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PhD research fellowship in Educational Measurement - Centre for Educational Measurement

Deadline: 31.05.2020

Job description

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.


The Centre for Educational Measurement at the University of Oslo (CEMO) provides a stimulating research environment by bringing internationally renowned substantive and methodological experts together. Research at CEMO combines basic research and applications of advanced measurement techniques to solve core educational problems. CEMO also contributes to the development of measurement competence through teaching and outreach. The centre is part of a broad international network and manages several externally funded research grants.

Applications are invited for a full-time position as PhD candidate at CEMO (Centre for Educational Measurement at the University of Oslo). The fellowship period is 3 or 4 years. For Research fellows that are employed for a period of 4 years, the position entails a compulsory workload of 25% that consists of teaching and supervision duties and research assistance. The preferred starting date is in fall 2020.

CEMO provides a stimulating research environment by bringing together internationally renowned experts in methodological and substantive research fields to solve core educational problems. The centre also contributes to the development of measurement competence through teaching and outreach and offers a Master of Science program in Measurement, Assessment and Evaluation. The centre is part of a broad international network and comprises about 25 employees from 10 countries.

More about the position

International large-scale assessments (ILSAs), such as PISA, TALIS, and TIMSS, have become important sources of information for educational research and policy-making. The use of ILSA data and the ways of analyzing them, however, vary considerably in the existing body of research. The position as a PhD research fellow takes a meta-research perspective on the use of ILSA data and the corresponding practices of data analysis.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

(1) Measurement invariance across many groups in ILSAsAssessing and Communicating the extent to which measurements are comparable across all the different participating countries, Meta studies (e.g., across scales or studies) on non-invariance between countries, Effect sizes for differential item functioning

(2) The role of ILSA data for meta-analyses in educationBenefits and challenges of including ILSA data in meta-analyses, Meta-analyzing ILSA data (e.g., across cycles, studies, countries), Selecting appropriate models for meta-analysis

The research fellow must take part in the Faculty’s Department’s 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. The successful candidate will develop skills in quantitative methodology, statistical programming, and scientific communication during their PhD period.

Qualification requirements

  • Applicants must hold a Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or equivalent qualification in education, psychology, social sciences, statistics or similar fields related to educational measurement, minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS
  • Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

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

  • The applicants’ academic aptitude for completing the research training program.
  • The writing sample, which must be submitted with the application.
  • Training and experience with quantitative research methods and data-analysis
  • The applicant’s personal suitability and motivation for the post, including his/her ability to collaborate
  • Other qualifications that meet the objectives of the position

Candidates must have submitted their Master thesis when they apply. By the time of appointment, the successful candidate must satisfy the requirements of admission to the PhD program of the Faculty of Education. These include minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale or equivalent) on the Master’s thesis.

We offer

  • Salary NOK 479 600 - 523 200 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow, (position code 1017). Research fellows are normally allocated to pay grade 54, NOK 479 600 on appointment. The position is remunerated according to the Norwegian State salary scale
  • 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

  • Cover letter statement of motivation and research interests
  • CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work)
  • Completed application form for admission to the doctoral degree programme (see this website)
  • Master thesis and other selected works suited to demonstrate the applicant’s fit to the positions announced, in particular documentation of training and experience with quantitative research methods and data-analysis (a strong record here will give a distinct advantage)
  • A writing sample, in which the candidate selects one of the topics outlined above and demonstrate his/her understanding of this topic, key concepts, potential research questions and methodological approaches (3-4 pages)
  • Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
  • Documentation of english proficiency
  • List of reference persons: 1-2 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number) (e.g., Master thesis supervisor(s))

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).

Incomplete applications will, under normal circumstances, not be assessed. As a rule, interviews will be conducted as part of the application process. Applicants are required to provide documentation of English language proficiency in the form of an academic degree from an English language university or an approved English proficiency test with a minimum required score (see this website).

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.

Contact information

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