Doctoral Researcher (PhD student), Equity in STEM education

The University of Eastern Finland invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) position in Equity in STEM Education at the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education, located on the Joensuu campus. The position will be filled for a fixed three-year term, starting on 1 February 2025 (or as agreed). Please find more information below and submit your application by 13 December 2024.

Role and salary 

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Doctoral Researcher to join the School of Applied Educational Science and Teacher Education. The Doctoral Researcher will work on the GPCP (Gender Performance-Confidence Paradox) project, funded by the Research Council of Finland. The GPCP project aims to explore gender differences in secondary school students’ participation patterns during group work and utilizes natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML) to analyze students’ recorded voices during these activities.

As our new Doctoral Researcher (PhD student), you will contribute to:

• conducting multimodal data collection using wireless transmitters and receivers, as well as administering longitudinal surveys.
• developing NLP and ML algorithms.
• analyzing data using advanced quantitative methods.
• presenting results at scientific conferences and to the public.
• producing high-quality scientific publications.
• applying for grants for research.

The candidate will participate in data collection by using multiple wireless voice recorders and a recording mixer in the classroom to capture individual voices separately. S/he will also contribute to the development of NLP and ML algorithms to analyze the recorded voices and identify differences in participation patterns among students. In addition, the candidate will collect longitudinal survey data from secondary schools and analyze it alongside the voice data. This combined analysis will reveal how students’ backgrounds influence their participation patterns during group work in science classes. Thus, the Doctoral Researcher will have the opportunity to work on a highly interdisciplinary research project at the intersection of education, psychology, sociology, and computing.

In addition, the primary responsibility of the Doctoral Researcher is to conduct research for their dissertation and complete postgraduate studies. 

The position will be filled for a fixed term of three years, from 1 February 2025 (or as agreed), as it is directly related to the candidate's own doctoral degree. A probationary period will apply to all new staff members.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. In this position, the job-related salary element is EUR 2,225.83 – 2,775.28 /month, based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal salary element can be a minimum of 6% and a maximum of 50% of the above-mentioned sum. In the post of Doctoral Researcher, the salary is determined based on the stage of doctoral research and doctoral studies, as well as on personal performance.

 
Our requirements and expectations 

Requirements 

• The applicant for the Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) position must hold a Master’s degree in disciplines such as (STEM) education, psychology, computer science, or another relevant field.
• The applicant must be qualified to pursue postgraduate studies. This means the selected candidate will need to apply to and be eligible for the Faculty’s Doctoral Programme in Educational Studies.
• Candidates should have a strong command of written and spoken English.
• The Doctoral Researcher will be expected to participate in meetings and research visits abroad, which requires a willingness to travel and work internationally.

The following will be considered an advantage:

• Proficiency in using Mplus and programming languages such as R or Python.
• Experience in voice recording data collection.
• Finnish language skills.

Your benefits

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including  

• opportunity for flexible multi-location work,
• extensive occupational health care ,
• broad selection of staff training,
• staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services, 
• affordable sports services and tax-free bike benefit. 

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.  

You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting, meaningful and diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.    

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.    

How to apply? 

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 13 December 2024 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2). Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview in early January. 

 
Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application

• a motivation letter including research plan (maximum 5 pages; the use of generative AI is discouraged)
• a CV (Template for CV, TENK web page)
• a list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland web page)
• copies of your academic degree certificates / diplomas, and copies of certificates / diplomas relating to your language proficiency if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas
• other documents demonstrating your qualifications for the position

If your degree certificate is not in English, Finnish, or Swedish, you must provide official English translations of your degree certificate documents. All translations must be made by the issuing educational institution or an authorized translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator's stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by applicants themselves will not be accepted.

Questions? 

 For further information on the position, please contact Academy Research Fellow Jingoo Kang, email: jingoo.kang@uef.fi, +358 50 569 0155. 

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Nina Miinalainen, email: nina.miinalainen@uef.fi, +358 29 445 2006.

Haemme väitöskirjatutkijaa (tohtoriopiskelija) Itä-Suomen yliopiston filosofiseen tiedekuntaan soveltavan kasvatustieteen ja opettajakoulutuksen osastoon. Tehtävä sijoittuu Joensuun kampukselle ja alkaa 1.2.2025 (tai sopimuksen mukaan) ja se täytetään kolmen vuoden määräajaksi. Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasoilla 2-4. Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6-50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävässä edellytetään hyvää englannin kielen taitoa.

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 13.12.2024.