory — particularly process-based and socioorganizational
approaches — the project examines how neurodivergent cognitive profiles interact with
organizational structures and practices to shape innovation processes across different stages, and under what
conditions such contributions are enabled or constrained.

Project Overview
The project investigates how neurodivergent cognitive profiles influence innovation in organizational and
entrepreneurial contexts. Neurodivergence is understood as a form of cognitive variation, where implications
for innovation depend on organizational context, practices, and evaluative criteria. The project will examine
how characteristics associated with neurodivergent cognition — such as sustained attention, associative
thinking, pattern recognition, and tolerance for ambiguity — relate to different stages of the innovation process, including idea generation, development, and implementation.
The project combines an individual-level focus on cognitive characteristics with an organizational-level analysis
of how structures, cultures, and practices shape whether and how these characteristics become relevant for
innovation, with particular relevance for knowledge-intensive and professional service contexts.

Societal Relevance
The project addresses challenges related to labor market inclusion and social sustainability. Despite an
estimated unemployment rate of around 40% among autistic adults, limited knowledge exists about how
organizational conditions shape opportunities for participation and contribution. By applying a neurodiversity
perspective, the project focuses on the interaction between individual characteristics and organizational
environments. This includes how organizational design, work practices, and evaluative systems may create or
reduce barriers to participation, and how inclusion may involve changes at both the individual and
organizational level.

Qualifications

The appointed candidate must qualify for admission to the university’s PhD programme Innovation in Services
in the Public and Private Sectors (INSEPP).

You must have the following qualifications:

• A master’s degree or equivalent education in Organization, Leadership and Management studies,
  Organizational psychology or psychology are relevant to the position. Innovation studies are meriting.
• The master’s degree must normally constitute 120 ECTS credits, including a master’s thesis of at least 30
  ECTS credits.
• The grade of the master’s thesis must be B or better.
  o Candidates must have submitted their master’s thesis and received a grade of B or better by the
  application deadline.
  o Temporary transcripts of records and the master thesis must be included as part of the
  application.
  o The final diploma for the master’s degree must be available by the time of employment.
• The master’s degree must be composed of 120 ECTS (or equivalent research experience), including a
  master’s thesis of at least 30 ECTS, cf. NOKUT’s requirements for admission to PhD education and INN’s
  PhD regulations.
• A strong academic background from your previous studies. The average grade should normally be B or
  better from the master’s program or equivalent education.

If you have an education from abroad, please attach documentation of recognition of foreign higher education
from the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. If the requested documentation is not possible
to obtain within the application deadline, an equivalent assessment can be made by INN University in
connection with the recruitment process.

Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the applicant’s:

• Academic and personal qualifications to complete doctoral education within the employment period.
• Ability to work independently and purposefully, as well as to collaborate on research, publishing, and
  teaching tasks.
• Being structured and having a high work capacity.
• Demonstrating solid theoretical insight and interest.

Language:

• Good proficiency in English, both oral and written. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must
  document their English proficiency in accordance with the Supplementary Regulations for Admission to
  the PhD Programme at INN University.
• Good oral and written proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language with a minimum of B2
  competence is required because fieldwork will take place in Norwegian or other Scandinavian based
  organizations.
• There may be teaching opportunities in English as well as Norwegian.

In the evaluation and ranking of qualified applicants, emphasis will be placed on:

• The quality of the project proposal.
• Documented independent research and development work or experience relevant to the project.

It is mandatory to attach a project proposal of 2000 words (see the section on “How to Apply” below).

Evaluation of candidates for the position will be based on a total assessment of educational background, experience and personal suitability, as well as motivation and other eligibility requirements, as defined in the advertisement. 

The position and associated tasks must be carried out in accordance with the applicable laws and regulations for government employees, including also the Act on Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology, etc. Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, come into conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to take up the position at University of Inland Norway. Necessary approvals must be maintained throughout the employment relationship.

We offer

• An academically stimulating and supportive work environment at a developing institution.
• Possibility of professional development in an exciting academic research environment.
• The position is remunerated according to position code 1017 (PhD candidate) in the state’s wage regulations.
• Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension, with among other things, good pension and
  insurance schemes.

For more information about INN University as an employer, please see here.

How to apply

Relevant applications will be considered by an expert committee. The application and all attachments are to be
submitted electronically and should include the following:

• The applicant must submit a project proposal with a progress plan (in Norwegian or English, 2000 words)
  that explains how the research work will be carried out and addresses academic relevance, challenges
  and possibilities within the project. The proposal must be developed in line with the project description
  outlined above. The project proposal should also outline the theories and methods intended to be used.
  The project proposal plays an important role in evaluating applicants and must demonstrate how the
  project will lead to the successful completion of a doctoral degree within three/four years. The PhD
  research fellow hired will, in collaboration with a supervisor, prepare a complete project proposal that
  will form the basis for admission to the PhD programme.
• Application letter with a brief overview of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying
  for the position.
• CV (summarizing education, positions, and academic work)
• Certified copies of transcripts and diplomas. An English translation of all education documents is required
  unless the documents are in Norwegian.
• Other work that is relevant for the application
• Names and contact information of at least two references.
• A copy of the master’s thesis (in PDF)

Attachments must be uploaded as separate files. If the attachments exceed 30 MB, they must be compressed prior to upload. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all attachments are uploaded. Documents submitted after expiry of the deadline will not be considered in the evaluation of your application.

General information

INN believes that there is strength in inclusion and diversity. We desire employees with different competencies, professional combinations, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to an even better way of solving problems. We will facilitate for employees who need assitance to realise their goals. Relevant adaptations can be, for example, technical aids, adapting furniture or adjusting routines, work tasks and working hours.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in the CV or immigrant background, we shall call at least one applicant in each of these categories for an interview. In order to be considered as an applicant in these groups, the applicants must meet certain requirements. You can read more on this here: https://arbeidsgiver.difi.no/positivsaerbehandling.

We encourage applicants to tick in Jobbnorge if they have a disability, a gap in their CV or immigrant background. The ticks in the jobseeker portal form the basis for anonymised statistics that all state-owned enterprises report in their annual reports

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.