The Fridtjof Nansen Institute (FNI) is a small independent research institute with around 30 researchers, alongside a steady flow of master’s students, guest researchers and PhD candidates. The institute is located at Polhøgda, just outside Oslo, in two historic buildings that once belonged to Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian polar explorer, scientist, diplomat and humanitarian. Research on the politics and governance of climate, energy, natural resources, law and geopolitics fits naturally into the broad tradition Nansen left behind.

So what is it like to be an early career researcher at FNI?

'People here are really close,' says Eivind Hjort Matthiasen. 'It’s a very friendly environment.'

Eivind has worked at FNI for five years. He recently completed his PhD on energy poverty in Norway and has now been offered a permanent position at the institute.

The same themes keep coming up when I ask what it is like to be a PhD candidate or early career researcher at FNI:

The social environment, the low barriers, and the feeling of being included.

Learning early how research works

Eivind had never heard of FNI before he started here. His master’s supervisor suggested the institute as a place that might suit him. He joined during the Covid pandemic, when most workplaces in Norway had mandatory home office policies.

'But at FNI, management decided that younger researchers should still be allowed to come into the office,' he says. 'It was considered an important work environment measure. I was here every day.'

'The people who came in became very close,' says Erdem Lamazhapov.

Erdem is finishing a PhD on China’s interests in the Arctic, while also working on projects related to Sino-Russian relations and geopolitics in the north. Together with Eivind, he is currently developing research proposals and project ideas across research groups.

'We have strong expertise both on Arctic geopolitics and Norwegian energy policy,' says Erdem. 'Now we are trying to connect those fields in new projects.'

Erdem Lamazhapov is one of FNI’s experts on the role of China and Russia in the Arctic. Photo: Bård Gudim, FNI.

Most research at FNI is externally funded, mainly through the Research Council of Norway. Researchers therefore spend time developing new project proposals and building collaborations. Several of the young researchers describe it as unusual how early they are included in this work.

'We write proposals together with senior researchers,' says Erdem.
'You learn how to develop ideas, find collaborators and build projects.'

He says younger researchers are often invited into projects outside their own PhD topics as well.

'You don’t just sit inside your own small niche. You learn how the research environment functions as a whole.'

'Can you actually make a career out of this?'

Serafima Andreeva had not heard much about FNI either before she came here.

'I knew about CICERO and NUPI, but not FNI. Then Eivind from FNI gave a guest lecture at NTNU, and he was so good. I remember thinking: 'Can you actually make a career out of this there?'

She wrote her master’s thesis in climate sociology and now researches international cooperation in the Arctic. She describes an environment where young researchers are trusted early on.

'You get to present and discuss your work at conferences, in projects and in the media. If you want to, there is a lot of room for growth here.'

But she believes it is not only about academic development.

'You learn to look beyond your own narrow field. We are encouraged to communicate our work, participate in public debate and try things we may not feel completely comfortable doing yet.'

Open doors, low hierarchy

Viviana Meixner Vásquez became connected to FNI through Research Professor Regine Andersen’s research on plant genetic resources and food systems.

'Regine supported me a lot during Covid. Having a mentor like that means a great deal.'

She highlights the close contact between junior and senior researchers as one of the most important aspects of working at FNI.

'It’s easy to knock on people’s doors here. You don’t feel like senior researchers are far away from you.'

Viviana Meixner Vásquez believes it is an advantage that people at Polhøgda learn Norwegian whether they want to or not. ‘You gain a new skill that is useful in the Norwegian job market,’ she says. Photo: Anna Valberg, FNI.

All four describe an environment with a high degree of trust and very little bureaucracy.

'People work quite differently,' says Serafima. 'Some prefer sitting quietly in the office and focusing deeply. Others like travelling, fieldwork or meeting people. Both approaches work here.'

And it is not just your own project you become part of.

'People don’t sit alone and brood in their offices here, even though everyone has their own office,' says Eivind.

There are shared lunches every day, regular seminars, project meetings, writing groups and constant conversations in the corridors. Several point to the informal atmosphere as one of the best things about FNI.

Eivind is captain of FNI’s Holmenkollen Relay team and is always the first to join if someone suggests a lunchtime swim. Photo: Bård Gudim, FNI.

'There is very little hierarchy here,' says Eivind. 'People play piano in the evenings, go swimming during lunch breaks and help each other with things outside work too.'

Lunch is usually eaten together in the old fireplace room or outside on the terrace when the weather allows. Everyone brings packed lunches.

Eivind describes an environment where people are both highly knowledgeable and very down-to-earth at the same time.

'There is an incredible amount of expertise gathered here. People are true experts in their fields. But there is also very little ego.'

A social support group

FNI also has its own PhD group for researchers who are pursuing – or planning to pursue – doctoral degrees. Erdem describes it as 'a kind of social support group'.

'We share experiences and help each other. We talk about things people may miss when they are not physically based at a university.'

When Eivind submitted his PhD earlier this year, the group spent time discussing his experiences and the different phases of the PhD journey together.

'It is important to have that kind of community,' says Erdem. 'A lot of PhD candidates feel quite isolated. Here, I think the threshold for talking honestly about how things are going is lower.'

At the same time, nobody romanticises PhD life.

'You have to be comfortable juggling several things at once,' Erdem laughs.

'And you have to learn how to say no sometimes,' adds Serafima.

Serafima Andreeva has travelled extensively in her work on international cooperation in the Arctic. Photo: Bård Gudim, FNI.

You cannot avoid Norwegian language

For international researchers, entering a Norwegian research environment also means adapting to a Norwegian-speaking workplace. Everyday working life at FNI largely takes place in Norwegian, even though academic work is conducted in English.

'You learn Norwegian whether you want to or not,' Erdem says with a laugh.

Viviana, who is from Colombia, nods.

'At universities, people often switch to English immediately. Here, you are pushed a bit more to learn Norwegian, and honestly, that is an advantage. Suddenly you realise you have written a research proposal in Norwegian. That happened to me!'

All four young researchers have now been offered permanent positions at FNI, something they point out is quite unusual in academia.

'People think a bit more long-term here,' says Viviana.

FNI does not advertise positions very often. But what would they say to someone considering applying?

'Just apply,' says Serafima. 'You have nothing to lose.'