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Doctoral Research Fellowship within the "TEFLON"-project
Deadline: 07.01.2022
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.
Center for Multilingualism in Society across the Lifespan (MultiLing) is a Center of Excellence (CoE) under the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, financed through the Research Council of Norway’s CoE scheme. The center also has status as one of five world-leading research communities at the University of Oslo. MultiLing’s vision is to contribute to the knowledge on multilingualism across the lifespan for the individual and for the society. Through this the center aims to shed light on the opportunities and challenges represented by multilingualism for the individual in the family, school, other institutions, and in the society as a whole. The staff consists of 40 employees from 15 different countries. Moreover, MultiLing has an extensive network of national and international collaborative partners working on multilingualism at various research institutions.
Technology-Enhanced Foreign and Second-Language Learning of Nordic Languages (TEFLON)
Center for Multilingualism in Society across the Lifespan (MultiLing)
Job description
A Doctoral Research Fellowship (SKO 1017) is available at Center for Multilingualism in Society across the Lifespan (MultiLing) at the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies, University of Oslo.
The fellowship is part of one of MultiLing’s research projects, which is entitled Technology-Enhanced Foreign and Second-Language Learning of Nordic Languages (TEFLON). TEFLON is a NordForsk-funded multidisciplinary consortium across three Nordic countries and five universities. The project aims to build a digital language-learning game, based on automatic speech recognition technology, in Nordic languages (for an example, see www.pop2talk.com). It also aims to study the effects of the articulatory training in the game on, e.g., second language learning.
MultiLing is a Center of Excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway (2013-2023). MultiLing aims to generate scientific knowledge on multilingualism across the lifespan, related to three themes: Theme 1 Multilingual competence, Theme 2 Multilingual practices, and Theme 3 Multilingualism, ideologies and language policies.
MultiLing seeks to recruit doctoral candidates with excellent research qualifications who will work with members of the TEFLON project. The Oslo part of the project draws on MultiLing’s Theme I, in particular, and involves both senior and junior researchers. This Oslo part of the project investigates whether learning of Norwegian by immigrant children can be enhanced by the game developed in the project.
More about the position
Applicants are expected to present an independent research project proposal and articulate how the proposed project fits into the TEFLON project. We particularly welcome projects relating to the efficacy of the Norwegian game under development for L2 learning in school-children with immigrant background. We are particularly interested in the role of gaming features, feedback provided in the game, and L1 background in learning effects.
The successful candidate is expected to become part of MultiLing’s research environment and contribute to its development, and to be an active member of the TEFLON project team in Oslo. The duration of the fellowship exceeds the Center’s period of operation (ending in 2023), and the finalization of the project will take place in direct affiliation with the Department of Linguistics and Scandinavian Studies.
The person appointed will be affiliated with the Faculty's organized research training. The academic work is to result in a doctoral thesis that will be defended at the Faculty with a view to obtaining the degree of PhD. The successful candidate is expected to join the existing research milieu or network and contribute to its development. Read more about the doctoral degree.
The appointment is for a duration of 3 years, starting in April, 2021. All PhD Candidates who submit their doctoral dissertation for assessment with a written recommendation from their supervisor within 3 years or 3 ½ years after the start of their PhD position, will be offered, respectively, a 12 or 6 month Completion Grant.
Qualification requirements
- The candidate must have an MA degree or equivalent in Linguistics, Psychology, Second Language Acquisition, Language Education, Phonetics, or some other relevant discipline related to the TEFLON project (note the requirement of a minimum 2-year MA or equivalent and that the Master’s degree must have been obtained by the application deadline at the latest).
- Excellent written and spoken language skills in English, see the Language requirements
- Good knowledge of Norwegian or another Scandinavian language
In the assessment of the applications, emphasis will be placed on:
- The project’s scientific merit, research-related relevance and innovation
- Experience in related research, such as L2 acquisition, multilingual development, Norwegian phonology, speech technology, psycholinguistics, or educational interventions
- Experience in statistical data analysis methods
- The applicant’s academic and personal qualifications to organize and carry out the project within the allotted time frame
- Good cooperative skills, and the ability to successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines and within the TEFLON project
- Personal suitability and motivation for the position
We offer
How to apply
The application must include:
- Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
- Curriculum Vitae (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of publications)
- Transcript of records of your Bachelor’s and Master's degrees. Applicants with education from a foreign university must attach an explanation of their university's grading system
- Documentation of Language requirements
- Project description, including a detailed progress plan for the project (3 - 5 pages, maximum 14,000 characters. See Template for project descriptions)
Please note that all documents must be in English or a Scandinavian language.
Educational certificates, master theses and the like are not to be submitted with the application, but applicants may be asked to submit such information or works later.
The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system, jobbnorge.no.
The short-listed candidates will be called in for an interview at the University of Oslo or we will arrange for an interview on Zoom.
Formal regulations
See regulations as well as guidelines for the application assessment process and appointments to research fellowships.
Following the Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) § 25, Chapter 2, demographic information about the applicant may be used in the public list of applicants even if the applicant opts out from the entry in the public application list.
No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.
The University of Oslo has an Acquisition of Rights Agreement for the purpose of securing rights to intellectual property created by its employees, including research results.
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.
Contact information
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