MIRACLE aims to improve science education and the link between schools and science museums by designing a flexible, open-ended learning environment that truly engages and empowers adolescent learners. In the planned MIRACLE learning platform students embark on authentic missions that can be completed through productive learning activities. The MIRACLE platform will be a system for collaborative and productive learning and teaching of science through use of a flexible and adaptive pedagogical approach to learning based on different kinds of knowledge representations (including 3D).

The MIRACLE project is headed by InterMedia, University of Oslo, and InterMedia also designs and evaluates the learning platform. The post-doctoral fellow will be part of the Design of Information Systems group at the Department of Informatics and will work with questions related to design and evaluation of the MIRACLE learning platform particularly concerned with representations in science education. Questions concerned with representation of abstract knowledge are also research topics in The Design of Information Systems group. For this post-doctoral fellowship we value interdisciplinary backgrounds high, in particular combinations of informatics and design of information systems with education/learning sciences, psychology, anthropology and/or sociology.

As part of the appointment, a limited amount of teaching, supervision, or other non-research duties may be assigned (10%).  This position is part of a new research project, with funding from the Norwegian Research Council and additional third year funding from Department of Informatics, University of Oslo.

Requirements:

The candidate must have a PhD or other corresponding education equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree in informatics or an interdisciplinary degree with a large component of informatics. Applicants are expected to include a summary of academic specialization and statement of scientific interests. For background on the research environment, please see:http://www.ifi.uio.no/research/groups/design and http://dis.ifi.uio.no/a3

UiO (and Norway more generally) is a multi-lingual environment, where knowledge of Norwegian is not a necessity in everyday life. However, a good command of English is required. http://www.matnat.uio.no/english/research/education/proficiency_in_English.html

The main purpose of post-doctoral research fellowships is to qualify researchers for work in top academic positions within their disciplines. As part of the appointment, a limited amount of teaching, supervision, or other non-research duties may be assigned (10%). No one can be appointed for more than one period at the same institution.

Please also refer to the regulations pertaining to the conditions of employment for post-doctoral fellowship positions:

http://www.uio.no/admhb/reglhb/personal/tilsettingvitenskapelig/regulationstermcondition.xml

The application must include:

• Application letter
• Statement of research interest
• CV (summarizing education, positions, pedagogical experience, administrative experience and other qualifying activity)
• Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and letters of recommendation, as applicable
• A complete list of publications and up to 5 academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number

Foreign applicants are strongly advised to attach an institutionally issued explanation of their University’s grading system. Please remember that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Closing date for applications: August 20, 2010.