The Danish School of Education (DPU), Faculty of Arts, Aarhus University, invites applications for a postdoctoral position associated with the research project “Welfare among Children and Young People in the Post-Pandemic Nordics”. The project is funded by NordForsk, which is an organisation under the Nordic Council of Ministers that provides funding for and facilitates Nordic cooperation on research and research infrastructure. The position is part-time (30 hours/week) for a duration of 15 months, commencing on 15 August 2024. The position will be based at DPU within the Department of Educational Sociology at either Campus Emdrup, Copenhagen NV or Campus Aarhus, Nobelparken, Aarhus C.
The Danish School of Education is committed to promoting diversity and encourages all qualified individuals to apply, irrespective of their background.
The research context
The project is a collaborative initiative involving universities from four Nordic countries, focusing on studying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the living conditions, mental health, well-being and learning of children and young people. It is structured into five work packages (WP), each led by an experienced research leader, and explores various crucial aspects of the pandemic’s effects on children and adolescents, both in school settings and in everyday life. These packages employ both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to investigate long-term changes and disparities in mental health, the educational achievements and well-being of primary and lower-secondary students, the effects of the pandemic on schools and school communities, and the implications for children and adolescents’ mental health.
The position
The successful applicant will primarily work with quantitative analysis in one of the WPs. This WP focuses on learning achievement and educational well-being among primary and lower-secondary students with cross-national comparisons of pre- and post-pandemic time periods. The WP is divided into two strands.
The first strand entails statistical comparative longitudinal analyses of IEA data from the four Nordic countries involved, utilizing datasets such as PIRLS, ICCS, TIMMS and ICILS. The successful applicant is expected to contribute by developing the analytical strategy, i.e. determining which variables to include and selecting statistical approaches. Furthermore, the successful applicant is expected to conduct these analyses independently.
The second strand encompasses sociological and policy analysis and interpretation, from both sociological and policy perspectives, of potential shifts in students’ educational well-being and learning achievement. This strand considers the varying containment measures, including school closures and distance learning, implemented by different countries. To a large extent, this aspect of the WP will be conducted collaboratively by the project team at DPU and will also involve the successful applicant.
Qualifications
The successful applicant for the postdoctoral position must hold a PhD or equivalent qualifications in educational sociology, didactics or educational sciences (or a related field). Furthermore, applicants must be able to document:
- Experience with research in pedagogics and education within the field of school research.
- Research targeted at students enrolled in Nordic primary and/or lower-secondary education.
- Experience in analysing data from cross-national comparisons in large-scale assessments (ILSA).
- Experience in carrying out quantitative analysis with software such as STATA, R, SAS or SPSS.
- Experience with the dissemination of educational research results in international journals.
It will be considered as an advantage if applicants can also document professional experience with:
- Participation in research teams.
- Explanatory discussions in a research environment.
- School research related to the COVID-19 pandemic and students’ educational well-being.
Further information
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Karen Wistoft, e-mail: [email protected].
Please note that applications that do not include uploaded publications (maximum five) will not be considered.
The Danish School of Education
The School of Education at Aarhus University is Denmark’s largest centre for research and teaching in the fields of education, didactics and learning, with approximately 240 full-time researchers, including 80 PhD students, and 4,500 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students. The school’s activities are characterised by a high degree of interdisciplinarity and close interaction with society, including businesses, organisations, government agencies and institutions, both in Denmark and abroad.
For more information on the school’s research and educational profile, please visit the school website.
International applicants
International applicants are encouraged to read about the attractive working conditions and other benefits of working at Aarhus University and in Denmark, including healthcare, paid holidays and, if relevant, maternity/paternity leave, childcare and schooling. Aarhus University offers a broad variety of services for international researchers and accompanying families, including a relocation service and an AU Expat Partner Programme. You can also find information about the taxation aspects of international researchers’ employment by AU.
Qualification requirements
Applicants should hold a PhD or equivalent academic qualifications.
Formalities
Faculty of Arts refers to the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Danish Universities (the Appointment Order).
Aarhus University also offers a Junior Researcher Development Programme targeted at career development for postdocs at AU. You can read more about it here: https://talent.au.dk/junior-researcher-development-programme/
If nothing else is noted, applications must be submitted in English. Application deadline is at 11.59 pm Danish time (same as Central European Time) on the deadline day.
Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants.
Shortlists may be prepared with the candidates that have been selected for a detailed academic assessment. A committee set up by the head of school is responsible for selecting the most qualified candidates. See this link for further information about shortlisting at the Faculty of Arts: shortlisting
Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts is one of five main academic areas at Aarhus University.
The faculty contributes to Aarhus University’s research, talent development, knowledge exchange and degree programmes.
With its 550 academic staff members, 240 PhD students, 9,500 BA and MA students, and 1,500 students following continuing/further education programmes, the faculty constitutes a strong and diverse research and teaching environment.
The Faculty of Arts consists of the School of Communication and Culture, the School of Culture and Society and the Danish School of Education. Each of these units has strong academic environments and forms the basis for interdisciplinary research and education.
The faculty’s academic environments and degree programmes engage in international collaboration and share the common goal of contributing to the development of knowledge, welfare and culture in interaction with society.
Read more at arts.au.dk/en
The application must be submitted via Aarhus University’s recruitment system, which can be accessed under the job advertisement on Aarhus University’s website.
Aarhus UniversityAarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/