UiBdoc Board Election 2027

Shape the Community. Create the Experience. Be Part of UiBdoc.

Every year, UiBdoc brings together PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and other temporary scientific staff from across the University of Bergen. The UiBdoc Board is the group that turns this community into action — organising events, creating opportunities for connection, representing researchers, communicating with UiB leadership, and developing initiatives that make life beyond research more engaging and connected.

Being part of the UiBdoc Board is not only about meetings and administration. It is an opportunity to shape the kind of community you want to be part of. Board members have considerable freedom to propose and develop new ideas, organise activities, experiment with different formats, and bring their own interests and creativity into UiBdoc.

From social events and outdoor activities to professional development, career initiatives, networking and community-building, the board decides together what UiBdoc should do and where its efforts should go.

If you enjoy bringing people together, organising activities, taking responsibility, creating new ideas, or simply want to contribute to a stronger research community at UiB, we encourage you to consider standing for the UiBdoc Board 2027.

Who Can Join the UiBdoc Board?

UiBdoc welcomes applications from researchers across the University of Bergen.

The basic expectations for board membership are:

You have an active affiliation/contract with the University of Bergen.
Ideally, your contract should have more than 12 months remaining, allowing you to contribute throughout the board's term.
You belong to the UiBdoc community of PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, researchers, or other eligible temporary scientific staff at UiB.
You are physically based in Bergen and able to participate in board activities and meetings.
You are willing to contribute actively to the work of the board and the UiBdoc community.

Diversity is strongly encouraged

UiBdoc is a community that spans the entire University of Bergen. We therefore highly value a heterogeneous board representing different faculties, departments, backgrounds, experiences, and genders.

You do not need to be Norwegian or have an international background to join the board. Both international and Norwegian/local researchers are equally welcome and encouraged to contribute.

In particular, we encourage researchers with local knowledge, networks, and connections in Bergen and Norway to consider joining. Local perspectives can be extremely valuable in helping UiBdoc build stronger connections with the city, local organisations, Norwegian society, and the wider UiB community.

At the same time, international perspectives are an equally important part of UiB's research community. The strength of UiBdoc comes from bringing these perspectives together.

Why Join the UiBdoc Board?

It is genuinely fun

Being a board member should not feel like another academic obligation.

You get to help decide what UiBdoc does, what events to organise, and what kind of experiences we create for our members. If you have an idea for an activity, you can bring it to the board and help make it happen.

Whether that means hiking, bowling, kayaking, Dancing, cultural activities, games, professional events, networking, career initiatives, or something completely new — the board has the freedom to be creative.

Bring your ideas to life

The board is not restricted to repeating activities from previous years. Every new board has the opportunity to introduce new ideas, experiment with different approaches and shape UiBdoc according to the needs of its members.

Finance should not stop a good idea

UiBdoc has funds available to support its activities. While responsible financial management is important, lack of personal funding should generally not be a barrier to proposing a good UiBdoc initiative.

The board discusses activities, budgets and priorities together and works within the available resources.

Build your network

Being on the board allows you to interact with researchers from different faculties and departments, UiB leadership, external organisations and other researcher organisations.

It can also be a valuable way to develop practical experience in leadership, communication, event management, budgeting, teamwork, networking and organisational work.

Represent your research community

UiBdoc is also a voice for PhD candidates, postdocs and other temporary scientific staff.

Board members have the opportunity to bring issues and ideas from their communities to the wider UiBdoc organisation and, where appropriate, into conversations with UiB leadership and other stakeholders.

A detailed overview of roles and responsibilities for the board and various positions can be found.Here

A Few Things to Consider Before Applying

Your contract duration matters

We strongly recommend that applicants have more than 12 months remaining on their UiB affiliation/contract, ideally extending beyond the end of the 2027 board term.

The reason is simple: UiBdoc benefits most when board members can participate throughout the year and help carry initiatives from planning to completion.

Final-year PhD candidates

Researchers in the final stage of their PhD are not excluded from applying and will receive equal consideration.

However, we generally recommend considering the time commitment carefully. The final year of a PhD can become particularly demanding due to thesis writing, publications, dissemination activities, conferences, job applications and the transition to the next career stage.

If you believe you can still contribute meaningfully to UiBdoc alongside these commitments, you are absolutely welcome to apply.

You don't have to be international

UiBdoc is not an organisation exclusively for international researchers.

Norway and Bergen are an important part of our community, and we strongly encourage Norwegian and Bergen-based researchers to take an active role in the board.

Having members with local connections and knowledge can help UiBdoc build stronger relationships with the local community and create activities that reflect both Norwegian and international perspectives.

Previous leadership experience is welcome

If you have previously served on a student organisation, professional organisation, association, committee, public body, volunteer organisation or another board, we would be very interested in your experience.

However, previous board experience is not a requirement.

You do not need to have been a leader before to become a UiBdoc board member.

If you have enthusiasm, ideas, reliability and a willingness to contribute, you can make a meaningful difference.

Fill the form here to be a prospective candidate for UiBdoc Board 2027.

What We Are Looking For

We are not looking for five identical people.
We are looking for a team.

Note: By filling this form you're applying to be a prospective candidate for a position in UiBdoc board 2027, and it doesn't guarantee you the position in the 2027 board. The applicants will receive a formal meeting where the next board members will be chosen with public consensus.