PhD Candidates in Educational Work

We are now looking for two PhD candidates in educational work within the graduate school "Cognition in the Classroom – Integrating Cognitive Perspectives in Language, Reading, and Writing Instruction from Preschool to High School".

The graduate school Cognition in the Classroom is led from the University of Gothenburg in collaboration with, among others, Kristianstad University. The graduate school investigates cognitive, linguistic, and didactic processes involved when children develop language skills (speaking, writing, reading, listening) – in both first and second languages. More information can be found here: Cognition in the Classroom (https://www.gu.se/forskning/kognition-i-klassrummet).

At the Faculty of Teacher Education, research and education are conducted in a wide range of areas. To learn more about the faculty's research, see Kristianstad University Research (http://www.hkr.se/forskning/). As a PhD candidate, you will be part of a research environment, preferably LiLL, Learning in Language and Literature (https://www.hkr.se/forskning/forskningsmiljoer/learning-in-language-and-literature-lill/).

Job Responsibilities

As a PhD candidate, you will participate in the overall activities of the current research project, but also work independently on your own dissertation work, which includes mandatory elective courses. Your responsibilities also include oral and written scientific communication of research results.

We welcome projects in the following thematic areas:

• Language Development focusing on longitudinal vocabulary development in speech and writing during school years. The project may relate to how the use of AI tools affects the development of students' vocabulary and is preferably aimed at younger school ages (F–6), including students with and without reading and writing difficulties and/or Swedish as a first language. It may investigate how teaching practices can best be designed to support students' vocabulary development.
• Cognitive and Linguistic Development of Students during the middle school years, and its relation to students' writing and/or speaking development. The project may investigate how background factors such as reading comprehension, working memory, and executive functions affect students' writing and/or speaking development in and outside the classroom. Focus is primarily on grades 4–6 and may include students with and without reading and writing difficulties and/or Swedish as a first language.

You will be employed, have your workplace, and be admitted to the doctoral education in educational work at Kristianstad University. You will be part of a seminar group with other PhD candidates in the faculty's research environments. The education includes mandatory courses at Kristianstad University and elective courses which are often conducted at other institutions. You will also be part of the graduate school Cognition in the Classroom, where you study the mandatory courses within the graduate school and participate in regular meetings at the participating institutions. Studies can be combined with a maximum of 20% institutional service, provided that space is available at the institution.

Eligibility and Qualifications

To be eligible for doctoral education, you must meet the conditions for basic and specific eligibility and otherwise have the necessary ability to complete the education.

You have basic eligibility through a completed degree at the advanced level or completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits at the advanced level, or have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way within or outside the country (HF, Chapter 7, Section 39). For specific eligibility, you must have basic eligibility, teacher education, and at least two years of pedagogical professional experience, or have acquired equivalent knowledge in some other way within or outside the country (HF Chapter 7, Section 40).

In addition to the general and specific eligibility, an assessment of the applicant's ability to benefit from the education will be of great importance. At Kristianstad University, the following assessment criteria are applied: previous study results, the quality of previous independent work, motivation and expectations for doctoral education, theoretical awareness, ability to benefit from supervision, ability to work independently, as well as linguistic and analytical skills. It is an advantage if you have a master's degree in a relevant subject area and experience working in teacher education. Studies beyond teacher education that deepen or broaden knowledge in relevant areas are a merit, as well as other experience relevant to the project.

You have good computer skills and can communicate well both orally and in writing in Swedish and English. In the role of PhD candidate, it is important that you have a good ability to communicate and interact with different groups. You collaborate well with others, work independently, are stable and creative. You take initiative, are flexible, structured, and pedagogical by adapting your message to the recipient.

Other

Start date is 2026-09-01 or by agreement. The position is full-time or another working degree by agreement. Regulations for employment as a PhD candidate can be found in the regulation SFS 1993:100, Chapter 5. The employment concerns doctoral studies leading to a doctorate. As a PhD candidate, you will receive a fixed-term employment covering four years of full-time studies regulated by HF Chapter 5, Sections 3 a, 7. The first employment may last for a maximum of one year. The employment may then be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. The education leading to a doctorate comprises 240 higher education credits. In cases where institutional service occurs, the doctoral education must be extended correspondingly.

Application

The application must include:

• CV/Resume
• A project plan for a proposed doctoral project, 3–4 pages. The plan should fit under one of the two orientations described above. Please note that the plan is a work sample that serves as a basis for assessment in the admission process. The selected PhD candidate will then develop the plan together with a supervisor within the framework of the graduate school's themes and goals.
• Attach the works (master's thesis, reports, scientific articles, etc.) that you have completed.

The application deadline is 2026-02-22.

For questions, contact:

About the project: Victoria Johansson, Professor of Swedish with a didactic focus [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
About the doctoral education: Anders Jönsson, Professor of Didactics, Director of Studies for Doctoral Education in Educational Work: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

If you have questions about how to make your application, contact the system's support at 0520-58 00 50 or via the support box.

See more PhD positions in educational work here (http://www.hkr.se/jobb).