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

University of Bergen; Bergen; On-site; NOK 617,000 - 754,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career development

NOK 685,900 salary

Public Pension Fund

Good welfare benefits

Job summary

The University of Bergen invites applications for a three-year Postdoctoral Research Fellow position in the Department of Education, Faculty of Psychology, based in Bergen, Norway. The project WORDS2NUMBERS investigates how language skills influence reading and mathematics development using the SpedAims cohort.

The successful candidate will analyze longitudinal data, publish first-author articles, contribute to instrument development, and collaborate with UiB and the University of Oslo.

Qualifications

• PhD in psychology, education, or a related field, obtained before employment.
• Experience with quantitative research and statistical analyses of empirical data.
• Ability to work independently and in a structured manner, and to collaborate effectively with others.
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills.
• Strong interest in language, reading, and mathematical development in children.

Responsibilities

• Develop and conduct research on language, reading and mathematics longitudinal relationships.
• Analyze longitudinal data using RI-CLPM and related methods.
• Prepare and publish scientific articles, including first-author papers.
• Contribute to planning and development of assessment batteries and questionnaires for upcoming waves.
• Participate in planning, coordinating and conducting assessments of children in the SpedAims cohort.
• Collaborate with UiB and the University of Oslo, including CREATE and SpedAims.

Skills

Quantitative research

Statistical analyses

English proficiency

Independent work

Collaboration

Education

PhD in psychology/education/related field

PhD submitted for evaluation

Tools

R

Mplus

Job description

UiB - Knowledge that shapes society

UiB shall be among Europe's leading universities, internationally recognized for high quality in research and education. As a societal institution, we shall contribute to sustainable and democratic development and be an attractive and inclusive place to study and work.

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