Ledig stilling på Universitetet i Oslo

Blindern og Urbygningen (Foto: Wikimedia og Colourbox)

Postdoctoral Fellow (Faculty of Educational Sciences)

Deadline: 15.06.2019

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 Faculty of Educational Sciences is composed of three departments and two research centre with a total of nearly 350 employees and 3500 students. We offer three different bachelor degrees and ten masters programmes, as well as Norway's most prestigious teacher-training program and several joint interdisiplinary programmes.

Flere stillinger fra Universitetet i Oslo

Applications are invited for a four-year position as Postdoctoral fellow affiliated with the research group “Knowledge, Learning and Governance in Higher Education and Work “(HEDWORK) in the Department of Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Oslo.

The HEDWORK research group investigates the dynamic interplay between knowledge, learning and governance in higher education and knowledge-intensive working practices. The group comprises researchers with different disciplinary backgrounds and offers an internationally oriented and stimulating research environment. More information about research topics and projects covered by HEDWORK can be found on the research group’s website.

We look for a highly motivated Postdoctoral fellow who takes an interest in pursuing a research career within teaching and learning in higher education. We particularly welcome applications related to one of the following areas:

  • The use of digital tools to support teaching, learning or program development in higher education
  • The design of physical learning environments in higher education in relation to pedagogical processes
  • Program design and development
  • Diversity in higher education and universal design for learning

Applicants are asked to develop a focused research project with clear aims and research questions, and an appropriate methodological approach. The postdoctoral project should be well positioned in the international research field, and novelty in methodological approaches is a strength. The candidate should have a strong background in educational sciences. Experience in international publishing of high quality in the relevant research field is an advantage, as is international research experience. We look for a candidate who has capacities for conducting independent research of high quality, and who at the same time takes an interest in collaborating with colleagues and contributing to the further development of the HEDWORK research group.

The position offers good opportunities for advancing an internationally oriented research career. A research stay abroad during the employment period is encouraged, depending on available funding.

More about the position

The appointment is a fulltime position and is made for a period of up to four years, 25 % of which is devoted to required duties at the department. These duties will primarily consist of teaching at the LINK Centre for Learning, Innovation & Academic Development and/or teaching at the department’s master programme in higher education.

Postdoctoral fellows who are appointed for a period of four years are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency in the course of their fellowship period within the duty component of 25 %.

The main purpose of the fellowship is to qualify researchers for work in higher academic positions within their disciplines.

Qualification requirements

The appointment requires a PhD or a degree equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in educational sciences. A prerequisite for applicants who have not yet defended their thesis is that the PhD work is submitted for assessment before the closing date for applications. Appointment to the position is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.

Candidates will need to be proficient in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language, and to document sound oral and written communication skills in English.

The following qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

  • The quality of the project description.
  • The relevance and potential of the project to contribute towards a research agenda on teaching and learning in higher education.
  • The applicant’s academic and personal qualifications for conducting the project.
  • Good capacities for collaboration and for contributing to the research community.

We offer

  • Salary NOK 515 200 – 597 400 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
  • A professionally stimulating working environment
  • 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, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
  • Project description, including progress plan (8-10 pages
  • CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
  • Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
  • A complete list of publications
  • Up to 10 research publications that the applicant wishes to be considered
  • List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system.

Applicants with foreign qualifications 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.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Incomplete applications will under normal circumstances not be assessed. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period 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 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

  • Professor Bjørn Stensaker, phone number: (+47) 22 84 44 72, e-mail: bjorn.stensaker@iped.uio.no
  • Professor Monika Nerland, phone number: (+47) 22 85 81 72, e-mail: m.b.nerland@iped.uio.no

Apply for position

Powered by Labrador CMS