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PhD position
There is a vacancy for a PhD position at the Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology (SLATE), Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, within the theme “Creativity, Learning & Technology, which explores the sociocultural and cognitive underpinnings of creativity, learning, and technology and how innovation happens. The position is for a fixed-term period of four years.
The Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology (SLATE) is a learning sciences research centre that carries out interdisciplinary research on the use of data and data analytic approaches (learning analytics) to understand learning, teaching, and creative knowledge processes across the full learning lifespan. Hosted at the Faculty of Psychology, SLATE opened in 2016 with funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Education and the University of Bergen and has a broad mandate as a national research and competence centre for learning analytics. We are a dynamic and including milieu of 20 persons, including faculty, researchers, adjuncts, postdocs, PhD and Master’s students, and support staff.
About the project/work tasks:
The scope of this PhD position is to investigate teacher’s and student’s creative use of technology for learning (e.g., VR, AR, robots) at different levels of education. When used constructively, technology allows students to engage in meaningful creative activities and expand their own learning potential through curiosity, wondering, collaboration, and critical thinking. However, educational technologies should not be ‘romanticised’ and it is useful to study also how their adoption and use can sometimes limit creative exploration. This PhD project is expected to be both qualitative and quantitative in nature (based on multiple methods such as ethnographic observation of technology uses in the classroom and interviews, experimental research, survey and learning analytics) in order to explore teacher agency and constrains, improvisational uses of technology, and the role of serendipity in the educational process.
A key challenge is to understand and evaluate innovative technologies in terms of both educational outcomes and the dialogical cultivation of creativity and imagination for both teachers and students. This is a timely question given not only current technological advances but also the pressing need for stimulating creative thinking in education as a key 21st century skill.
Specific tasks for the PhD candidate involve:
- Review the state of the art in innovative educational technologies, teacher agency, improvisation and serendipity in the classroom
- Study technology-mediated, creative practices in teaching
- Conduct mixed method empirical research to explore teacher agency and constraints
- Disseminate the findings to the scientific community, educators and the wider public
- Participate in SLATE activities
Qualifications and personal qualities:
- The applicant must at the time of application hold a master’s degree or the equivalent in either Psychology, Education, Learning, Technology studies, or related fields, and have a solid understanding of methodological issues
- For admission to the doctoral programme, grade B or above is normally required on the master’s thesis
- Experience with innovative educational technologies, at any level of education, is an advantage
- Work independently and in a structured manner, as well as ability to cooperate with others
- Basic command of the Norwegian or Scandinavian language can be an advantage
- Proficiency in both written and oral English is a necessity
About the PhD position:
The duration of the PhD position is 4 years, of which 25 per cent of the time each year comprises obligatory duties at SLATE associated with research, teaching, and dissemination of results. The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a recruitment position.
About the research training:
As a PhD Candidate, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years. When your application is evaluated for the position, you will also be evaluated for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Psychology .
You will find further information about the PhD programme at the Faculty of Psychology .
We can offer:
- Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment
- Salary at pay grade 54 (Code 1017/Pay range 20, alternative 10) in the state salary scale. This currently amounts to an annual salary of NOK 491 200 before taxes. Further promotions are made according to qualifications and length of service in the position.
- Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Good
Your application must include:
- A brief account of your research interests and motivation for applying for the position
- Project description (3 - 5 pages including references)
- CV
- The names and contact information for two reference persons. One of these must be the main supervisor for the master’s thesis or equivalent.
- Transcripts and diplomas (higher education)
- Applicants with foreign education must enclose certified translations to English or Scandinavian if the original Diploma and grade transcripts are not already in one of these languages. The applicants must also enclose a confirmation from NOKUT that the education is recognized to be in accordance with the Norwegian master’s degree. The review from NOKUT may take some time and the application should be sent to NOKUT as soon as you have decided to apply for the position. If no answer within the application deadline, please enclose documentation from NOKUT that they have received your application. Some qualifications from the Nordic countries are automatically recognized, please check .
- Any of your publications you want to be included in the evaluation of your application
Please note that applications, along with the information and attachments linked to the application in JobbNorge, will be evaluated after the closing date for applications. Attachments must be in English or a Scandinavian language, and any translations must be certified. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all the necessary information has been submitted by the closing date for applications.
It is particularly important that each of the attachments that are to be taken into account in the assessment is uploaded in full as an attachment to your application.
General information:
Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting:
- Dr. Ingunn Johanne Ness, Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology (SLATE), Faculty of Psychology, ; Logg inn for å se kontaktinformasjon or
- Associate Professor Vlad Glaveanu,
The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds, gap in their CV and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position. Information about disabilites or gap in CV can be used for registration purposes at University of Bergen.
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.
Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.
For further information about the recruitment process, click .
Life as a PhD candidate at UiB
Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.
