Job description

Applications are invited for a 3-year position as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (SKO 1352) as part of the research project NordEd. The candidate will be part of the HumStud research group at Department of Education (IPED), UiO, as well as an international network, and will be given the opportunity to work with researchers across the world. NordEd is a multidisciplinary research group at the University of Oslo, and part of UiO:Nordic, an interfaculty priority area at the University based on a broad range of expertise and strong research interests at UiO.

The four pillars of the NordEd project are: 1) Conflicting traditions, ideals, and concepts of knowledge in the Nordic countries’ educational policies, pedagogies, and practices; 2) Curricular struggles and developments in Nordic schooling; 3) The emergence of Nordic teacher cultures and teacher education; And 4) Nordic schooling and beyond: Transnationalpolicy agendas and the renegotiation of the Nordic model of education.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow is connected to Pillar 2 of the NordEd: Curricular struggles and developments in Nordic schooling. For more information, please also see the description of the NordEd project.

The project proposal must have a connection to pillar 2 that includes historical, comparative and/or didactic research on school subjects and curriculum trajectories. In particular proposals are welcomed that include comparisons of curriculum issues and school subjects over a longer time span in two or more Nordic countries. A suggested approach will be to follow specific school subjects from their initial formulations in didactics and curriculum policies to their realisation in actual curriculum developments and practical arenas of implementation.

More about the position

The appointment is a full-time position and is for a period of 3 years, 10% of which is devoted to required duties.

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

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree with a specialization within education, social sciences or humanities in areas relevant to the project. Doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date. Appointment is dependent on the public defence of the doctoral thesis being approved
• Ability to collect and analyse research literature in languages relevant to NordEd
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and a Scandinavian language is a requirement, due to the literature and data collection analyses
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative research methods and research on educational texts
• Personal suitability and motivation for the position

In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be put on:

• The project description, which must be submitted with the application
• The scientific merit in fields relevant to NordEd and relevance of the research statement
• Familiarity with relevant theories and empirical contexts
• Experience with academic publishing
• Good co-operative skills, and the ability to successfully join in academic collaboration within and across disciplines
• The applicant’s personal suitability and motivation for the post, including his/herability to collaborate and to form part of a cross disciplinary academic community
• Other relevant qualifications that meet the objectives which form the basis of this type of post

We offer

• Salary NOK 515 200-597 400 per annum depending on qualifications in a position as Post Doctoral Research fellow
• A positive and stimulating working environment
• Pension arrangements in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• ​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

• Application letter describing the applicant’s qualifications and motivation for the position
• The project proposal must be from 8-10 pages and have a clear connection to pillar 2 of NordEd, and to the fields of historical, comparative and/or didactic research on school subjects and curriculum.It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment
• CV (with a list of education, positions, teaching experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities)
• Scanned copies of relevant diplomas and certificates (applicants with education from a foreign university must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system)
• Up to 10 academic works that the applicant wishes to have considered in the assessment process (e.g. academic articles, conference papers, chapters from the doctoral thesis).

Applicants from countries outside the Nordic countries where English is not the official language must attach a TOEFL test with a minimum score of 550 unless they have a diploma from a university in an English-speaking country. Earlier use of a Scandinavian language in research on education must be documented.

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. As a rule, interviews will be conducted as part of the appointment process. At the interview the applicant will be asked to present original diplomas and grade transcripts from previous courses of study.

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

Incomplete applications will in normal circumstances not be assessed.

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

Head of Department Ola Erstad, phone number: +4722855216,

Professor Inga Bostad, phone number: +4793085191

Associate Professor Harald Jarning, phone number +47 22856283

Coordinator, Post-Doctoral Fellow Jesper Eckhardt Larsen, phone number +47 45396101

About the University of 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 Department of Education was established in 1938 and is one of three departments at the Faculty of Educational Sciences. The research is based on traditions from both the social and the human sciences, and the department thus accommodates great breadth in topics and perspectives. The department employs approximately 100 people; 49 scientific staff, 35 doctoral and post-doctoral students, and 16 administrative/technical staff. The number of students is approximately 900.