The Department of Educational Sciences (ILU), Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) has a vacant PhD position in ‘Integrative Life Science Education’. The position is situated within a larger action research context at ILU, with a focus on teacher education for sustainability. The PhD project will explore integrative dimensions of life science education for sustainability and corresponding integrative epistemologies.
The PhD position runs for three years without teaching duties, or four years with teaching, supervision or similar duties constituting 25% of the overall workload. A four-year position requires that the candidate has the necessary and relevant additional qualifications for teaching at ILU.
As a member of the ILU Research Group in Education for Sustainable Development you will be working closely with an interdisciplinary team of innovative researchers, dedicated to teacher education for sustainability in close collaboration with pilot schools and teachers. You will also be part of a national and international network on Integrative Life Science Education and Education for Sustainable Development.
An application for a PhD position at NMBU is at the same time an application for admission to a PhD programme at the institution. The documentation that is necessary to ensure that the admission requirements are met must be uploaded as an attachment.
Main tasks
The work will contribute to ongoing development of integrative life science teacher education at ILU, piloting the theoretical foundations and didactical applications of integrative life science education.
The main task will be
- to develop applied integrative didactics in a chosen field of life science education – with a corresponding integrative epistemology
- to contribute to the applied didactics and epistemological foundations of integrative life science teacher education for sustainable development
The research framework implies coherence between epistemological and didactical approaches. On the other hand, it opens for flexibility for the candidate to locate the project within her/his field of integrative life science education.
The PhD is expected to be relevant for life science teacher education. The applied context is teacher education in Norway and Scandinavia, whereas the integrative life science research network is international. The study will be situated within a larger research context at ILU, focusing on teacher education for sustainability.
The successful candidate is expected to enter a plan for the progress of the work towards a PhD degree during the first months of the appointment, with a view to completing a doctorate within the PhD scholarship period.
Competence
The successful applicant must meet the conditions defined for admission to a PhD programme at NMBU. The applicant must have an academically relevant education corresponding to a five-year master’s degree or a cand.med.vet. degree, with a learning outcome corresponding to the descriptions in the Norwegian Qualification Framework, second cycle. Candidates submitting MSs thesis within 15 March 2023 may be considered. The applicant must have a documented strong academic background from previous studies and be able to document proficiency in both written and oral English. For more detailed information on the admission criteria please see the PhD Regulations and the relevant PhD programme description.
The applicant must document expertise and interest in the research subject.
Required academic qualifications:
- Master’s degree in relevant life science education or relevant field
- Formal teacher education qualification, university level or secondary level
- Relevant experience within life science teacher education
The following experiences and skills will be advantageous:
- Experience as a life science teacher
- Educational development work relevant to the research field
- Scientific publications relevant to the research field
- Integrative and phenomenological teaching experiences
You need to:
- Possess the ability of independent and collaborative academic work
- Have an analytic as well as integrative approach to research
- Have good collaborative, teaching and social skills
- Have excellent skills in English, both written and oral
- Know Norwegian or a Scandinavian language
Remuneration and further information
The PhD position is placed in government pay scale position code 1017. PhD fellows are normally placed in pay grade 54 (NOK 501.200) on the Norwegian Government salary scale upon employment and follow ordinary meriting regulations.
Employment is conducted according to national guidelines for University and Technical College PhD scholars.
For further information, please contact associate professor, Aksel Hugo, E-mail: aksel.hugo@nmbu.no; phone +47 47970862
Information for PhD applicants and general Information to applicants
Application
To apply online for this vacancy, please click on the ‘Apply for this job’ button above. This will route you to the University’s Web Recruitment System, where you will need to register and account (if you have not already) and log in before completing the online application form.
Application deadline: February 28. 2023
In the application, the candidate must confirm that information and documentation (in the form of attachments) submitted via the job application can also be used by NMBU in a possible admission process.
Applicants invited for an interview are expected to present original diplomas and certificates.
The following documents should accompany your application:
- Motivation letter (maximum 1 page)
- A project sketch up to 1200 words, literature list in addition. The sketch should contain possible approaches, research question(s) and delimitations and a short presentation of possible didactical/epistemological approaches.
The following must be attached to the application:
- Complete CV
- Certified copies of academic diplomas and certificates. (i.e., Diploma, transcript. Diploma supplement for both bachelor and master). Diplomas, transcripts and diploma supplements that are not in Norwegian or English must be uploaded in the original language. An English translation of these documents must also be attached.
- Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement, or a similar document, which describes in detail the study program and grading system.
- Documentation of proficiency in written and oral English in accordance with NMBU PhD regulation section 5-2 (3).
- Names and contact details for two references
- Additional relevant documentation of professional knowledge (for example, list of scientific works). If it is difficult to judge the applicant’s contribution for publications with multiple authors, a short description of the applicant’s contribution must be included.
About The Faculty of Science and Technology
The Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) develops research-based knowledge and educates civil engineers and lecturers needed to reach the UN’s sustainability goals. We have approximately 150 employees, 70 PhD students and soon 1500 students. The education and research at REALTEK cover a broad spectrum of disciplines.
This includes data science, mechanics and process engineering, robotics, construction and architecture, industrial economics, environmental physics and renewable energy, geomatics, water and environmental engineering, applied mathematics as well as secondary school teacher education in natural sciences and use of natural resources such as in agriculture, forestry and aquaculture. The workplace is in Ås, 30 km from Oslo.
What is it really like to work at the Faculty of Science and Technology (REALTEK) at NMBU?
– Guided tour of the Faculty of Science and Technology on Vimeo
The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
NMBU has a particular responsibility for research and education that secures the basis for the life of future generations. Sustainability is rooted in everything we do and we deliver knowledge for life. NMBU has 1,900 employees of which about 500 phd scholarships and 6,700 students. The university is divided into seven faculties.
NMBU believes that a good working environment is characterised by diversity.
We encourage qualified candidates to apply regardless of gender, functional ability, cultural background or whether you have been outside the labour market for a period. If necessary, workplace adaptations will be made for persons with disabilities. More information about NMBU is available at www.nmbu.no.