Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Mathematics Education
Deadline: 05.01.2022
University of Agder
The University of Agder has more than 1500 employees and almost 14 000 students. This makes us one of the largest workplaces in Southern Norway. Our staff research, teach and disseminate knowledge from a variety of academic fields. Co-creation of knowledge is our common vision. We offer a broad range of study programmes in many fields. We are situated at two modern campuses in Kristiansand and Grimstad respectively.
We are an open and inclusive university marked by a culture of cooperation. The aim of the university is to further develop education and research at a high international level.
About the position
A fixed-term 100 % position is available at the University of Agder, Faculty of Engineering and Science as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in Mathematics Education, affiliated to the Department of Mathematical Sciences, for a period of two years. The position is located, at the present, at Campus Kristiansand. The starting date is negotiable with the faculty. This position is ideally suited for an early career researcher who wants to establish a firm and broad base for further research and scholarly activity in mathematics education.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers bachelor’s and master’s programmes in mathematics, and a master's programme and PhD in mathematics education. The department contributes significantly to the University’s teacher education programme.
The department has a large and active research group in mathematics education, MERGA with about 20 fellows on its PhD programme. The research group MERGA was rated very high in a national survey of educational research conducted by The Research Council of Norway in 2017, and was in 2018 recognised as one of six Priority Research Centres at the University of Agder. The person appointed will join this research group. The group pursues a variety of research interests focusing especially on six main strands:
Teaching and learning mathematics in kindergarten and first years of schooling
Mathematics teaching and learning in school
Mathematics teaching and learning in teacher education and professional development
Teaching and learning mathematics in higher education
Emergent technologies in teaching and learning
Mathematics in non-mathematical practices
The mathematics education research group has substantial and on-going experience of leading and contributing to large research projects funded by The EU, The Research Council of Norway, Nordforsk, the Competence Development Fund of Southern Norway, and others. The Department has hosted the Nordic Graduate School in Mathematics Education and contributes actively to the Nordic mathematics education community.
Responsibilities
The principal task for the Post-doctoral research fellow is to undertake original research that contributes to the goals of the Mathematics Education Research Group (MERGA). Candidates are strongly advised to examine the areas of the research group’s interest (see the bullet points above and available at the above link to the website of the Mathematics Education Research Group), and researchers’ profiles, which are available at the University of Agder’s home page. Further, candidates are advised to make contact with one of the named researchers, to seek advice on the focus of the research to be proposed.
Required qualifications
The candidate must hold a cand. scient. or master’s degree in Mathematics or Mathematics Education or other field with corresponding mathematics content.
Applicants must be in possession of a doctorate in the field of mathematics education, and it is desirable that the applicant has defended his/her doctoral thesis within the last five years. Consideration will also be given to applications from those who can document delivered PhD-thesis for evaluation.
Applicants with a PhD in mathematics or mathematical science together with substantial recent and relevant research publications in mathematics education will also be considered for the position.
The successful applicant must have written and spoken English proficiency.
A sound publication record post-PhD will be considered an advantage. Applicants will be assessed on the basis of academic background and results, attainment, and any previous research and development work. Emphasis will be placed upon the project description and the relevance it has with regard to the subject areas of the research group MERGA.
The working language at the University of Agder is Norwegian. Knowledge of Norwegian or other Scandinavian language will be an advantage. Applicants should be fluent in English and, it is desirable, one other major European language (e.g. German, French, Italian, Spanish).
Personal qualities
Personal qualities and good teamwork skills will be emphasized in the evaluation as well as relevant practical experience.
The Post-Doctoral Research Fellow will be expected to contribute to an active research community. The position places great demands on the applicant’s capacity for independent goal-oriented work, ability to concentrate and attention to detail. It may be pertinent for the candidate to stay at an external institution or with a national or international partner for part of the period of employment.
We offer
professional development in a large, exciting and socially influential organisation
a positive, inclusive and diverse working environment
modern facilities and a comprehensive set of welfare offers
The position is remunerated according to the State Salary Scale, salary plan 17.510, code 1352 Post-doctoral Research Fellow, NOK 553 500 – 574 700 gross salary per year. Higher salary grades may be considered for particularly well-qualified applicants. A compulsory pension contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the pay according to current statutory provisions.
General information
UiA is an open and inclusive university. We believe that diversity enriches the workplace and makes us better. We, therefore, encourage qualified candidates to apply for the position independent of gender, age, cultural background, disability or an incomplete CV.
The successful applicant will have rights and obligations in accordance with the current regulations for the position, and organisational changes and changes in the duties and responsibilities of the position must be expected. Appointment is made by the University of Agder’s Appointments Committee for Teaching and Research Positions.
Short-listed applicants will be invited for interview. With the applicant’s permission, UiA will also conduct a reference check before appointment. Read more about the employment process.
In accordance with the Freedom of Information Act § 25 (2), applicants may request that they are not identified in the open list of applicants. The University, however, reserves the right to publish the names of applicants. Applicants will be advised of the University’s intention to exercise this right.
Application
The application and any necessary information about education and experience (including diplomas and certificates) are to be sent electronically. Use the link "Apply for this job".
The following documentation must be uploaded electronically:
Certificates with grades for all post-secondary education, up to and including the bachelor's level
Master's degree/higher degree certificate with grades, with a summary of the courses/subjects included in the degree
Doctoral degree certificate, with a summary of any courses that may have been taken as part of the degree
Applicants with a foreign higher education must attach an official description of the grading system used at the issuing institution
Abstract (approximately 1-2 pages – in English) of the doctoral dissertation
Summary and links to the applicant's scientific publications including doctoral dissertation
A proposal for the Post-doctoral research of not more than 5000 words is required. This must provide a brief description of research to be pursued and publication intentions. The proposal will form an important part in the process of evaluating candidates for the position, and it should be evident how it relates to one or several of the six main strands of MERGA
Any other relevant documentation
The application is expected to include an outline of the applicant’s research interests and background for the proposed project, and especially for recently qualified PhDs, how the post-doctoral position will build on and extend their doctoral research.
The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete digital documentation before the closing date. All documentation must be in the original language and in English, Norwegian, Swedish, or Danish (if the original language is not one of these), and the translation should preferably be from the issuing university. Additional documentation must be in English, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish.
Original documents must be presented for verification to the University of Agder together with the copies by the appointed Post-doctoral research fellow upon arrival at UiA. Successful candidates will be asked, normally during the interview, to ensure that the issuing university submits documents in a sealed envelope directly to UiA or provide that their documents are accessed online, which allows UiA to verify the authenticity of these electronic documents via a secure website hosted at the issuing university (contact person at UiA will be provided later for certain candidates). The applicant is fully responsible for submitting complete documentation.
Application deadline: 05.01.2022
Contact
For questions about the position:
Head of Department Ingvald Erfjord, tel.: +47 38 14 15 47, e-mail: ingvald.erfjord@uia.no
