Vacant job

Are you a teacher or teacher-trained and curious about how teaching can be developed with the support of research? Do you want to deepen your subject knowledge while contributing to school development? Then a doctoral position within the BEPPE research school may be the next step in your professional career.

Karlstad University is seeking three doctoral students for the BEPPE research school.

• A doctoral student in Science (NO), admitted to the doctoral programme in Biology
• A doctoral student in English, admitted to the doctoral programme in English
• A doctoral student with a focus on Swedish, admitted to either the doctoral programme in Literary Studies or Pedagogical Work

Research School on Subject-Specific Didactic Models in Lower Secondary School (BEPPE)

The BEPPE research school aims to contribute to more systematic knowledge about how some scientifically established, but mutually different, subject-specific didactic models function in various subjects and school contexts, and how they can be integrated into teacher education and lower secondary school (grades F-6). This means that as a doctoral student, you will research concrete teaching in the earlier years of lower secondary school, with close connections to teacher education and school practice.

The research school is jointly arranged by Karlstad University and the University of Gothenburg, with a total of 9 doctoral students.

We welcome applications from teacher educators, school teachers, or anyone else interested in researching teaching and learning in the advertised specializations. You may be at the beginning of your professional career – what is important is your interest in teaching, learning, and school development in interaction with research. The BEPPE research school offers you a dynamic environment with the opportunity to establish international networks, participate in conferences, and undertake overseas stays. For further information about the research school and its focus: BEPPE (#)

Subject Environments

The research school is part of the subject-specific didactic research environment at Karlstad University. This consists of Rose (Research on Subject-specific Education) as well as the three subject-specific didactic centres: CSL (Centre for Language and Literature Didactics), CSD (Centre for the Didactics of Social Science Subjects), and SMEER (Science, Mathematics and Engineering Education Research). The subject-specific didactic perspective implies a particular interest in teaching and learning in subjects or subject areas. As a doctoral student, you will be affiliated with one of our subject-specific didactic environments.

Responsibilities

As a doctoral student, you will primarily focus on your own doctoral studies. The doctoral programme, which comprises 240 higher education credits (HEC) for a PhD and 120 HEC for a Licentiate degree, offers the opportunity for paid studies combined with work and a chance to start an academic career. As a doctoral student, you work independently and are willing to contribute in various ways to the work and development of the subject and the department. You are given the opportunity to deepen your areas of interest, together with others. It may become relevant, after agreement, to participate in teaching and administration, so-called departmental duties. Such work can cover a maximum of 20% of full-time employment. The work as a doctoral student gives you great freedom to plan and organize your work, which requires among other things commitment, drive, and the ability to structure the work to successfully complete a dissertation. To contribute to a good working environment and support both the operation's and your own development as a researcher, you are present and actively participate in the daily work and community.

Eligibility and Admission

To be admitted to the doctoral programme, you must meet both basic and special eligibility requirements (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 35).

Basic eligibility is held by those who have completed a degree at an advanced level, fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 HEC, of which at least 60 HEC at an advanced level, or who have otherwise acquired substantially equivalent knowledge inside or outside the country (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 7, Section 39).

Special eligibility varies between subjects and the requirements are specified in the current study plan. Depending on your educational background, admission may occur to different doctoral programmes with different study plans. Current study plans with specific requirements for special eligibility are available at https://www.kau.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/forskarutbildningar/forskarutbildningsamnen (https://www.kau.se/forskning/forskarutbildning/forskarutbildningar/forskarutbildningsamnen)

In addition to basic and special eligibility, good knowledge of a Nordic language (Swedish, Danish, or Norwegian) and English is required for this position due to the nature of the research.

Evaluation Criteria:

The assessment of eligible applicants is based on the following evaluation criteria.

Special weight is placed on documented qualifications regarding

• quality of the qualifying degree thesis/essay
• quality of the submitted research plan and its relevance in relation to the research school's focus.

Significant weight is placed on

• intention to be present and participate in the research environment.
• personal qualities such as self-motivated, resilient, proactive, and good teamwork skills.
• good knowledge of English

Merit is given for prior teaching experience, primarily in lower secondary school, and secondarily in other school forms.

Conditions

After admission to doctoral education, a doctoral position will be offered (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Section 3). The position covers four years of full-time studies with research only. If teaching or other departmental duties become relevant, the employment will be extended by the corresponding time, up to a maximum of five years full-time. The employment is fixed-term for the first year and can thereafter be extended by up to two years at a time (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5), starting October 1st or as agreed.

The salary for the doctoral position follows the local collective agreement with fixed salary steps.

Admission is subject to necessary decisions being made.