Professor / Associate Professor in the subject area of neurodevelopmental disorders

Professor/Associate Professor in the subject area of neurodevelopmental disorders with relevance for Special Needs Education

About the position

A permanent position as Professor (position code/SKO 1013) or Associate Professor (position code/SKO 1011) is available at the Department of Special Needs Education.

The Department of Special Needs Education at the University of Oslo is one of three departments at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, University in Oslo. The department focuses on basic and applied research and education of bachelor-, master- and doctoral level candidates within the field of special needs education in Norway.

The position aims to strengthen the department’s research and teaching in the field of neurodevelopmental disorders within the field of special needs education, with a particular focus on intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and/or ADHD. Relevant areas of expertise are learning and development, social functioning, interventions, communication, participation, quality of life, adaptive skills, aetiology and comorbid disorders, as well as a cultural and life-span perspective.

Currently, the department offers a Bachelor’s degree in special needs education and five special needs education majors (Speech and language therapy; Hearing, language and communication; Specific learning difficulties; Psycho-social difficulties and Intellectual disabilities) at the Master’s level, in addition to an international Master’s program (Master in Special Needs Education). The department also offers a PhD program in Special Needs Education.

Job description

The successful candidate is expected to teach, initiate and lead research projects, supervise bachelor-, master- and PhD candidates, and participate in examination work at all levels. The teaching will cover a broad spectrum of topics related to learning and development in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders in a lifespan perspective.

The department’s lab, Oslo Special Education and Learning Lab (Oslo SpELL) offers an excellent opportunity to incorporate research, innovation and student activities into a clinical context.

It is expected that the successful candidate will participate in relevant research groups at the faculty and carry out administrative duties in accordance with the needs of the Department of Special Needs Education. The position involves 47 % teaching, 47 % research, and 6 % administration.

The main duties of the position are:

• Promotion of the subject area through research, publication of academic work (nationally and internationally), and participation in national and international networks
• Participation in teaching, planning and development of study programs, supervision and examinations, as well as related tasks at any program level
• Active participation in attracting research funding from external sources
• Research dissemination targeted at both professionals and the general public
• Administrative tasks

Qualification requirements

For Associate Professor:

• Doctoral degree or equivalent qualifications within the field of neurodevelopmental disorder with relevance to special needs education
• Documented basic university pedagogical competence. This requirement may be waived in special cases, but must then be met within two years of appointment. Rules for practicing the requirement for basic university competence at UiO and a guide for applicants can be found on this web page.
• Documentation of qualifications in dissemination, management and administration will count positively.
• Good communication skills both written and oral in English and Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language) are a prerequisite for performing all the tasks associated with the position. Applicants who do not master a Scandinavian language at the time of appointment are given a deadline of two years to learn Norwegian.

For Professor:

• Substantial academic production in excess of that which is required for a doctoral degree within the subject area of neurodevelopmental disorder with relevance to special needs education
• Prolonged research activity with an independent research profile
• Documented basic university pedagogical competence. Rules for practicing the requirement for basic university competence at UiO and a guide for applicants can be found on this web page.
• Broad experience in the development and implementation of teaching, supervision and work with educational quality
• Good qualifications in dissemination and/or management and administration
• Good communication skills both written and oral in English and Norwegian (or another Scandinavian language) are a prerequisite for performing all the tasks associated with the position. Applicants who do not master a Scandinavian language at the time of appointment are given a deadline of two years to learn Norwegian.

Personal qualities

Emphasis will also be placed on the applicant’s experience and ability to attract research funding from external sources. In the ranking of competent applicants, the whole range of qualifications will be considered, including the applicant’s ability to communicate and personal suitability.

We offer

• Salary from NOK 626 100 to NOK 715 900 depending on qualifications, in the position of Associate Professor (position code 1011)
• Salary from NOK 734 400 to NOK 948 900 depending on competencies, in the position of Professor (position code 1013)
• Good pension schemes
• Goodwelfare benefits
• The Associate Professor will have the opportunity to apply for promotion to a position as Professor at a later date

How to apply

The application must include:

• Application letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• CV
• Complete list of publications
• Educational portfolio of 3-6 pages documenting educational competence and experience, including a reflection note in which your own practice and learning vision is anchored in the SoTL criteria (focus on student learning, development over time, a research approach and a collegial attitude and practice. For guidance, see this page)
• Description of qualifications in dissemination, management and administration
• Applicants for position as professor are requested to submit up to 15 academic works with a brief account of their scientific significance and, in case of co-authorship, a description of the applicants’ contribution to each publication
• Applicants for position as associate professor are requested to submit up to 10 academic works with a brief account of their scientific significance and, in case of co-authorship, a description of the applicants’ contribution to each publication
• Diplomas
• References: a list of 2-3 persons with name, title, email and phone number

Application with attachments must be submitted via our online recruitment system. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Interviews and trial lecture will form part of the appointment process. The entire breadth of qualifications will be assessed in ranking competent applicants.

Formal regulations

Please refer to the Rules for Appointments to Professorships and Associate Professorships at the University of Oslo, the Guide for Applicants and Members of the Assessment Committee and Rules for practicing the requirement for basic pedagogical competence at the University of Oslo.

Please also see Guidance memo concerning employment and promotion of professors at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, UiO.

Pursuant to section 25(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, information concerning the applicant may be made public, even if the applicant has requested not to appear on the list of applicants.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. We also want to have employees with diverse expertise, combinations of subjects, life experience and perspectives. We will make adjustments for employees who require this.

If there are qualified applicants with special needs, gaps in their CVs or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant in each of these groups to an interview. Applicants who indicate that they have disabilities or gaps in their CV are made aware that this information may be used for statistical purposes.

Contact information

• Professor Ona Bø Wie, Head of Department
• Associate Professor Kristine Stadskleiv, Head of studies

Apply for position