There is a vacancy for a PhD position at the Faculty of Psychology, Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology (SLATE), at the University of Bergen, within the field of learning sciences using multimodal learning analytics, in particular related to psychotherapy skills training. The position is for a fixed term of 3 years.

The Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology (SLATE) is a learning sciences research centre that carries out interdisciplinary research on the use of data and data analytic approaches (learning analytics) to understand learning, teaching, and creative knowledge processes across the full learning lifespan. Hosted at the Faculty of Psychology, SLATE has a broad mandate as a national research and competence centre for learning analytics. We are a dynamic and including milieu of 18 persons, including faculty, researchers, adjuncts, postdocs, PhDs candidates, and support staff.

About the project/work tasks:

Understanding learning is a complex. Multimodal data indicators for capturing behavioural, cognitive, motivational, and emotional processes can be used in combination to give us new insights into learning and its contexts, in individual or collaborative learning contexts. Multimodal learning analytics (MMLA), a subfield of learning analytics, deals with data collected and integrated from different sources (e.g., activity data, click-stream, physiological data, audio, video, eye-tracking, movement, fNIRS) allowing a more panoramic and unique understanding of learning processes. The selection of which data to use to understand learning is challenging, and needs to be part of the research project.

The PhD project will focus on the use of technology in psychotherapy education (specialist education) in Norway, and in deliberate practise for therapeutic skills development and maintenance in particular. Understanding the complexity and range of cognitive and non-cognitive processes involved in the skills development is challenging and the use of multimodal data and learning analytics is expected to be a part of a mixed methods research approach.   

In addition to the research, the PhD candidate is expected to:

• be involved in a joint work between SLATE and the Faculty of Psychology
• contribute to a knowledge base of how to use multimodal learning analytics to understand learning processes
• participate in SLATE activities and contribute to the life of the Centre

Qualifications and personal qualities:

• The applicant must at the time of application hold a master’s degree or the equivalent in either Psychology, Education Science, or related fields
• For admission to the doctoral programme, grade B or above is normally required on the master’s thesis
• Knowledge of the Norwegian professional psychotherapy education is required
• Experience with working with research projects and university teaching would be an advantage
• Knowledge about learning analytics is an advantage
• Ability to work independently and in a structured and timely manner, as well as ability to cooperate with others is an advantage
• Good command of the Norwegian or Scandinavian language is necessary as the project will be embedded in the Norwegian professional education and mental health care contexts.
• Proficiency in both written and oral English is a necessity
• We will put a strong emphasis on personal suitability of the applicant

About the PhD position:

The duration of the PhD position is 3 years. The employment period may be reduced if you have previously been employed in a recruitment position. You cannot be employed in a PhD-position for more than one fixed term period at the same institution.

About the PhD programme:
As a PhD Candidate, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree for a period of 3 years. When your application is evaluated for the position, you will also be evaluated for admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Psychology.

You will find further information about the PhD programme at the Faculty of Psychology here.

We can offer:

• Exciting development opportunities as part of your role in a strong professional environment
• Salary at pay grade 54 (Code 1017/Pay range 20, alternative 10) in the state salary scale. This currently amounts to an annual salary of NOK 491 200 before taxes. Further promotions are made according to qualifications and length of service in the position. A higher salary may be considered for applicants with specialist education.  
• Enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Good welfare benefits

Your application must include:

• Cover letter with a brief account of your research interests and motivation for applying for the position
• Project description (3 – 5 pages including references)
• CV
• The names and contact information for two reference persons.
• Transcripts and diplomas (higher education)
• Applicants with foreign education must enclose certified translations to English or Scandinavian if the original Diploma and grade transcripts are not already in one of these languages. The applicants must also enclose a confirmation from NOKUT that the education is recognized to be in accordance with the Norwegian master’s degree. The review from NOKUT may take some time and the application should be sent to NOKUT as soon as you have decided to apply for the position. If no answer within the application deadline, please enclose documentation from NOKUT that they have received your application. Some qualifications from the Nordic countries are automatically recognized, please check NOKUT. 
• Any of your publications you want to be included in the evaluation of your application

Please note that applications, along with the information and attachments linked to the application in JobbNorge, will be evaluated after the closing date for applications. Attachments must be in English or a Scandinavian language, and any translations must be certified. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all the necessary information has been submitted by the closing date for applications.

It is particularly important that each of the attachments that are to be taken into account in the assessment is uploaded in full as an attachment to your application.

General information:

Detailed information about the position can be obtained by contacting: 

• Professor Barbara Wasson, Centre for the Science of Learning & Technology (SLATE), Faculty of Psychology, barbara.wasson@uib.no , +47 911 41 297.

The state labour force shall reflect the diversity of Norwegian society to the greatest extent possible. People with immigrant backgrounds, gap in their CV and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply for the position. Information about disabilites or gap in CV can be used for registration purposes at University of Bergen. 

The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.

Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.

The successful applicant must comply with the guidelines that apply to the position at all times.

For further information about the recruitment process, click here.

Life as a PhD candidate at UiB

Marion Claireaux tells about life and work as a PhD candidate at UiB.https://www.youtube.com/embed/nrtp6VxMeJ4?autoplay=0&modestbranding=1&playsinline=0&rel=0&start=0&enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jobbnorge.no&widgetid=2

About UiB

The University of Bergen is a renowned educational and research institution, organised into seven faculties and approximately 54 institutes and academic centres. Campus is located in the centre of Bergen with university areas at Nygårdshøyden, Haukeland, Marineholmen, Møllendalsveien and Årstad. 

There are five departments and two centres at Faculty of Psychology. Read more about the faculty and departments. Apply for this job