Job description

Applications are invited for a 3 year position in a Research Fellowship as a PhD Candidate with the research project “STarting AGe and Extramural English: Learning English in and outside of school in Norway and Flanders” (STAGE) to be based at the Department of Teacher Education and School Research, University of Oslo. The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway (2021–2025).

The position is a fulltime position for a period of 3 years devoted to research education. The research fellow must take part in the Faculty of Educational Sciences' approved PhD program and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. We refer to the guidelines concerning appointment to PhD posts at the University of Oslo.

It is expected that the applicant is affiliated with the research group Studies of Instruction across Subjects and Competences (SISCO).

We invite interested applicants to a meeting on 8 November, 2021, at the University of Oslo. Interested applicants who for some reason cannot attend physically will have the opportunity to attend digitally. In the meeting, further information will be given about the STAGE project, the data collection, the methods of analysis used in the project, and the application process. Please register your participation HERE.

More about the position

STAGE aims to advance our understanding of the relation between language input and language acquisition. The project will investigate the relative contribution of formal instruction and Extramural English (‘English outside the walls of the classroom’) to English proficiency among learners of English as an additional language (L2). STAGE will collect large-scale data (surveys and written English tests) and small-scale data (interviews and oral English tests) from students in grades 1, 6 and 10 in Norway and in Flanders, Belgium. The STAGE research team comprises researchers from the University of Oslo, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, KU Leuven, Karlstad University, Lund University, and Linnæus University. For more information about the STAGE project, see the project page.

We are looking for candidates who are interested in different theoretical approaches, frameworks, and methodologies. The candidate will carry out a research project as part of the larger STAGE project, led by researcher Pia Sundqvist. In line with the guidelines from the Faculty of Educational Sciences, candidates for this position as PhD research fellow are asked to submit a short disciplinary research overview (see “Utlysning av en stipendiatstilling hvor forskningsprosjektet skal være del av et større prosjekt, ledet av en forsker ved fakultetet”). The research overview is expected to be clearly outlined and to demonstrate knowledge of the research area of the STAGE project. The quality of the research overview is central to the evaluation of the application.

The candidate who eventually takes on the position will write a project proposal (8-10 pages) that (a) fits with the goal and overall design of the STAGE project and (b) employs quantitative, or a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods.

The candidate will participate in the data collection of language test data and student surveys, possibly also in conducting interviews, depending on the focus of the proposed project. As STAGE has a sister project in Flanders (Flemish STAGE, see link), the PhD research fellow at the University of Oslo is expected to collaborate with the PhD research fellow at KU Leuven, especially regarding the data collection. Thus, the PhD research fellow must be prepared to travel to Belgium.

As a PhD research fellow, you will work closely with the STAGE team in the data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the Faculty’s PhD program. Further information onadmission requirements and an application form can be found at this website.
• A Master’s degree in English, English Didactics/Language Education, or Applied/English Linguistics.
• The master’s degree (120 ECTS) must have a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. It mustinclude a thesis of at least 30 ECTS with a minimum grade B.
• Oral and written communication skills in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language as well as in English.
• Relevance of the disciplinary research overview to the STAGE research ambition.

In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be placed on:

• The quality of the disciplinary research overview.
• The applicant’s experience, personal suitability and motivation for the position, including her/his ability to collaborate and to form part of an international academic community.
• The applicant’s academic attitude and motivation with regard to completing the research training program.
• Experience of school research, language tests, surveys/questionnaires, language learning/teaching, (applied) linguistics, research collaboration, plotting and coding of quantitative data, coding of qualitative data, research publications, (interviews), and research ethics will be an advantage.
• Experience of quantitative analysis is of particular interest, as is interest in and possible experience with informal learning/Extramural English.
• Familiarity with the Norwegian/Scandinavian school system and the English school subject will also be considered an advantage.

We offer

• Salary NOK 491 200 - 534 000 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow (position code 1017)
• A stimulating and attractive working environment
• Pension arrangements in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• 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:

• Application letter describing qualifications and motivation for the fellowship
• Curriculum Vitae (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities, including a complete list of any previously published academic/scientific works)
• Certified copies of diplomas, grade transcripts and any other testimonials
• In the event of diplomas from other countries: printouts of prospectuses or similar that describe the content and framework of the courses of study on which the application is based
• Master’s thesis
• A short disciplinary research overview (for style and referencing, use APA 6th or 7th edition; please contact pia.sundqvist@ils.uio.no to request a copy of the STAGE design)
• A completed application form for admission to the doctoral degree program (see this page)
• Any other academic works that may be of relevance to the application

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).

Applicants from outside the Nordic countries where English is not the official language must attach a TOEFL test with a minimum score of 550 unless they have a diploma from a university in an English-speaking country.

As a rule, interviews will be conducted as part of the appointment process. At the interview, the applicant will be asked to present original diplomas and grade transcripts from previous courses of study. Short-listed candidates will be invited for an interview.

Incomplete applications will under normal circumstances not be assessed.

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.

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.

Contact information

• Associate professor Pia Sundqvist
• Associate professor Ulrikke Rindal
• Head of Administration at ILS Astrid Waaler Kaas

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