Applications are invited for a three-year full-time position as a PhD Research Fellow within the research project: The Impact of Technological Transformations on the Digital Generation (DigiGen). The project is funded through the EU Horizon 2020 program and is coordinated by the Faculty of Education and International Studies (LUI), Oslo Metropolitan University. The interdisciplinary project team includes researchers from a total of nine European countries. The start date for the position is 1 January 2020. The announced position will be placed in the Department of Early Childhood Education located centrally in Oslo at Pilestredet.

OsloMet

OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University is one of Norway’s largest universities, with more than 20,000 students and 2,000 employees. OsloMet delivers knowledge to solve societal challenges, in close cooperation with the society and employers. OsloMet is an urban and diverse university with a clear international profile, and an attractive place to work and study with campuses in Oslo city center and at Kjeller in the Municipality of Lillestrøm. Our location in the metropolitan area gives us good opportunities to understand and benefit from the city’s diverse population.

The Faculty of Education and International Studies (LUI) has approximately 550 employees and 7000 students and is located in Oslo and Akershus. The Faculty is comprised of four departments as well as the National Centre of Multicultural Education (NAFO).The Faculty educates tomorrow’s teachers from kindergarten through upper secondary school, in close cooperation with the field of practical training.

The Faculty offers a PhD in Education. In addition, the Faculty offers development studies and studies in sign language and interpreting. Diversity is a core value for the Faculty and its activities. The Faculty’s research and development focuses on practical training and is both profession-oriented and internationally oriented.

The Department of Early Childhood Education has several strong research communities that contribute to research-based knowledge with relevance for the challenges faced by society in the field of early childhood education. The Department’s study programmes are developed in close cooperation with the field of practical training, and through research and innovation projects. The Department offers several bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree in early childhood education, as well as continuing and further education.

The DigiGen project will generate new knowledge about how children and young people use and are affected by the technological transformations in their everyday lives. This will include a focus on educational institutions, the home, leisure time and children and young people’s civic participation. The project aims to achieve this by explaining the conditions under which harmful versus beneficial effects of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) use by children and young people occur in order to develop effective social, educational, health and online safety policies and practices. This will be achieved through the use of participatory methodologies that focus on understanding why and how some children and young people benefit from ICT use while others seem to be impacted negatively. We are looking for highly motivated candidates who take an interest in developing research competencies focusing on:

• how the everyday lives of young children (ages 5-6) and their families are shaped by technological transformations, and
• how leaders in ECEC institutions may contribute to the development of children’s early digital learning in an increasingly digitalized society.

Seminar:

A seminar will be held for applicants October 15th at 15:30, Pilestredet, Oslo. To register, contact Dawn Heskestad dawncar@oslomet.no by October 10th.

Read more about the faculty and the department here.

Applicants must write a project description (see details here) for a PhD project, which must include a description of the research question, relevance, theoretical and methodological approaches, and, a schedule for the research fellowship period, including any stays abroad. During the work with developing the project description, you are encouraged to contact the contact persons listed for more information.

Appointment to a research fellowship is conditional on admission to the PhD programme in Educational Sciences for Teacher Education at the Faculty of Education and International Studies (LUI) at Oslo Metropolitan University. Read more here. Applications for admission must be approved and an agreement signed no later than three months after the research fellow takes up the position. Relevant candidates will be informed about the application process and deadlines. The person appointed is expected to complete the programme within the nominal length of study.

Qualification requirements:

• A completed master's degree/second degree (corresponding to 120 credits) with a letter grade of B or better and an academic background in relevant education, teacher education, other teaching qualifications, educational sciences or development studies.
• Good written and verbal presentation skills in a Scandinavian language, and in addition show sound oral and written communication skills in English.

In the assessment and ranking of qualified applicants, emphasis will be placed on:

• The scientific quality and relevance of the project proposal (cf. description above)
• The applicants’ academic and personal qualifications for completing the research training program
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position, including good capacity to collaborate and take part in an international interdisciplinary project team
• Capacity to engage in interactive field work among diverse groups (with children, in families and ECEC institutions)
• Whether the project can be completed within the nominal length of study
• Ability to work independently, methodically and purposefully
• Motivation for the position

It is important to Oslo Metropolitan University to reflect the population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavours to further develop Oslo Metropolitan University as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. You are also welcome to apply for a position with us if you have experienced periods where you have not been in work, education or training.

Application process

Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The following documents must be uploaded by the application deadline:

• An application letter with information containing the applicant's background and motivation
• A project description (8-10 pages), including the research question(s) the applicant would be interested in investigating within the wider DigiGen project, a review of literature relevant for these questions, an outline of analytical framework and methodology as well as a progress plan.
• A schedule for completion, including any stays abroad
• CV
• Copies of diplomas and references. Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts of grades must include the ECTS grades (A–F). Foreign diplomas must be translated into English by the degree-conferring institution. Education taken abroad should preferably be recognised in advance, and a certified copy of the letter of recognition should be enclosed.
• Master's degree/second degree thesis
• List of publications, if relevant
• Any scholarly work that the applicant wishes the expert committee to take into consideration

The documents must be in either English or a Scandinavian language, and any translations must be government authorised. Originals must be presented if you are invited for an interview, and Oslo Metropolitan University checks documents in order to give candidates proper and fair evaluation.

Incomplete applications will not be taken into account or assessed. Before the application documents are forwarded to the expert committee, all the applications will be reviewed by the faculty. Applications from non-qualified applicants will not be forwarded for assessment.

We offer:

• The opportunity to specialise in an exciting academic field with an important social mission
• The opportunity to become a part of an international academic and research environment with a high level of expertise
• An active an inclusive workplace with a wide range of sports and cultural activities available
• Good welfare arrangements
• Good pension arrangements with the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund

Further information:

For more information about the projects, please contact:

• Project coordinator Halla B. Holmarsdottir, tel. (+47) 67 23 72 36, hallab@oslomet.no

If you have questions about admission to the PhD programme, please contact

• Senior Adviser Monica Roland, tel. (+47) 67 23 88 82, email monicaro@oslomet.no

The salary for the position is in accordance with the pay scale for state employees, position code 1017, with an annual salary of NOK 479 600,-. A statutory contribution of 2 per cent to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

Research fellows at LUI are currently awarded operating funds in the amount of NOK 25,000 to fund their PhD project (annually for three years). In addition, research fellows can get funding for certain activities from relevant research groups.

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, you can be included on the public list of applicants even if you have asked that your application be treated confidentially. In such cases, you will be notified before the information is made public. Oslo Metropolitan University uses an electronic recruitment system. If you wish to apply for the position, please register your application and CV by clicking the button.

OsloMet has implemented the Charter & Code and is certified to use the HR Excellence in Research (HRS4R) logo by the European Commission.

OsloMet is a member of the EU Researchers in Motion network Euraxess.

Reference number: 19/09062

Last application date0: 6.Nov.2019

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