Research fellowship in physiotherapy for children and adolescents - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

There is a vacancy for a research fellow in a fixed-term position at the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Department of Physiotherapy. The position is for a period of four years with 25 per cent mandatory work. The start-up is early May 2021.

The PhD student will be part of the MUSKHealth research group at the Department of Physiotherapy, the Faculty of Health Sciences at OsloMet. Several established researchers are affiliated to the research group, which also engages in widespread national and international collaborations. There are currently eleven PhD students in the group. MUSKHealth’s research topics include musculoskeletal injuries, diseases and disorders in adolescents, young adults and elderly people, in addition to occupational and health research.

The PhD student will be supervised by Associate Professor Kirsti Riiser (OsloMet), Associate Professor Hedda Eik (OsloMet/UiO) and Professor Marit H Andersen (UiO).

The Faculty has two PhD programmes, and this research fellowship is affiliated to the one in Health Sciences.

Field of research

Musculoskeletal conditions are the number one cause of sickness absence in Norway, and research shows that the trend is increasing among young people. It has been documented that there is a connection between poor health literacy and increased prevalence of a number of diseases. Health literacy can be defined as a person’s ability to understand, assess and use health information to make knowledge-based decisions relating to their own health. Raising the population’s health literacy to enable people to make informed health decisions and strengthen their ability to deal with different life situations is an expressed political objective. The purpose of the study ‘MUSKHEL – musculoskeletal health literacy in adolescents’ is to learn more about health literacy among young people relating to musculoskeletal conditions. Little research has been conducted into the links between musculoskeletal conditions and health literacy in the population in general, and even less so among young people. The study will help to expand our knowledge basis by searching through and compiling all literature published on the subject, and identify the links between musculoskeletal conditions and health literacy and other relevant factors in the 15–16 age group. We will interview young people about where and how they seek out, understand and use health information relating to musculoskeletal disorders. Increased knowledge will make it easier for both physiotherapists and partners in the school health service to develop effective measures at individual and system level for the purpose of raising young people’s health literacy, promoting musculoskeletal health and preventing problems related thereto.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who have

• a Norwegian authorisation as a physiotherapist
• a master’s degree (120 ECTS credits) in physiotherapy, public health, health science or equivalent education
• good oral and written presentation skills in a Scandinavian language and English

It is an advantage if you have

• experience of working with young people, preferably through the school health service
• knowledge of the musculoskeletal field and of health protection and preventive health work
• experience of both quantitative and qualitative research methods
• experience of R&D work and publication of scholarly articles

Conditions

• admission to the PhD Programme in Health Sciences is a precondition for taking up the position. In order to be admitted to the PhD programmes at the Faculty of Health Sciences, the applicant must have achieved grade B or better on the master’s degree/second degree thesis and an average grade equivalent to B or better on the master’s degree thesis. In special cases, applicants with the grade C can be considered for admission. In such cases, the applicant’s achievements after completing the master’s degree/second degree must be emphasised, and particularly publications in peer-reviewed journals. See the information regarding criteria here.
• The final plan for the researcher education must be approved and an agreement entered into no later than three months after the research fellow takes up the position.

Necessary personal qualities for the position

• the ability to work independently, systematically and purposefully
• good teamwork and communication skills
• enthusiasm for the field and good 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. You are also welcome to apply for a position with us if you have had periods where you have not been in employment, education or training.

We offer

• exciting work opportunities at Norway’s third biggest and most urban university
• a stimulating interdisciplinary research environment
• participation in an active research group with regular meetings/seminars and a good external network
• a developing workplace
• favourable pension arrangements with the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• good welfare arrangements
• free Norwegian language classes to employees
• working location in downtown Oslo with multiple cultural offers

Practical information about relocation to Oslo and living in Norway.

The salary for the position is in accordance with the Basic Collective Agreement for state employees and OsloMet’s pay policy for position code 1017 (research fellow), salary grade 54, i.e. an initial annual salary of NOK 482,200.

Further information

For more information about the position and project, please contact:

• Associate Professor Kirsti Riiser, email: kiri@oslomet.no, tel. (+47) 67236173/ 91757485
• for questions of an administrative nature, contact Sofie Rabo Carlsen, soca@oslomet.no
• for questions concerning admission to the PhD programme, please contact
  phd-hv@oslomet.no

Applications

OsloMet uses an electronic recruitment system. If you wish to apply for the position, please register your application and CV by clicking the button.

You must upload the following documents together with your application:

• your application, CV and copies of diplomas, transcripts of grades and references from all places of employment
• education taken abroad should be recognised in advance, and the letter of recognition must be enclosed. You can find more information about recognition of education taken abroad here.
• a motivation letter stating your reasons for applying for the project and what makes you particularly qualified to carry out this PhD work (500–1,000 words)
• your master’s/second degree thesis
• a list of your publications, if any

We only consider applications submitted through our electronic recruitment system and all documents must be uploaded for your application to be considered. The documents must be in either English or a Scandinavian language. Translations must be government authorised. Originals must be presented if you are invited for an interview. OsloMet checks documents in order to give you candidates a proper evaluation and ensure fair competition.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Final date for applications: 31 January 2021
Ref: 20/11988