PhD Position in Science and Technology Education

Description

Karlstad University announces a position within the doctoral education program focusing on the didactics of science or technology, culminating in a PhD degree.

The PhD position is announced within the framework of the National Graduate School in Science and Technology Education for Teacher Educators – FontD. We are looking for someone who wants to conduct subject-specific didactic research focusing on issues related to preschool, primary school, secondary school, or teacher education. Relevant research interests for this announcement include subject didactics in one of the following areas: biology, physics, chemistry, interdisciplinary natural science, or technology.

As a PhD student, you will be part of the subject didactics research center SMEER (Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Education Research, www.kau.se/smeer (www.kau.se/smeer)) at Karlstad University. The PhD project can preferably focus on one of SMEER's prioritized areas: practice-oriented teaching research, subject didactic theory and concept development, education for sustainable development, or the digitalization of teaching.

You will also be part of a larger initiative for a national graduate school (FontD6, https://liu.se/forskning/fontd (https://liu.se/forskning/fontd)) with Linköping University (Norrköping campus) as the host university. Your employment and workplace will be at Karlstad University. During the first two years, mandatory courses will be conducted at Linköping University, which means you will travel there for two-day seminars approximately four times per term.

The PhD position can be established with a focus on: the didactics of the natural sciences (biology, physics, and chemistry), technology didactics, or pedagogical work with a subject didactic focus. The doctoral education is expected to start on September 1, 2026.

Job Duties

As a PhD student, you will primarily focus on your own doctoral education. The doctoral education consists of 240 higher education credits (hp) for a PhD degree and 120 hp for a licentiate degree, providing an opportunity for paid studies combined with work and a chance to start an academic career. As a PhD student, you will work independently and be prepared to contribute in various ways to the subject's and institution's work and development. At the same time, you will have the opportunity to deepen your interests together with others. It may be relevant to participate in teaching and administration, known as institutional service, by agreement. Such work can comprise a maximum of 20% of full-time work. The work as a PhD student gives you great freedom to plan and organize your work, which requires commitment, drive, and the ability to structure your work to successfully complete a dissertation.

To contribute to a good working environment and support both the institution's and your own development as a researcher, you are present and actively participate in daily work and community. Therefore, you are expected to be on-site to a large extent.

Eligibility and Admission

To be admitted to the doctoral education program, you must meet both basic and specific eligibility requirements (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 § 35).

Basic eligibility is granted to those who have completed a master's degree, fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 hp, of which at least 60 hp at the master's level, or who have otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 § 39).

For admission to the graduate school, the applicant must have completed a teacher's degree with a focus on one of the natural science subjects (biology, physics, and chemistry), natural science, or technology, a preschool teacher's degree, or have otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge.

Specific eligibility for admission to the doctoral education program varies for different subjects. The respective subject's eligibility requirements and general study plan can be found on the respective doctoral education subject's website: https://www.kau.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/forskarutbildningar/forskarutbildningsamnen (https://www.kau.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/forskarutbildningar/forskarutbildningsamnen)

To be admitted to the doctoral education program, it is also required that you are assessed to have the ability to benefit from the education (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7 § 35). Admission is based on individual assessment.

Application Deadline: March 1, 2026

Apply for the position and read the full announcement on Karlstad University's website.

Karlstad University has made a medieval for this recruitment and therefore we kindly decline contact with advertisement sellers and recruitment service providers.

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the HR Excellence in Research award in September 2020. The award is given to employers who provide a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and continuously work to develop these. The award demonstrates the institution's commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more at https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/karlstads-universitet-som-arbetsgivare/human-resources-strategi-forskare-hrs4r (https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/karlstads-universitet-som-arbetsgivare/human-resources-strategi-forskare-hrs4r)