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Research fellow in Special Needs Education
Deadline: 05.08.2020
Universitetet i Oslo
The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.
The Department of Special Needs Education is one of the three departments at UiO's Faculty of Educational Sciences.The department has today approximately 25 permanent employees that work with research, 14 temporary research fellows and postdoctoral fellows, in addition to 12 administrative employees. The department has approximately 800 students distributed between bachelor- and master’s degree studies in Special Needs Education, master’s degree studies in Special Needs Education, as well as PhD-studies.
Job description
Applications are invited for a 3 – 4 year position in a Research Fellowship as PhD Candidate in Special Needs Education to be based at the Department of Special Needs Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo.
The position is financed in part by the Norwegian Research Council through FINNUT project 301519 “BetterReading: Understanding gains in reading fluency”. This project concerns the creation, application and study of a reading fluency intervention in Norwegian schools. The project will study the effects of a fluency intervention in order to better understand the development of reading fluency. The project plan involves (a) creating and validating a wide battery of experimental assessments, ranging from traditional psychoeducational tests to novel metrics based on eye tracking, (b) creating and administering an effective fluency intervention in a randomized controlled trial design, and (c) evaluating the effects of intervention and contributing to theory development regarding reading fluency. The successful applicant will be part of the project research team and will assume responsibilities in carrying out and managing parts of the project in accordance with the approved plan.
The research will be conducted within the research group Literacy and Numeracy in Context (LiNCon) and in association with Oslo SpesialPedagogikk- og LæringsLab (SPeLL) at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo.
More about the position
The fellowship period is from 3 to 4 years. With a 4-year employment, the position will entail a compulsory work load of 25% that consists of teaching and supervision duties and research assistance. The research fellow is expected to join the teaching team for the learning disabilities track in the master’s programme and contribute to course activities and assignments such as lectures, practical training, seminars, exam grading etc. With a 3-year employment, all time will be devoted to research education.
The research fellow will assume responsibilities within the BetterReading project, including any or all of the following:
- Creation, testing, and validation of assessment tests and intervention materials
- Collaboration with school administration and teachers
- Training and supervision of assistants administering the intervention
- Experimental design, testing, and administration of behavioral and eye tracking measures
- Quantitative data processing and statistical analysis
The research fellow must take part in the Faculty’s approved PhD program and is expected to complete the doctoral project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. The research fellow is expected to write a doctoral dissertation using data from the BetterReading project, focusing on some aspect of reading fluency development, assessment, or intervention.
Qualification requirements
- Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or an equivalent qualification in Psychology, Education, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, Special Education, or related field, with minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS
- Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and Norwegian
- Strong interest in the study of reading skill and knowledge beyond the basics in at least some of the following domains: cognitive psychology, reading psychology, reading development, reading intervention, reading skills assessment
- Experience in working with children and/or within educational settings (schools, PPT)
- Experience in quantitative data processing and statistical analysis
In addition, evidence for any of the following will be an advantage in the assessment of applicants:
- Experience in creating, administering, scoring, and interpreting psychoeducational assessment tests
- Experience in creating, administering, supervising, and evaluating special education interventions
- Experience with experimental methods of cognitive science such as eye tracking
- Experience with data handling and GDPR
- Ability to collaborate and to form part of a cross-disciplinary academic community
We offer
- Salary NOK 479 600 – 523 200 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow (position code 1017). Research fellows are normally allocated pay grade 54, NOK 479 600, on appointment
- Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement, in addition to Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities
How to apply
The application must include
- A cover letter with statement of motivation and research interests, clearly addressing the aforementioned required and desirable qualities and skills
- A project description, including progress plan (8–10 pages, see guidance) within the context of BetterReading
- Completed application form for admission to the Faculty’s doctoral degree Programme (please see our website)
- CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
- Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
- Documentation of English proficiency
- A complete list of publications and academic works
- List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)
The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, please follow the link: “Apply for this job”. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.
When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the academic qualifications and experience, the project description, and the applicant’s motivation and personal suitability to carry out the project. Applicants may be called in for an interview.
Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the supervisor (Prof. Protopapas) to obtain more information about the BetterReading project and to discuss possible doctoral project plans and objectives.
Formal regulations
Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.
The appointment may be shortened/given a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on account of any previous employment in academic positions.
The University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.
Contact information
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