About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in geoscience education/pedagogy available at Department of Geosciences.

The fellowship period is 3 years with preferred starting date no later than 20.01.2021,No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

Job Description

Geoscience students as partners in higher education

The advertised position is one of five PhD positions in geoscience education/pedagogy at The Centre for Excellence in Higher Education iEarth. The five positions are physically located at the different iEarth partners: University of Oslo, University of Bergen, University of Tromsø and the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS).

iEarth aims to transform the geoscience education in Norway to meet the societal challenges of the Anthropocene (e.g. in climate, energy, geohazards, environment and resources). This is done in collaboration with our students within the Students as Partners (SaP) framework, and our staff through research-based geoscience teaching development and the use of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). It will require an increased focus on an Earth science system perspective and sustainable development, the use of authentic and ill-structured problems and collaboration with partners outside higher education.

To develop, initiate, support and evaluate iEarth activities, a research group consisting of the above mentioned five PhD students, 1 post doctor, and several associate professors and professors with both pedagogic, science education and geoscience backgrounds is being established. The members will be located at different universities, primarily in Nordic countries, and will meet regularly on- and offline. The advertised phd-position described below is one of these five positions.

The advertised PhD-position will be working at Department of Geoscience at the University of Oslo. iEarth works for greater student involvement. We wish to use the concept “Students as partners” as a framework to initiate, support and strengthen student involvement in their education. Students as partners is a relatively new field, originating in work in the UK, USA, Australia, and Canada. It challenges the traditional role of students in higher education, with the goal of involving students as partners throughout the educational process. Studies show benefits to both students, staff and departments. However, it is challenging for organisations and their participants to rethink taken for granted roles, expectations and ways of interacting. The successful applicant is expected to participate actively in supporting a SaP culture / program, and research the impact of the work. Research topics will depend on the interests of the successful applicant. Potential topics can include e.g. investigation of promising practices for developing student agency and voice in Nordic geoscience higher education, how institute and staff effectively can cultivate student partnership practices and projects, student and staff identity and participation in SaP projects, or how SaP can be paired with Scholarship of Teaching and Learning to change our understanding and performance of teaching and learning practices.

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Applicants must hold a master's degree or equivalent education in geoscience (geology, geophysics, physical geography, meteorology, oceanography, climate science), Earth System Science and/or science education/pedagogy, or must have submitted his/her master's thesis for assessment prior to the application deadline. It is a condition of employment that the master's degree is awarded.
• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Experience from geoscience/science education is an advantage.
• Applicants must have fluent oral and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of a Scandinavian language is an advantage.
• Experience from active work in student organisations and similar is an advantage.
• Teaching experience is an advantage.

Personal skills:

• The candidate is able to work independently and in a structured manner
• Good collaborative skills is important as the candidate will work in close collaboration with students and staff
• Personal suitability

Grade requirements:

The norm is as follows:

• the average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• the average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• the Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see:

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/

http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

We offer

• Salary NOK 479 600 – 523 200 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Career development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

• A cover letter of your research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work - scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, and transcripts of records
• Documentation of English proficiency
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone 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).

Applicants may be called in for an interview.

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 University of Oslo has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results etc.

The University of Oslo aims to achieve a balanced gender composition in the workforce and to recruit people with ethnic minority backgrounds.

Contact information

• Mattias Lundmark phone: +47 22856686, e-mail: a.m.lundmark@geo.uio.no
• Karianne S. Lilleøren, phone: +47 22855647, e-mail: k.s.lilleoren@geo.uio.no

For questions regarding the recruitment system, please contact HR Adviser Torunn Standal Guttormsen, phone:+47 22854272,e-mail: t.s.guttormsen@mn.uio.no

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