Researcher in biology or pedagogics

The Department of Biology has a vacancy for a researcher in biology or pedagogics who will perform a systematic review on the effectiveness of workplace placements for biology undergraduates. The position is for 15 months, as part of the project PRIME in the Centre of Excellence in Biology Education (BioCEED).

About the project and tasks

BioCEED’s competance project PRIME (How implementation of PRactice can IMprove relevance and quality in discipline and professional Educations) has as a goal to investigate how increased level of practical experience influences learning and motivation in higher education. A long-term goal for PRIME is to find how practical exprience affects the students’ career and work opportunities after completing their degree. The programme FINNUT in the Research Council of Norway funds the project.

 

Systematic review is recognised as the ‘gold standard’ for evidence review and increasingly used in education and policy. In this job the researcher will:

• Collaborate with BioCEED members and the wider ‘Scholarship of learning’ community to generate a systematic review protocol with specific research questions
• Perform a systematic review and knowledge mapping to establish the state of the art in the use of work placements to improve educational outcomes and career establishment for bachelor-level biology students
• Support other strands of the prime project, for example students undertaking workplace, or other practical experiences

 

Qualifications, skills and personal qualities

• The applicant must hold a PhD in either biology or pedagogics
• The applicant should have experience in performing, and preferably leadership, of systematic reviews
• The ability to balance the needs and contributions of diverse stakeholder groups should be demonstrated. You should be a good communicator, approachable and good at collaborative work
• The applicant should have experience in supervising biology students in work placements or other practical placements (e.g. individual research projects)
• Publications in either education or systematic review will be an asset; this position will run to a tight schedule where prompt publication of results is a clear aim
• Excellent written and good spoken English are required, good written and spoken Norwegian is an advantage in order to support students in their host workplaces 

We offer

• an exciting, challenging and forward-thinking working environment
• starting salary at pay grade 57 in the Civil Service pay grade table (code 1109). Further increases will be made according to length of service in the position
• enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• good welfare benefits and an inclusive workplace (IW)

The application must include

• a brief account of your research interests and motivation for applying for this job (maximum 1000 words)
• a statement that describes your experiences and approacher in education (maximum 1000 words)
• the names and contact details of at least two academic/professional referees
• transcripts and diplomas showing completion of PhD, or official confirmation that your doctoral thesis has been submitted
• CV
• list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list)
• copies of up to five relevant publications, which may include submitted manuscripts

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge. Applications sent by e-mail to individuals at the department will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 1 September 2016 

General information

Further information about the position can be obtained from: Adjunct Professor Gaute Velle, Department of Biology, University of Bergen, telephone number 55 58 29 09, email gaute.velle@uib.no.

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. Age and gender balance among employees is therefore a goal. It is also a goal to recruit people with immigrant backgrounds. People with immigrant backgrounds and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position.

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 here.