Job description

Two PhD positions are vacant at the Department of Teacher Education and School Research related to the Nordic Centre of Excellence Quality in Nordic Teaching (QUINT). The appointments are for a three and a four-year period respectively.

The QUINT Centre studies teaching quality by carrying out comparative classroom studies in the Nordic countries. The studies use data from lower secondary classrooms (grades 7–9/8–10) to investigate interaction, engagement and classroom teaching and learning across the three school subject areas Mathematics, Language Arts, and Social Science education. A number of data collection methods and data sets are to be used, with a strong focus on classroom video recordings.

One of the positions is designated for Social Science Education, the other for either Mathematics or Language Arts education. We ask for candidates who are interested in comparative classroom studies in one of the listed subject areas. The candidates will have access to comparative classroom video data and student perception surveys from all the Nordic countries (large scale data sets in Sweden and Norway and small-scale data sets from respectively Iceland, Finland and Denmark) based on the Liking Instruction and Student Achievement (LISA) research design.

The LISA Nordic studies are organized as a cross disciplinary study where experts in subject didactics (reading, mathematics /language arts and social science education), video design, psychometrics and classroom studies work together in order to understand how different perspectives and approaches impact on classroom teaching and learning.

We seek highly motivated individuals who appreciate working in a Nordic/ international and cross-disciplinary working environment engaged in analyzing teaching and learning in classrooms. The ideal candidates should have a background in either Social Science Education or Mathematics/ Language Arts education, or in comparative classroom studies/ expertise in issues relevant for the analysis of classroom learning. Applicants are expected to read the overall QUINT research ambition document and design their research project to fit in with the overall aims of the QUINT Center. The research design must include classroom data from at least two Nordic countries.

The successful candidates will be expected to participate actively in the QUINT Nordic Center of Excellence and their conferences/PhD Summer Institutes, in the QUINT community in the department, and in the research group SISCO.

More about the position

Positions as research fellows are fixed-term educational posts where the aim is that the research fellow completes a doctoral degree (PhD) during the period of employment. A prerequisite for employment is admission to the Faculty’s doctoral degree program, and applicants’ formal and other qualifications for admission will therefore also be assessed.

Research fellowship positions are defined as recruitment posts and represent an important instrument in the sector’s work to educate qualified applicants for other academic posts at universities and university colleges in a long-term perspective. The doctoral candidate is expected to participate actively in the organized research training programme and in the Faculty’s research community.

The appointment for one of the positions and is for a period of three years, and four years (25 % of which is devoted to required duties; mostly teaching activities) for the other position. The place of work will be the Department of Teacher Education and School Research.

The appointment can have a more limited scope within the framework of the applicable guidelines on the account of any previous employment in academic positions.

We also refer to the Regulations concerning terms and conditions of employment for the posts of post-doctoral research fellow, research fellow, research assistant and resident.The Department of Teacher Education and School Research organizes four research groups. It is expected that the applicant is affiliated with the research group «Studies of Instruction across Subjects and Competences” (SISCO)

Qualification requirements

Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the Faculty’s PhD program. This normally includes:

• A Master’s degree (120 ECTS) or an equivalent qualification in the subject area in question or in another relevant subject area, minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The Master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS
• The applicant must master (writing skills) a Scandinavian language (Norwegian, Swedish and/or Danish) and have advanced English language skills

Further information on admission requirements and an application form can be found at this website.

Assessment of application

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

• The quality of the project description including its relevance for the overall QUINT ambition. A project description of 5 - 10 pages must be submitted with the application. For more information see this website
• The applicant’s academic attitude with regard to completing the research-training program
• The applicant’s personal suitability and motivation for the post, including his/her ability to collaborate and to form part of a cross-disciplinary academic community
• Other qualifications that meet the objectives form the basis of this type of post

We offer

• Salary NOK 449 400 - 497 000 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as PhD Research fellow (position code 1017). Research fellows are normally allocated pay grad 51 (449 400) on appointment.
• A positive and challenging working environment
• Pension arrangements in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• A position in an inclusive working life enterprise
• Attractive welfare arrangements

How to apply

The application must be submitted electronically and must include the following:

• Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• Project description (cf. Guidance)
• Completed application form for admission to the doctoral degree program
• Certified copies of diplomas, grade transcripts and any other testimonials
• In the event of diplomas from other countries: printouts of prospectuses orsimilar that describe the content and framework of the courses of study on whichthe application is based
• Master’s thesis and any other academic works that may be of relevance to the application
• CV that also includes an overview of any previously published academic/scientific works

The application may be written in English or Norwegian. Incomplete applications will in normal circumstances not be assessed.

As a rule, interviews will be conducted as part of the appointment process. During the interview the applicant will be asked to present original diplomas and grade transcripts from previous courses of study.

The application with attachments must be delivered using 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).

When evaluating the application, emphasis will be given to the “project description” and the applicant’s academic and personal prerequisites to carry out the project.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and 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

• Professor/QUINT Center Director Kirsti Klette
• Professor Marte Blikstad-Balas
• QUINT Administrative Leader Maria Dikova

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