About this role
Job description Applicants are invited for a three to four-year full-time position as a PhD Research Fellow at the Centre for Research on Equality in Education (CREATE), University of Oslo, Norway. CREATE is an interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway with the objective of generating novel knowledge about how to reduce social inequality. The interdisciplinary center integrates researchers with substantive expertise from sociology, psychology, education, economics, and genetics, and methodological expertise from educational measurement, psychometrics, econometrics, statistics, and biostatistics. More about the position CREATE is an interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence funded by the Research Council of Norway with the overall objective of generating novel knowledge about how to reduce social inequality. CREATE has three strands, and the PhD position belongs to Strand 1. Strand 1 aims to identify barriers to equality. Strand 1 further aims to test the generalizability of malleable factors hindering equality across countries and time. A malleable factor refers to variables that are within the control of schools and educational policy and would include for instance school factors (like school climate, teacher characteristics, teaching quality, student motivation and attitudes, student cognitive outcomes). International large-scale assessment (ILSA) like Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) may be used to make generalizable inferences across countries and time. While the main focus of the PhD position lies in examining factors that may enhance equality across countries and over time, it is desirable to also examine these factors in-depth in the Norwegian context via qualitative approaches including for instance interviews, classrooms observations or similar. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to define and pursue their own research interests that would cover both of these two aims within mathematics: 1) identifying factors that reduce the achievement gap in mathematics between advantaged and disadvantaged students, and study their generalizability across countries and time, and 2) examine this/these factor(s) in depth in Norway with a qualitative approach (e.g. interviews or classroom observations). The PhD Fellow will be expected to be able to use advanced quantitative methods to analyze ILSA data. The successful candidate should have prior knowledge of quantitative methods and experience with the complex designs and data of ILSAs. The PhD Fellow will be embedded in the interdisciplinary Strand 1 group alongside researchers in sociology, psychology, education, economics, and related fields. We expect active participation in our strand and interdisciplinary center. The position is a full-time position for a period of three years. If there is a good match between the candidate’s competence and the teaching needs at the Department of Teacher Education and School Research (ILS), then the position can be extended to four years with the 25% teaching duties, usually in the form of teaching, supervision, and assessment. The PhD Fellow must take part in the faculty’s approved PhD program, and is expected to complete the project within the set fellowship period. The main purpose of the PhD fellowship is to qualify the candidate for a research career within or beyond academia. To support a strategic and well-structured PhD trajectory, the PhD Fellow will be required to develop a career and competence development plan in dialogue with the supervisory team early in the appointment period. The successful candidate will receive close supervision and is encouraged to develop a strong international research profile through collaboration, conference participation, and research stays abroad. For more information, please see our web site . Qualification requirements Applicants must satisfy the requirements for admission to the faculty´s PhD programme. This normally includes: Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in Education, Psychology, Economics, Sociology or other relevant fields A Master’s degree (120 ECTS) with a minimum grade B (ECTS grading scale) or equivalent. The master’s degree must include a thesis of at least 30 ECTS, with a minimum grade B A Bachelor’s degree with a minimum grade C (ECTS grading scale) For 5-year studies, the average grade must be C or better for the first three years, and B or better for the last two years (ECTS grading scale). The Master thesis must have been graded with a minimum grade B Fluent oral and written communication skills in English and Norwegian In the assessment of applications, emphasis will be placed on: Familiarity with quantitative methodology and ILSAs Personal skills We are looking for a motivated and engaged PhD fellow with strong potential for high-quality research. Personal suitability will be emphasized and assessed based on the following qualities: Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in interdisciplinary research team Strong analytical and problem-solving skills Ability to give and receive constructive scientific feedback Structured, reliable, and results-oriented working style Good communication and collaboration skills We need different perspectives in our work UiO is an open and internationally oriented comprehensive university that strives to be an inclusive and diverse workplace and academic environment. You can read more about UiO’s work on equality, inclusion, and diversity at uio.no . We fulfill our mission most effectively when we draw upon our variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives. We are looking for great colleagues—could you be the next one? We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Relevant adjustments may include modifications to working hours, task adaptations, digital, technical, or physical adjustments, or other practical measures. If you have an immigrant background, a disability, or CV gaps (Norwegian),