Job description

The Department of Education welcomes applications for a three-year position as a postdoctoral fellow within the field of technology-enhanced learning with a particular focus on the use of immersive technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) in education.

The position is connected to a project called ILASC (Immersive Learning Across School and Community), which is a social innovation project in the public sector financed by The Research Council of Norway. The project is also based on close collaboration with the Education Agency of Oslo. The methodology is design-based and the development of learning designs and activities are combined with fieldwork and detailed analysis of interaction. The overall aim is to develop innovative learning designs and models for school–community collaboration which target the crossdisciplinary theme of Public Health and Life Competence (Folkehelse og Livsmestring). To support learning in and across subjects, we will make use of powerful immersive technologies. The postdoctoral fellow is expected to contribute to activities organized by the research group LIDA (Living and Learning in the Digital Age).

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who takes an interest in contributing to developing the emerging research field on the use of immersive technologies for learning. We ask the applicants to provide 8-10 pages with description of his or her research interests and how they can be aligned with the projects overall scope and design. A copy of the project proposal can be downloaded from the project website. The applicant should also outline what he or she would like to focus specifically on including how this area of inquiry can be further developed within the project as a whole. The candidate should have a background in the learning sciences. Experience in international publishing of high quality in relevant journals is an advantage, as is international research experience. The position offers good opportunities for advancing an internationally oriented research career. A research stay abroad during the employment period is encouraged, depending on available funding.

More about the position

The appointment is a fulltime position for up to 3 years, 10 % of which is devoted to required duties, usually in the form of teaching or supervision.

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

Qualification requirements

• The appointment requires a PhD or a degree equivalent to a Norwegian PhD in educational sciences. A prerequisite for applicants who have not yet defended their thesis is that the thesis is submitted for assessment before the closing date for applications. Appointment to the position is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved
• Candidates will need to be proficient in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language, and to document oral and written communication skills in English

In the assessment of the applicants, particular emphasis will be given to:

• Documented competence in the field of technology-enhanced learning
• Competence in qualitative methodology with a particular focus on ethnographic and interaction analytic methods
• The applicant’s academic and personal qualifications
• Documented international research contributions within the area of technology enhanced learning
• Experience with design-based research is an advantage
• Experiences from international research collaboration is an advantage

We offer

• Salary NOK 523.200 – 605.500 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• A professionally stimulating working environment
• 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:

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest)
• A text of 8-10 pages where the applicant comments and reflects on the project description. Here the applicant should describe and reflect on how his or her research interests aligns with the overall project, and describe in detail what the applicant would like to focus on within the overall frame of the project
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activities)
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only)
• A complete list of publications
• Any research publications that the applicant wishes to be considered
• List of reference persons: 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number)

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

The application documents should be written in English.

Submitted research publications should be written in English or in a Scandinavian language.

Applicants with foreign qualifications are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system.

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

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 of 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 Hans Christian Arnseth
• Professor Kenneth Silseth

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