Position as PhD Research Fellow in teacher qualification/ the Master's Degree Programme in Primary and Lower Secondary Teacher Education for Years 5-10 - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Position as PhD Research Fellow in teacher qualification/ the Master's Degree Programme in Primary and Lower Secondary Teacher Education for Years 5-10 

There is a vacancy for a four-year full-time position as a PhD Research Fellow at the Faculty of Education and International Studies (LUI) in teacher qualification/ the Master's Degree Programme in Primary and Lower Secondary Teacher Education for Years 5-10, with appointment and start-up on 1 September 2019. The successful applicant will have their workplace at the Department of Primary and Secondary Teacher Education on Pilestredet campus. Twenty-five per cent of the position is devoted to teaching assignments in relevant teacher education subjects, and 75 per cent to research. A plan for the work related to teaching will be developed in order for the PhD Research Fellow to be able focus on his/her research project the last year. 

The faculty is looking for empirical and theoretical projects that contribute to the development of knowledge in the field of the project ‘Teacher Qualification for the 21st century (TEQ21)’, funded by the Research Council of Norway, and specifically linked to the development of knowledge of the implementation of the R&D pillar in the five year primary and lower secondary teacher education programme for years 5–10.

As one of Norway’s biggest teacher education institutions, OsloMet has highly qualified teachers and researchers in all relevant subjects. OsloMet must, through TEQ21, take on a national role in research on and development of interdisciplinary teaching competence in different areas. This research fellow position is linked to the primary and lower secondary teacher education programme's work on educating teachers with professional research and development competence.

The study of the significance of R&D-based measures in the primary and lower secondary teacher education programmes is based on the national goals of having research-based primary and lower secondary teacher education programmes that improve the quality of the teacher profession. The national guidelines for the integrated five-year primary and lower secondary teacher education programme for years 5 to 10 emphasise that ‘the student is expected to acquire the skills required to find, understand, assess, search for and contribute to research.’ The term research-based teacher education means that skills in research and development is part of both of the teacher education programmes’ learning arenas. The implementation of a more R&D-based programme can contribute to developing teachers’ professional research and development skills.

The development of professional research and development skills is key to the profile of the teacher education programme at OsloMet, and is specified in the programme description in the form of an R&D pillar. The framework for the project descriptions relating to this research fellow position is the implementation of the R&D pillar, and comprises interdisciplinary cooperation on campus and cooperation with the professional field. See the project's webpage here. The candidate appointed will be affiliated to the Research Council of Norway’s TEQ21, the educational section, and the research group ‘Lærerutdanningsskoler’. 

Read more about the faculty and the department here.

Read more about our research groups here. 

Applicants must write a project description for a PhD project which must include a description of the research question, relevance, theoretical and methodological approaches, and a schedule for the research fellowship period, including any stays abroad. During the work of writing the project description, you are encouraged to contact the contact persons listed for more information. 

Appointment to a research fellowship is conditional on admission to the PhD programme in Educational Sciences for Teacher Education at the Faculty of Education and International Studies (LUI) at OsloMet. Applications for admission must be approved and an agreement entered into no later than three months after the research fellow takes up the position. Relevant candidates will be informed about the application process and deadlines. The person appointed is expected to complete the programme within the nominal length of study. 

Qualification requirements: 

• a completed master's degree/second degree (hovedfag) (corresponding to 120 credits) with a letter grade of B or better and academic background in teacher education, other teaching qualifications, science of education, development studies or other relevant education at a corresponding level. Applicants with grade C may get admission if it is proved that the candidate is particularly suitable for a PhD degree. Applicants without a letter grade from a previous degree must be able to document an equivalent academic background.
• good written and oral presentation skills in one of the Nordic languages and English 

In the assessment and ranking of qualified applicants, emphasis will be placed on:

• the scientific quality of the project description, including originality and potential
• whether the project can be completed within the nominal length of study
• the relevance for the project which the position is affiliated to (cf. description above).
• education
• ability to work independently, methodically and purposefully
• motivation for the position
• personal qualities, including implementation capacity 

It is important to OsloMet to reflect the population of our region, and all qualified candidates are welcome to apply. We make active endeavours to further develop OsloMet as an inclusive workplace and to adapt the workplace if required. 

Application process
Applicants will be assessed by an expert committee. The following documents must be uploaded by the application deadline:

• an application letter with information containing the applicant's background and motivation
• a schedule for completion, including any stays abroad
• a project description of no more than 10 pages plus a reference list
• CV
• copies of diplomas and references, all pages certified copies of diplomas and transcripts of grades must include the ECTS grades (A–F). Foreign diplomas must be translated into English by the degree-conferring institution. Education taken abroad should preferably be recognised in advance, and a certified copy of the letter of recognition should be enclosed.
• master's degree/second degree thesis
• list of publications, if relevant
• any scholarly work that the applicant wishes the expert committee to take into consideration 

The documents must be in either English or a Scandinavian language, and any translations must be government authorised. Originals must be presented if you are invited for an interview, and OsloMet checks documents in order to give candidates proper and fair evaluation. 

Incomplete applications will not be taken into account or assessed. Before the application documents are forwarded to the expert committee, all the applications will be reviewed by the faculty. Applications from non-qualified applicants will not be forwarded for assessment. 

We offer:

• the opportunity to specialise in an exciting academic field with an important social mission
• the opportunity to become part of an international academic and research environment with a high level of expertise
• a developing workplace
• an active an inclusive workplace with a wide range of sports and cultural activities available
• good welfare arrangements
• good pension arrangements with the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund 

Further information:

For more information about the projects, please contact:

• Professor Hanne Christensen, e-mail hannec@oslomet.no, mobile (+47) 481 54 024
• Associate professor Kirsten E. Thorsen, e-mail kirsthor@oslomet.no, telephone (+47) 67 23 74 31 

For more information about the position, please contact:

• Head of Programme Janne Herseth, e-mail jaher@oslomet.no

If you have any questions about admission to the PhD programme, please contact

• Senior Adviser Brynhild Simonsen, tel. (+47) 67 23 71 38, e-mail ovedha@oslomet.no

The salary for the position is in accordance with the pay scale for state employees, position code 1017, with an annual salary of NOK 436,900–466,500. A statutory contribution of 2 per cent to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

Research fellows at LUI are currently awarded operating funds in the amount of NOK 25,000 to fund their PhD project (annually for three years). In addition, research fellows can get funding for certain activities from relevant research groups.

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, you can be included on the public list of applicants even if you have asked that your application be treated confidentially. In such case, you will be notified before the information is made public. OsloMet uses an electronic recruitment system. If you wish to apply for the position, please register your application and CV by clicking the button.