UiO Postdoctoral fellowship Department of Psychology

A Postdoctoral Fellowship is available at the Department of Psychology, University of Oslo (UiO). The appointment is a fulltime position for a period of three years. Depending on the competence of the applicant and the needs of the department, there is the possibility of adding teaching duties to the position, with an upward limit of one additional year. Postdoctoral fellows who are appointed for a period of 3,5 to four years are expected to acquire basic pedagogical competency in the course of their fellowship period. The fellowship is planned to start at the latest by the end of 2024.

More about the project and the position

The postdoctoral fellow will be working on the project “HeaLS - Effects of the implementation of the interdisciplinary topic ‘Health and Life Skills’ in schools”, funded by the European Research Council. The position is situated in Oslo, and the fellow is expected to be physically present for a majority of the employment period.

The fellow will be part of a team studying the effect of how the new interdisciplinary topic “Health and Life skills” (HLS) is implemented within and across schools in Norway. HeaLS will combine existing nation-wide registry and survey information regarding outcomes prior to and during the reform (N ≈ 750 000) with detailed information from a nationally representative sample regarding how each municipality, school and teacher implements HLS. The purpose is to understand how variation in the implementation of HLS influences the topic’s effects on pupil’s mental health, quality of life, school environment, academic performance and drop out. We will also investigate which implementation methods are most cost effective at enhancing pupils’ mental health and academic performance.

The position will offer opportunities to develop high-quality research competence, and to work with leading experts in the field. The fellow is expected to develop implementation measures as part of the fellowship. The fellow is also expected to develop strong skills in advanced statistical methods and finalize three articles within the project period. Professor Egil Nygaard leads the project in collaboration with researchers at the PROMENTA Research Center at the Department of Psychology (UiO), as well as the Faculty of Educational Sciences (UiO) and other external partners.

PROMENTA carries out interdisciplinary research on mental health and well-being in a holistic perspective - from genetics and biology to local communities and policy. We are concerned with examining determinants of good and poor mental health, understanding how social inequalities emerge, and designing and evaluating effective interventions to promote well-being.

At PROMENTA we strive to provide our candidates with opportunities to develop high-quality research competence, across disciplines, working alongside leading experts in our fields. While working for us, you will be part of a dynamic and interdisciplinary work environment, with ample opportunities for scientific and social input throughout the academic year.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in relevant fields such as education, psychology, sociology, other social science disciplines or related fields. The doctoral dissertation must be submitted for evaluation by the closing date for this application. Appointment is dependent on the public defense of the doctoral thesis being approved.
• Strong skills in quantitative analysis.
• Ambition and potential for high-quality research, both long-term and within the project.
• Excellent English skills, both spoken, reading and in writing.

The following qualifications will count in the assessment of the applicants:

Preferable qualifications

• Experience with subjects related to research on education, promotion and prevention of mental health, implementation science, quality of life, socioemotional school environment, school performance or attendance.
• Knowledge of the Norwegian school system.
• Experience with methods used in the present project, e.g., longitudinal data analysis, multilevel analysis, structural equation modelling, or use of registry and large cohort data.
• Experience with software such as R, Stata, Mplus or SPSS.
• Personal suitability and motivation for the present project.
• Ability to collaborate with academics from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently.
• Creative thinking and analytic abilities.
• Efficient work structure.
• Excellent Norwegian skills, both spoken, reading and in writing.

We offer

• Salary NOK 604 900 – 692 400 per annum depending on qualifications in position as Postdoctoral Research Fellow (position code 1352)
• a professionally stimulating working environment and collaboration with a newly established research center (PROMENTA) at the Department of Psychology.
• Opportunities for extensive collaboration with our collaborators
• Attractive pension and social welfare benefits.
• Oslo’s family-friendly environment with its rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities.

How to apply

The application must include

• Cover letter (statement of motivation, summarizing scientific work and research interest and how own qualifications match the announced position), max. 3 pages.
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity) and a complete list of publications.
• Copies of educational certificates (academic transcripts only) including a confirmation of submitted thesis
• Copies of thesis/publications/academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee.
• Names and contact details of two to three references (name, relation, e-mail, and phone number).

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system. Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English (or a Scandinavian language).

In assessing the applications, special emphasis will be placed on the documented, academic qualifications as well as the candidates motivation and personal suitability. Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

It is expected that the successful candidate will be able to complete the project in the course of the period of employment.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one Postdoctoral Fellow period at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

Project Manager Prof. Egil Nygaard, e-mail: egil.nygaard@psykologi.uio.no

For administrative questions, please contact Administrative Coordinator Maria Vinje Dodson, e-mail: m.v.dodson@psykologi.uio.no

For questions related to electronic applications, please contact HR-officer Mathilde Røed Jørgensen, e-mail: m.r.jorgensen@psykologi.uio.no 

About the University of Oslo 

The University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society.

The Department of Psychology is one of seven units of the Faculty of Social Sciences, and has 75 permanent and 70 temporary members of scientific staff. Degrees are offered at bachelor and master level, plus a clinical training programme, and the PhD programme has 140 students.