About the position

The Department of Education and Lifelong Learning is looking for a PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Child Research. The period of employment is 4 years, including 1 year of teaching duty.

The PhD candidate will be part of the interdisciplinary research group WorldViews. WorldViews consists of researchers with backgrounds in education, sociology, anthropology, and interdisciplinary child and youth research. What we have in common is a genuine interest for social justice as well as a desire to understand and reveal power structures and marginalisation processes in formal and informal contexts. WorldViews seeks to contribute to increased knowledge and critical reflection surrounding socio-cultural discourses about childhood, youth, upbringing and family life. In our research, we explore children’s, youths’ and families’ encounters with hegemonic, normative and taken-for-granted sets of values, worldviews and knowledge systems. Through our research we aim to disclose how children and young people’s everyday lives are shaped by diverse understandings connected to class, ethnicity, gender, and generation, and examine processes and relations that create, preserve or reduce ‘othering’. See https://www.ntnu.edu/ipl/worldviews for more information.

The PhD candidate will conduct research in the project Visualizing youth narratives: Empower Youth, Broaden horizons, Enhance intercultural encounters (ViYouth). ViYouth is an international and interdisciplinary project. The primary objective of ViYouth is to enhance transformative learning and critical reflection among diverse youth populations (aged 15 to 16) in Norway, the Netherlands, Chile and Brazil. The secondary objective is to develop a model of inclusive education, focusing on a sense of belonging, global citizenship and interconnectedness. The three overall aims are: 1) To empower youth by enhancing a sense of autonomy and protagonist participation in the creation of self-representations. 2) To foster transformative learning through intercultural understanding, appreciation and dialogue among youth. 3) To reduce the potentiality of ignorance, discrimination, racism and xenophobia among youth.

The PhD candidate will conduct research with two to three youth groups in Trondheim: One group of Sami youths, one group of youths in a low-income and ethnically mixed neighbourhood, and one group of youths in a homogenous middle-class neighbourhood.

• The PhD candidate is expected to 
• Plan and conduct collaborative workshops with each youth group
• Conduct three focus groups with each youth group
• Analyse the empirical material
• Produce an independent academic work in the form of a doctoral thesis based on the analysis
• Complete 30 ECTS of coursework

Duties of the position

• research
• teaching

Required selection criteria

The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is that you have completed a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in social or education sciences or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you are unable to meet these criteria you may be considered only if you can document that you are particularly suitable for education leading to a PhD degree.The appointment is to

be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant.

• Good written and oral Norwegian skills
• Good written and oral English skills
• Experience from working with youth (e.g. non-governmental work, teaching, research)

Preferred selection criteria

• Good cooperation skills and ability to cooperate with partners with different professional backgrounds
• Experience from intercultural communication
• Experience from transformative learning

Personal characteristics

• Wish to work as part of an ambitious research team
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to be innovative and creative
• Motivation and potential for contribution in the field of research
• Be internationally oriented

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 479 600 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2 % is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 4 years, including 1 year of teaching duty.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Educational Sciences: Specialization Interdisciplinary Child Research (https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/phuv/interdisciplinary-child-research) within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution on a daily basis.

About the application

The application for this position must include:

• CV including information relevant for the qualifications and contact information for at least 2 references
• Certified copies of academic diplomas and transcripts
• Research statement (max. 4 pages) including:

1. Why the applicant is suited for the position
2. Short letter of motivation for a PhD study
3. Short outline over how the applicant wants to approach the project and suggestions of theoretical and
4. methodological approach to the project
5. Outline for project plan including relevant PhD courses

• Publications and any other work that the applicant wants to be taken into consideration must be enclosed (max. 80 pages in total) 

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline. You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above. 

Applicants from universities outside of Norway are requested to send a diploma supplement (or a similar document) which describes in detail the study and grading system, and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree. The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. 

As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

Information Act (offentleglova), your name, age, position and municipality may be made public even if you have requested not to have your name entered on the list of applicants.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Marit Ursin, telephone 0047-73596243, email marit.ursin@ntnu.no.

Please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Diploma Supplement is required to attach for European Master Diplomas outside Norway. Chinese applicants are required to provide confirmation of Master Diploma from China Credentials Verification (CHSI).

If you are invited for an interview you must include certified copies of transcripts and reference letters. Please refer to the application number SU-475 when applying.

Application deadline: 31 August 2020. 

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Education and Lifelong Learning

We develop knowledge about the processes of learning and individual development in the interaction between people, the environment and society – in a world where rapid changes demand constant adaptation. Our research and teaching include topics such as childhood, education and working life in a lifelong perspective, and our interdisciplinary environment has roots in both the social and educational sciences. The Department of Education and Lifelong Learning is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences.

Deadline 31st August 2020
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service Dragvoll