Postdoctoral Position in Education (University of Gothenburg)

Reference Number: PAR 2026/61 Employer: University of Gothenburg, Department of Pedagogical, Curricular, and Professional Studies (IDPP) Type of Employment: Fixed-term doctoral employment (full-time, 100%) Start Date: 1 September 2026 (by agreement) Application Deadline: 16 March 2026 About the University & Department University of Gothenburg has 58,000 students and 6,800 staff. IDPP is one of the strongest educational research environments in the Nordic countries, focusing on equitable and sustainable education. Departmental work includes teacher education, educational research, curriculum studies, and school-based development initiatives. More info: IDPP About the Graduate School BEPPE The graduate school on subject-specific didactic models in primary school (BEPPE) is a collaboration with Karlstad University. Total of nine doctoral studentships, four at University of Gothenburg and five at Karlstad University. Focus: Practice-based subject-didactics in primary education (pre-school to grades 1–6) and teacher education. Research areas: Natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry), social sciences (geography, history, religion, civics), mathematics, and languages. Goal: Study how subject-didactic models function across subjects, inform teacher education, and identify “best practice” teaching strategies. Info: BEPPE Graduate School Research Environments Didactic Classroom Studies: Teaching, learning, and content studied integratively Didactic Classroom Studies Phenomenography, Variation Theory, Learning Study: Focus on improving pupils’ opportunities to learn specific content in practice-based research Phenomenography & Learning Study Duties of a Doctoral Student Devote primary time to own doctoral research (240 ECTS for Doctorate; 120 for Licentiate). May contribute to teaching and administrative work (≤20% of full-time). Participate actively in research environments and collaborate with peers. Structure and organize work to successfully complete doctoral thesis. Eligibility & Requirements General Eligibility: Second-cycle degree (Master’s) or equivalent (≥240 ECTS, 60 at second-cycle level) Specific Eligibility – Educational Work: Teaching degree at second-cycle level, or 90 credits in educational practice/work with children, ≥30 second-cycle, including 15-credit independent project Specific Eligibility – Subject-Matter Education: Teaching degree with ≥60 credits in relevant subject-matter field + 15-credit independent project, or 90 credits in subject-matter field (≥30 second-cycle) including 15-credit independent project Language Requirement: Proficiency in a Scandinavian language is required due to research nature. Good command of English expected. Assessment Criteria: Quality of thesis/degree project Relevance and quality of research plan Engagement and presence in research environment Personal qualities: independence, initiative, persistence, teamwork Teaching experience in primary education is valued Employment Terms Fixed-term, full-time, up to four years (full-time equivalent). Doctoral employment may include minor teaching/research duties (≤20% of full-time). Salaries are set individually; regulated by Swedish Higher Education Ordinance. Application Instructions Applications must include: Cover letter (≤1 page) CV / list of qualifications Degree certificate with transcript Thesis/degree project (≥15 credits at Master’s level) + optional research text Preliminary research plan (≤5 pages, excluding references) detailing background, purpose, theory, method, and chosen third-cycle subject area Two references (teacher, supervisor, or manager) Other relevant qualifications Submit via: University of Gothenburg web-based recruitment tool. Mailing address for non-electronic documents: `DepartmentofPedagogical,Curricular,andProfessionalStudiesAtt:KatarinaGrönbäckUniversityofGothenburgBox300SE-40530GOTHENBURGReference:PAR2026/61` Information Session: Digital session via Zoom: 12 Feb, 16:00–17:00 CET Join Zoom Session Contacts: General doctoral school: Prof. Angelika Kullberg – angelika.kullberg@gu.se Research environment contacts: See department website Employment questions: Katarina Grönbäck – katarina.gronback@gu.se If you apply for this position please say you saw it on Educaloxy

Reference Number: PAR 2026/61
Employer: University of Gothenburg, Department of Pedagogical, Curricular, and Professional Studies (IDPP)
Type of Employment: Fixed-term doctoral employment (full-time, 100%)
Start Date: 1 September 2026 (by agreement)
Application Deadline: 16 March 2026

About the University & Department

University of Gothenburg has 58,000 students and 6,800 staff.
IDPP is one of the strongest educational research environments in the Nordic countries, focusing on equitable and sustainable education.
Departmental work includes teacher education, educational research, curriculum studies, and school-based development initiatives.
More info: IDPP

About the Graduate School BEPPE

The graduate school on subject-specific didactic models in primary school (BEPPE) is a collaboration with Karlstad University.
Total of nine doctoral studentships, four at University of Gothenburg and five at Karlstad University.
Focus: Practice-based subject-didactics in primary education (pre-school to grades 1–6) and teacher education.
Research areas: Natural sciences (biology, physics, chemistry), social sciences (geography, history, religion, civics), mathematics, and languages.
Goal: Study how subject-didactic models function across subjects, inform teacher education, and identify “best practice” teaching strategies.
Info: BEPPE Graduate School

Research Environments

Didactic Classroom Studies: Teaching, learning, and content studied integratively
Didactic Classroom Studies
Phenomenography, Variation Theory, Learning Study: Focus on improving pupils’ opportunities to learn specific content in practice-based research
Phenomenography & Learning Study

Duties of a Doctoral Student

Devote primary time to own doctoral research (240 ECTS for Doctorate; 120 for Licentiate).
May contribute to teaching and administrative work (≤20% of full-time).
Participate actively in research environments and collaborate with peers.
Structure and organize work to successfully complete doctoral thesis.

Eligibility & Requirements

General Eligibility:

Second-cycle degree (Master’s) or equivalent (≥240 ECTS, 60 at second-cycle level)

Specific Eligibility – Educational Work:

Teaching degree at second-cycle level, or
90 credits in educational practice/work with children, ≥30 second-cycle, including 15-credit independent project

Specific Eligibility – Subject-Matter Education:

Teaching degree with ≥60 credits in relevant subject-matter field + 15-credit independent project, or
90 credits in subject-matter field (≥30 second-cycle) including 15-credit independent project

Language Requirement:

Proficiency in a Scandinavian language is required due to research nature.
Good command of English expected.

Assessment Criteria:

Quality of thesis/degree project
Relevance and quality of research plan
Engagement and presence in research environment
Personal qualities: independence, initiative, persistence, teamwork
Teaching experience in primary education is valued

Employment Terms

Fixed-term, full-time, up to four years (full-time equivalent).
Doctoral employment may include minor teaching/research duties (≤20% of full-time).
Salaries are set individually; regulated by Swedish Higher Education Ordinance.

Application Instructions

Applications must include:

Cover letter (≤1 page)
CV / list of qualifications
Degree certificate with transcript
Thesis/degree project (≥15 credits at Master’s level) + optional research text
Preliminary research plan (≤5 pages, excluding references) detailing background, purpose, theory, method, and chosen third-cycle subject area
Two references (teacher, supervisor, or manager)
Other relevant qualifications