2 doctoral students in Educational Measurement - Befattningen är under tillsättning eller redan tillsatt, och det är inte längre möjligt att lämna in en ansökan

The Department of Applied Educational Sciences at Umeå University's Faculty of Social Sciences has about 100 employees, engaged in teaching, research and specially-commissioned activities. The department's activities are broad, interdisciplinary and close to education practice. At the department, education and research are carried out in the subject areas of educational work and educational measurement.

Specialization of the doctoral studentship
In the subject Educational measurement, research is conducted on educational and psychological assessments. This can involve studying the characteristics of tests and how they function for their purposes and for different groups of individuals. At the department of Applied Educational Sciences, tests such as the Swedish Admission Test to Higher Education (Högskoleprovet) and national tests are developed, and within both of these test activities, there are areas suitable for doctoral projects.

Examples of relevant areas to investigate include the digitalization of assessments, adaptations for students with special needs, students' perceptions of assessment, and studies of performance and changes over time. The specific focus of this project will be developed through a dialogue between the doctoral candidate and the supervisor.

Qualifications
To be admitted to studies at the third-cycle level, the applicant must meet both general and subject specific entry requirements. 

Applicants meet the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if they have been awarded a second-cycle qualification have satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

Applicants meet the subject specific entry requirements for admission to doctoral studies in Educational measurement if they have passed at least 90 credits in either educational measurement, pedagogy, psychology, sociology or statistics, or have equivalent and proven knowledge.

Assessment criteria
Applicants are ranked with reference to their capacity to benefit from and complete the programme. Assessment is based primarily on prior study results, with particular consideration given to degree projects or equivalent, and the quality of the research plan and its relevance for the subject area and connections to the departments’ research profile areas. References, interviews, and other evaluations of the candidates are also taken into consideration.

General and subject specific entry requirements must have been met at the time of applying.

Terms of employment
Doctoral students will primarily devote themselves to their education at third-cycle level. Employment as a doctoral student is for the time necessary for the completion of research studies at a normal rate of study, which corresponds to a full-time position for four years. The initial contract of 12 months may be extended by up to a maximum of two years at a time, providing that the doctoral student’s individual study plan has been followed. Doctoral students may work with teaching and administration up to a maximum of 20 percent of their full-time employment. In such cases, the period of employment is extended with the equivalent time spend on teaching/administration, up to a maximum of one additional year.

Doctoral students are affiliated with the Postgraduate school in the educational sciences, coordinated with the doctoral training programme at the relevant department. Doctoral studies begin at the start of the autumn semester, 2 September 2024.  The place of work is Umeå University. The entry level salary is 30 900 SEK and rises in four steps to 35 600 SEK. Doctoral students are expected to actively contribute to the research environment.

The doctoral student will have their employment at the Department of Applied Educational Science and the department is responsible for the subject-specific research training and for supervision. Please see the general syllabus for more information.

According to The Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12 §2, a decision of appointment to a doctoral studentship cannot be appealed. 

Application
Applications are submitted in the e-recruitment system Varbi, found via the University’s page for open positions. The system is open for applications until 29 March 2024. 

A complete application must include:

1. Curriculum vitae, including name and contact information of two reference persons
2. A personal letter about 1-2 A4 pages that describes how your own merits and experiences are relevant as well as an account of one's own research interest in relation to the current one the focus of the employment
3. A research plan in English, Swedish or another Scandinavian language, 3-4 pages, that contains: purpose and research problem, short background to the choice of specialization area and suggestions for the structure of the study.
4. A copy with information about completed academic courses with grades (academic transcripts) and copy of diplomas (BA, MA) proving basic and special qualifications.
5. Copies of relevant BA and MA theses and other relevant publications that show your ability to do scientific work.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Please note: the Swedish version is the official version of this advertisement. In the case of any differences in information between this translation and the official version, the latter takes precedence and is the legally binding document.

Additional information
More information about the Department of Applied Educational Science and its scientific orientation can be provided by Professor and Deputy Head Bert Jonsson, +46907867612, bert.jonsson@umu.se
For more information about the doctoral program in Educational measurement, contact associate professor Hanna Eklöf,  +46907867851, hanna.eklof@umu.se