3 PhD Positions, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland (2018)

The internationally esteemed Faculty of Educational Sciences at the University of Helsinki is Finland’s most multidisciplinary unit of research and teaching in educational sciences and teacher education. The aim of the Faculty’s research and teaching is to optimally realise the cultural and social potential of people for the benefit of individuals and humanity.

The Faculty of Educational Sciences is a dynamic, inspiring and international working and studying environment that has invested in state-of-the-art research and teaching infrastructure. We encourage our staff to make bold and creative decisions while exercising high standards of ethical conduct in research, teaching and community relations.

We provide undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education that qualifies students for both the teaching profession and other positions requiring general academic expertise. Some 600 students complete an undergraduate degree at the Faculty each year. We also offer the pedagogical studies required to qualify as a teacher to students majoring in other faculties’ disciplines.

The Faculty of Educational Sciences invites applications for

THREE POSITIONS OF DOCTORAL STUDENT

to be filled for a fixed term of two to four years from 1 March 2018 (or as agreed). The positions are in the field of digital learning, a steeply growing field at the core of the Faculty’s research activities. The positions require abilities in working in a multidisciplinary and international research group.

• For Position 1, diverse methodological skills, interest in the development of teaching in the disciplines in cooperation with teachers, and in classroom studies, as well as good ICT skills will be considered assets.
• For Position 2, methodological skills in practice-based and qualitative research, interest and skills in studying digitalisation in professional life or institutions of higher education, as well as skills in conducting practical research projects will be considered assets.
• For Position 3, skills in statistical methods as well as methods of machine learning and programming will be considered assets. The position will relate to the analysis and interpretation of automatically compiled large datasets. This position in learning analytics/educational data mining is also suitable to those who have completed an undergraduate degree in computer science or mathematics.

The primary duty of the doctoral students is dissertation work, including support for other activities of the research group and writing co-authored publications. The duties of doctoral students may also include teaching and other tasks. Teaching may account for up to 5% of the annual working hours.

The positions require an applicable second-cycle degree, as well as the skills and motivation required for scientific research. In addition, the positions require Finnish-language skills suitable for everyday use and good English skills.

The appointees must hold the right to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki. If the appointees do not hold this right, they must obtain it within the trial period of four months. In such a case, the employment contract may initially be concluded under the title of research assistant for the duration of the trial period.

The salary will be based on levels 2-4 of the job requirement scheme for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointees will receive a salary component based on personal work performance. In total, the monthly salary will be between 2 100–3 100 €, depending on qualifications and experience. There will be a four-month trial period for the positions.

Further details:
3 PhD Positions, Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland (2018)