Post doctor (2 years) in technology or engineering education - ,

Department of Science and Mathematics Education

In this position, you get the opportunity to conduct research in technology or engineering education, both within an ongoing project at the department and with projects initiated by yourself.

The Department of Science and Mathematics Education currently has approximately 45 employees and provides a strong environment for both research and education. At the department, research and development work is conducted in educational science and education is primarily in teacher education. The competence of the department's employees is primarily in mathematics education, science education, technology education and assessment for learning. The department has quite and comfortable premises that are centrally located on campus. We who work at the department think that it is important to work for a good work environment and respectful atmosphere. More information about the department: https://www.umu.se/en/department-of-science-and-mathematics-education/

Project description and working tasks
As a post doctor in technology or engineering education, you will be part of the Umeå Science Education Research (UmSER) environment. Research topics explored in UmSER include environmental and sustainability education, the role of emotions in science and technology, and identity and power in teaching and learning.

As a post doctor in educational science, you will be part of the career program for young researchers run by Umeå School of Education. The position is in technology or engineering education, but also aims to strengthen educational research at Umeå University. As a post doctor in the career program, you will therefore be part of a broader interdisciplinary environment in addition to your main research context in technology or engineering education.

Your main task will be to conduct research, but teaching can also be included (up to 20% of full-time). Part of the time (approx. 30-40% of full-time) shall be dedicated to working in an ongoing research project (see description below). In the remaining time, you will be able to engage in other research activities, for example conducting independent research studies, initiating new collaborations, applying for research funding, supervising doctoral students, or completing already ongoing studies. As a post doctor, you are also expected to actively participate in and contribute to the department's research environment.

Part of the work time (approx. 30-40 %) you will work in the ongoing research project EMOTE, which aims to (1) explore the role of emotions when engineering students discuss complex sustainability problems and (2) develop strategies that educators can use to provide emotional support when students learn to address these kinds of problems. The project is financed by the Swedish Research Council and conducted in collaboration between Umeå University and Chalmers. Under the guidance of the principal investigator, Johanna Lönngren, the candidate is expected to participate in data collection, analysis, dissemination, as well as regular project meetings and research seminars in Umeå. In EMOTE, we work in a collaborative and non-hierarchical manner, driven by mutual respect, curiosity, a desire to contribute to sustainability, and high ambitions regarding research ethics and scientific quality. In addition to working in EMOTE, the post doctor can choose to engage in ongoing international research collaborations, for example through the Emotions in Engineering Education Network.

Qualifications
To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision. To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organisations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area. Postdoctoral fellows who are to teach or supervise must have taken relevant courses in teaching and learning in higher education.

Primarily, we are looking for a candidate who holds a PhD degree in engineering/technology education or in a related research area. Good communication skills in English (spoken and written) are prerequisites for working in the research project EMOTE.

Scientific competence is the primary basis for assessment and is assessed primarily through the quality and extent of scientific production. In addition, general assessment criteria are ability to cooperate and any other competence and suitability that is needed to fulfill the working tasks.

Experience of research in higher education, engineering education, and/or sustainability education is meritorious, but not required. Similarly, experience of qualitative video analysis and/or discourse analysis will be regarded as an asset.

Application
A full application should include:

• Cover letter where you describe why you are interested in this position, including a description of how your experiences are suitable for working in the ongoing research project and a plan for other research activity within the position (maximum two pages)
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Publication list
• Copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained, and copies of other relevant diplomas or similar documents
• Copy of doctoral thesis
• Copy of up to 3 scientific publications that are of particular importance for this employment
• Contact information to two persons willing to act as references
• Other documents that the applicant wishes to claim

You submit your application through our electronic recruitment system Varbi. The closing date is 2022-11-10.

Contact
For more information, contact the deputy head of department Magnus Österholm, magnus.osterholm@umu.se, +46 (0)90 786 71 31, or the project leader Johanna Lönngren, johanna.lonngren@umu.se, +46 (0)90 786 97 69.