Doctoral Degree in the Didactic of Natural Sciences with a focus on student interest

Department of Subject Education has about 280 employees. The Department of Science Education includes 26 persons, including five professors, eight senior researchers, six university lecturers and seven doctoral students. The research at the department includes all levels of the education system and a main focus is to contribute teaching development research. The department's researchers use different forms of data generation, such as interviews, classroom observations, surveys and text analysis. The research also includes the design of teaching and often takes place in collaboration with the teaching profession. Read more about the research environment at the Education of Natural Sciences - Stockholm University.

More information about us is available at: Department of Subject Education.

Project description

The thesis work will be carried out within the framework of doctoral studies in the didactics of natural sciences. The thesis project is aimed at comprehensive school year 4 – 9 and/or upper secondary school with a focus on the importance of teaching for students' interest in natural sciences. Interests are developed in social contexts, at home and at school, and include cognitive, aesthetic and normative aspects of wanting and being able to participate in natural science contexts. The project can usefully include design and modelling of teaching and take place in close collaboration with the teacher profession. The empirical studies will be conducted in Swedish schools.

Competence requirements

In order to be admitted to doctoral studies, the applicant must have basic and special qualifications. The eligibility must be fulfilled by the closing date for the application.

Basic permissions to doctoral education has the person who has:

• completed a second-cycle degree;
• completed course requirements of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits at advanced level, or
• acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in any other way within or outside the country.

The university may allow exceptions to the requirement of basic eligibility if there are special reasons (7 chapter, 39§ Higher Education Ordinance). Exceptions are decided by the dean at the request of the departmental board.

Forspecific competence to be admitted to doctoral education in the didactics of natural sciences, the applicant must have completed teacher education with the right to teach natural sciences in the current school form including a degree project of at least 15 credits in the field of science didactics.

The qualification requirements may also be met by the person who acquired substantially equivalent competence within or outside the country.

For special eligibility, the applicant must master either Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or English, that is, the ability to read, speak and write in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian or English.

Any equivalent assessment is made by the department's Research Committee and decisions are made by the department board.

Selection

The ability of applicants to assimilate doctoral education is assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• Documented subject knowledge relevant to the research area. Assessment takes into account the depth and breadth of previous training.
• Previous scientific production. On the basis of degree projects from basic and advanced level and other written scientific production, the applicant's ability to assimilate the programme is assessed. The assessment also takes into account the extent to which the applicant has demonstrated the ability to perform its previous scientific tasks within the given timeframe. In addition, on the basis of a comparison of the scientific elements, an assessment is made of the applicant's scientific development. Scientific production is assessed in terms of critical and analytical ability, independence and creativity.
• Research plan. Applicants will describe their intended research area, including problem formulations/s and a sketch of the implementation of the research work. The plan is assessed in terms of relevance, scientific quality and feasibility within the given timeframe.
• Co-operation capacity. The applicant's ability to cooperate is assessed on the basis of references, certificates or interviews.
• The ability to express oneself in speech and writing in Swedish is a requirement. The ability to express oneself in speech and writing in English is meritorious.

It is particularly meritorious if the applicant has a basic teacher's degree with a specialization in natural sciences in grade 4 – 6 or a subject teacher's degree in natural sciences. Assessment will be done taking into account available instructor skills. Work samples may be conducted in conjunction with interviews to demonstrate abilities relevant for doctoral studies

Admission order for doctoral studies at Stockholm University.

About the employment

We offer a temporary position as a doctoral student according to 5 chapter. Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100). The period of employment may not exceed that corresponding to full-time doctoral education for four years. As a doctoral student, you should primarily focus on your own doctoral education, but the employment can include work with education, research and administration to a limited extent (maximum 20 %).

A new position as a doctoral student is valid for a maximum of one year, the position is then renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.

Stockholm University is committed to being a workplace free of discrimination and providing equal rights and opportunities for all.

Contact

Further information is provided by Per Anderhag, per.anderhag@su.se, or director of studies at postgraduate level, Anna Pansell, tel. 08-16 20 51, anna.pansell@su.se.

Application

You are applying for the PhD position via Stockholm University's recruitment system. Attach personal letter and CV as well as the appendices requested in the application form. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is received by the university no later than the closing date for the application.

Instructions for applicants can be found on the website: to apply for employment.

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