Open positions: Four Doctoral Students in Science Education

The aim of the Science Education Centre of the University of Helsinki is to inspire and encourage children, young people and families to study various disciplines or learn about them as a hobby. Science education entails the promotion of mathematics and natural sciences skills and encouraging people to study them through formal, non-formal and informal science education.

Science education operations are one of the University of Helsinki’s strategic focus areas and part of the implementation plan of the Faculty of Science.

These operations allow the University of Helsinki to study and develop new pedagogical solutions. In addition to development and research, both future and current teachers are trained and supported in utilising them in teaching.

The operations include collaboration with Finnish and international parties. The Science Education Centre is also part of the LUMA Centre Finland network (https://www.luma.fi/en/) comprising 13 regional LUMA centres operating within Finnish university consortia. Further information on the operations is available in the book Collaborative Science Education at the University of Helsinki Since 2003: New Solutions and Pedagogical Innovations for Teaching from Early Childhood Education to Universities (https://www.helsinki.fi/sites/default/files/atoms/files/isbn-978-951-51-…).

About the position

The doctoral students’ duties include drawing up their doctoral thesis (50% of working hours) in the field of science education. In addition, the doctoral students will develop and implement science education in the Faculty of Science (50% of working hours). The position is closely related to science class activities. The aim is to link the duties as closely as possible to the research topic of the appointees. The appointees hired will make up a team and science education will also be implemented in cooperation with other faculties. The duties may also include administrative duties. There is a six-month trial period for the position. The research topics in science education of the appointees may be discipline-specific (e.g., mathematics, physics, chemistry, geography) or multidisciplinary, which promotes the strategic plan of the Faculty of Science (e.g., sustainable development, climate change, digitalisation).

The activities and research will be supported by the steering group of the LUMA Science Helsinki research team with representation from subject teacher education at the Faculty of Science, among others.

Selection criteria

The appointees must have a right to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki. If the doctoral student does not yet have a right to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki, the appointee to the position of a doctoral student must receive the said right within the six-month trial period. Further information on applying for doctoral education is available here: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/the-application-p….

In addition, contractual employment of doctoral students requires the ability and motivation, as demonstrated in previous degree studies and otherwise, to complete a doctoral degree.

The position requires good interaction skills. Experience of teaching or other science education, knowledge of the Finnish education system, international work experience and a master’s degree in science will be considered an asset.

Salary

The salary for the present post will be based on levels 2 to 4 of the requirement level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. The salary range will be between €2,380 and €3,000 per month depending on the qualifications and previous experience of the appointee.

Application instructions

The application must be submitted through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system by clicking on the link “Apply for the position” below. Current employees of the University of Helsinki must submit their applications through the SAP HR portal (https://saphr.it.helsinki.fi/irj/portal).

Include in your application the following as PDF files:
• CV containing a possible list of publications and contact information of two referees
• Application letter where you describe your aptitude and motivation for the position (max. two pages)
• Preliminary research plan topics and grounds for them (max. two pages)
• Transcript of record of the studies completed for your master’s degree and any previously completed doctoral studies

The closing date for applications is 2 November 2020.

Additional information

Further information about the position can be obtained from:
Professor Maija Aksela, science education, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, maija.aksela@helsinki.fi
and
Specialist Topias Ikävalko, Science Education Centre, University of Helsinki, topias.ikavalko@helsinki.fi, +358 50 311 4536