Job description

1-2 positions as post-doctoral fellows (SKO 1352) are vacant at the Department of Teacher Education and School Research attached to the Nordic Centre of Excellence Quality in Nordic Teaching (QUINT) (https://www.uv.uio.no/quint/english/) funded by NordForsk. The fellowships are dedicated to the LISA Nordic studies – a cross disciplinary research project 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 the differential impact on classroom teaching and learning.

About the QUINT research ambition

The QUINT Centre will study teaching quality by carrying out comparative classroom studies in the Nordic countries, capturing interaction, engagement and classroom teaching and learning across different school subjects (Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Science) and learning sites (regular classroom learning, technology supported learning, multilingual classrooms) using data from lower secondary classrooms (grades 7–9/8–10). A number of data collection methods and data sets will be used, but video recording of classrooms is central as it also provides important input for the Centre’s subprojects on teachers’ professional learning’ (pre-service and in-service learning). The Centre combines qualitative and quantitative methodology and welcomes the use of different conceptual frameworks and coding categories that may generate contrastive evidence of teaching quality.

The appointment is a fulltime position and is made for a period of three years (10% of which is devoted to required duties, usually in the form of teaching activities).

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

More about the position

We ask for candidates that are interested in analyzing the theoretical, empirical and cultural validity of different conceptual frameworks and coding manuals. The candidates will have access to comparative classroom data and student 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 (see https://www.uv.uio.no/ils/english/research/projects/lisa/index.html). The comparative subjects in focus will be Mathematics-, Language Arts and Social Science Education. We therefore ask for candidates with expertise in ‘measuring teaching quality’ or any of these subject areas.

We seek highly motivated individuals holding a PhD that appreciates working in a Nordic/ international and cross disciplinary working environment targeted towards analyzing teaching and learning in classrooms. The candidate(s) should have a strong background in either of the subject areas (Mathematics, Language Arts/ reading or Social Science education) or in comparative classroom studies/ expertise in measurement issues relevant for analyzing classroom learning. Experience with using observation manuals/ conducting classroom video analyzes or analyzing teaching quality would be a clear benefit. Applicants are expected to read the overall QUINT research ambition and fit their research project with the overall aims of the QUINT Center. The successful candidate will be expected to participate actively in the QUINT Nordic Center of Excellence, in the QUINT community in the department and in the relevant research group, see

http://www.uv.uio.no/english/research/groups/SISCO/index.html.

Qualification requirements

The appointment requires a PhD or a degree equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in educational sciences, subject didactics (Mathematics, Reading, Language Arts, Social Science education) and/ or educational sciences/ psychometrics. 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 post doctoral position is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.

In the assessment of the applications, emphasis will be given to:

• The quality of the project description
• The project’s relevance for the main project
• The applicants’ academic and personal qualifications for conducting the project
• Personal suitability and motivation for the post
• Good ability to collaborate and to form part of a cross-disciplinary academic community
• Proficiency in oral and written English language

We offer

• Salary NOK 515 200-565 500 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• 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 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

• Letter of application with an expression of interest and a specification of how the proposed project relates to the Nordic Center of Excellence “Quality in Nordic Teaching”
• CV
• List of publications
• Certified copies of diplomas and testimonials
• Project description, including progress plan (max. 10 pages). It is assumed that the applicant will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.
• Any academic works that must be taken into account in the assessment

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system JobbNorge.no.

The application must be written in english.

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).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications, the project description (whenever this is required in the call for applicants), and the quality of the project as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

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

Formal regulations

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

No one can be appointed as Postdoctoral Fellow for more than one specified period at the same institution.

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 Kirsti Klette, phone number: +47 22855285, e-mail: kirsti.klette@ils.uio.no
• Adviser Maria Dikova, phone number: +47 228588998, e-mail: maria.dikova@ils.uio.no
• Head of office Astrid Waaler Kaas, phone number: + 47 22855018, e-mail: a.w.kaas@ils.uio.no

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