Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Language, Reading and Mathematical Development (WORDS2NUMBERS)

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

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Postdoctoral Research Fellow position

Applications are invited for a three-year position as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Department of Education, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen (UiB). The position is financed by the Research Council of Norway as part of the WORDS2NUMBERS research project. The position is based in Bergen, Norway. Some travel may be required in connection with research collaboration and data collection.

About the project/work tasks:

WORDS2NUMBERS investigates why reading and mathematical skills, and difficulties in these domains, are closely related. The advertised position is linked to Work Package 2 (WP2), which examines how different language skills contribute to mathematical development over time. The postdoctoral fellow will use data from the SpedAims cohort, an ongoing longitudinal study following approximately 750 children from the preschool years onwards.

Tasks:

• Develop and conduct research on the longitudinal relationships between language, reading and mathematics, with particular attention to the role of language skills in mathematical development.
• Analyze longitudinal data using appropriate advanced quantitative methods, including random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) and related approaches.
• Prepare and publish scientific articles, including first-author publications, and communicate findings at national and international conferences in collaboration with researchers in WORDS2NUMBERS and SpedAims cohort.
• Contribute to the planning and further development of assessment batteries, test materials and questionnaires for upcoming waves of the SpedAims cohort.
• Participate in planning, coordinating and conducting assessments of children in the SpedAims cohort, as well as data preparation and quality assurance.
• Collaborate closely with the research environments at UiB and the University of Oslo, including Centre for Research on Equality in Education (CREATE ) and SpedAims

Qualifications and personal qualities:

You must:

• Have successfully defended a PhD in psychology, education, special needs education, speech and language therapy, language sciences or another relevant field, or have submitted your doctoral thesis for evaluation before the application deadline. The doctoral degree must be obtained before employment can commence.
• Have documented experience with quantitative research and statistical analyses of empirical data.
• Demonstrate an ability to work independently and in a structured manner, and to collaborate effectively with others.
• Have excellent written and oral English communication skills.
• Show a clear interest in the development of children’s language, reading, and/or mathematical skills.

It is an advantage if you:

• Have experience with advanced longitudinal analyses or structural equation modelling, preferably using R, Mplus or similar software.
• Have research experience in language development, literacy, mathematical development, or learning difficulties.
• Have experience with the development or administration of child assessments, questionnaires, longitudinal studies, or data collection in educational settings.
• Have proficiency in Norwegian or another Scandinavian language, particularly for communication with children and participating schools

We can offer:

• Exciting research and career development opportunities in an interdisciplinary environment with national and international collaboration.
• Salary as a postdoctoral research fellow (code 1352) in the state salary scale. This currently amounts to an annual salary of NOK 685 900 before taxes. Further salary increases are made according to the length of service in the position.
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• A brief account of the applicant's research interests and motivation for applying for the position. including how your research interests relate to WP2 (max 2 pages).
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience, and other qualifying activities).
• Diplomas and transcripts. If you have not yet completed your doctoral degree, you must submit an official confirmation that the doctoral thesis has been submitted.
• The names and contact details of 2-3 referees (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and phone number). One of these must be the main supervisor of the PhD.
• Complete list of publications.
• Copies of the academic publications that should be considered in the assessment.

The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge