Doctoral positions in Education/Educational work with a focus on cognitive perspectives, special edu

Om jobbet

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 58 000 students and 6800 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The Department of Education and Special Education (IPS) is one of four departments in the Faculty of Educational Sciences. Key areas of interest in the department include education and societal relations, educational systems, school development and leadership, adult education, inclusion, learning, language and assessment, and grading issues. A significant part of the department's undergraduate education takes place within various teacher programs, but we also offer education at bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels within our educational areas: education as a science, work life education, educational leadership, communication, school development, didactics, and teaching.

For more information about doctoral education in education at the University of Gothenburg: https://www.gu.se/pedagogik-specialpedagogik/var-forskarutbildning. For information about the Department of Education and Special Education: https://ips.gu.se/ Doctoral students will primarily be linked with the research environment PRIS.

Three or more doctoral positions in Education/Educational work with a focus on cognitive perspectives, special education or intervention research

Subjects

The Department of Education and Special Education is recruiting doctoral candidates in the research subjects of Education or Educational work. See more information about the subjects: https://www.gu.se/larande-ledarskap-halsa/var-forskarutbildning

Education is one subject in doctoral studies of educational research, focusing on educational issues in general, e.g., teaching, nurturing, socialization, formation, and learning. It has a special interest in the relationship between the individual and society and the conditions under which institutional conditions operate and have operated over time. Within the subject of Education, influence processes and their significance for the relationship between structure and agency, within and outside the formal education system, are also examined. Educational work is another subject in doctoral studies of educational research, dealing with various perspectives and aspects of work within educational institutions in society. Research in Educational work addresses issues pertinent to educational practices, professions, and activities. This includes conditions for teachers' and students' work with teaching and learning, both in practice and in relation to policy and educational reforms.

Research Schools

The doctoral positions are funded by grants from the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet) through two research schools. Three or more doctoral students within the research schools will be based at IPS.

One of these is a national research school in special education with a focus on school-based interventions. The research school is coordinated by Stockholm University in collaboration with Linköping University, the University of Gothenburg, and Mälardalen University. The research school brings together multidisciplinary research, and doctoral projects may therefore be grounded in different scientific perspectives on students' learning and participation. More information can be found here: Forskarskola interventionsforskning

The other research school is called"Cognition in the Classroom"and will address students' language, reading, and writing development from cognitive perspectives. The graduate school meets the need for increased knowledge about how teachers - from preschool to high school - can work on these issues in a research-based manner. More information about the research school is available here: https://www.gu.se/forskning/kognition-i-klassrummet

Through interdisciplinary courses, seminars, and shared research environments, both research schools offer a cohesive and stimulating doctoral training environment for doctoral students who wish to contribute to deeper knowledge of the cognitive processes underlying language, reading, and writing development, as well as special education innovation and intervention. You can also read about other newly established research schools at the Faculty of Education, University of Gothenburg: Forskarskolor UF

Full programme descriptions for the research schools can be requested from Jakob Åsberg Johnels (contact details below).

We welcome projects primarily within the following three thematic areas and encourage doctoral students to use both quantitative and qualitative methods:

Project 1: Study strategies

The project will investigate study strategies among older students with dyslexia or other learning difficulties. The project may involve (a) group comparisons with students without dyslexia, (b) examining what makes some students find study techniques easier while others struggle, and (c) addressing how a training intervention can make a positive difference for students. Of particular interest are both students' cognitive strategies and their use of digital tools and other non-technological resources.

Project 2: Word learning

The project will investigate learning designs that support students of different ages in understanding word meanings and spelling patterns in texts. The project may address (a) how word learning is affected by whether the student reads or listens to a text, (b) how word-learning ability relates to students' general reading and writing skills, and (c) which conscious strategies students use when learning words, and whether and how these strategies can be supported.

Project 3: Read alouds and students with intellectual disability

The project concerns read-aloud activities and book discussions as both a pedagogical practice and a targeted intervention for students and their teachers in adapted compulsory schooling (formerly known as "special schools"). Particular focus is placed on discussions of book content, how students and teachers jointly explore narratives, emotions, and perspectives, and how these discussions may contribute to students' social understanding and language development. The aim is to investigate and evaluate the effects of structured read-aloud activities and book discussions as an intervention for students with intellectual disabilities.

In your application, you should include a project plan for a proposed doctoral project. The plan should primarily align with one of the three focus areas described above. Please note that the plan serves as a work sample and forms the basis for assessment in the admission process. Candidates who are admitted as doctoral students will then further develop the plan together with their supervisors within the framework of the research school's themes and objectives.

In addition to pursuing doctoral studies with the aim of completing them within the stipulated time, some teaching or service duties (maximum 20%) may be included in education, research, and administration in accordance with specific provisions in the ordinance. In such cases, the employment period will be extended by a corresponding amount of time.

Eligibility

To be eligible for admittance to doctoral studies in the research field of special education, conditions for both basic eligibility and special eligibility must be met. In addition, the applicant should be able to show that he/she has the necessary ability to complete the education.

Thegeneral eligibility requirementsfor doctoral studies in Education sciences are:

having completed a degree at Master level, or the fulfilment of course requirements with a total of at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at Master level, or the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad.

Thespecific entry requirementsfor the subject Education, according to the general syllabus, are:

At least 90 higher education credits in Education, of which at least 30 credits must be completed in the main field of study including an independent project of 15 credits. Anyone who in any other way within or outside the country has acquired equivalent knowledge is also eligible.

Forspecial eligibility in the subject of Educational work, one of the following alternatives is required:

A) Teacher education at the advanced level, alternatively teacher education and an independent work (thesis) comprising at least 15 higher education credits at the advanced level.

B) At least 90 higher education credits, with a focus on educational professional activities or focus on child and youth activities, or equivalent, of which at least 30 higher education credits are at the advanced level, including an independent work (thesis) comprising at least 15 higher education credits.

Eligibility is also given to those who in some other way within or outside the country are deemed to have acquired equivalent knowledge.

Assessment criteria

Selection among applicants who meet the eligibility requirements shall, in accordance with Chapter 7 of the Higher Education Ordinance, be made with consideration given to the admissions committee's assessment of the subject's relevance to the department and the applicant's ability to successfully complete doctoral studies. The doctoral candidate must have sufficient proficiency in Swedish and English to be able to carry out the dissertation project, participate in the activities of the doctoral school, and teach within teacher education.

Admission is competitive and based on an overall assessment of the documents submitted by the applicants. The assessment of the applicant's ability to successfully complete doctoral studies will be decisive. Central to this assessment are the results of previous essays and degree projects, as well as a clearly formulated research plan in which the applicant presents their intended dissertation area. If an eligibility-qualifying work has multiple authors, the applicant's individual contribution must be clearly specified. The dissertation research plan is assessed on the basis of its scholarly relevance, whether it addresses well-motivated and researchable questions, and whether it outlines appropriate methods for implementation. Relevant educational and professional experience as a teacher, special needs teacher, special education teacher, and/or teacher educator is also considered a merit. Interest and experience in the research schools' areas of knowledge as well as various methodological approaches, personal suitability and collaborative skills are also given importance, which is also assessed through reference checks and/or interviews.

The applications are prepared by an admissions committee whose task is to rank the applications. Interviews with a selection of applicants may be conducted. The decision on admission is made by the Head of Department.

The department will primarily consider the applicant who, following an overall assessment, is deemed to have the best conditions for successfully completing the doctoral programme, including the department's capacity to provide appropriate supervision.

In accordance with Chapter 7, Section 41 of the Higher Education Ordinance, the possibility of having prior education or professional experience credited toward doctoral-level education must not give an applicant priority over other applicants in the selection process.

Employment

Once admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral candidate at the University of Gothenburg. The first appointment as a doctoral candidate may be for a maximum of one year, and the employment can then be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. A doctoral student may be employed for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time employment for four years.

Form of employment: Temporary employment, corresponding to 4 years of full-time studies Scope: 100%

Placement: Division of Special Education, Department of Education and Special Education, University of Gothenburg

Access: 1st of September 2026 or by agreement.

Record number: PAR 2026/73

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Selection process

Applications are prepared by an admissions group, decisions on admissions are made by the head of department. More information about admission to the doctoral programs at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies/applications-and-admission

The doctoral studies at the Department of Education and Special Education requires physical attendance in order to complete the studies. If the admitted student needs a residence permit to study in Sweden, the Department of Education and Special Education has the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted student cannot present a valid residence permit on the date of commencement of studies.

Contact information

Jakob Åsberg Johnels, professor, responsible for the research schools, and Head of the Department for doctoral studies: jakob.johnels@gu.se

Daniel Bergh, Director of the doctoral studies, Daniel.bergh@gu.se

HR: Ivana Nikolic, ivana.nikolic@gu.se

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:

https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

You can apply this announced doctoral candidate position via the University of Gothenburg's recruitment portal. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

Your application documents should be digitized as far as possible. Please specify whether your application is for the subject Education or Educational work. Also, indicate which of the three research topics your application is associated with.

Register your application electronically under "Apply online". The application should contain the following:

1. Personal letter with a short description of relevant background, max one A4 page
2. Curriculum Vitae / Curriculum Vitae
3. Study documentation that proves the basic and special qualifications (Excerpt from LADOK or other study documentation register)
4. Essay / degree project comprising at least 15 credits at advanced level and a further maximum of one research-related text (e.g., article, report, etc.)
5. One (1) research plan, maximum five A4 pages (see guidelines below and under the heading assessment basis)
6. References (optional)
7. Other qualifications the applicant wishes to

The preliminary research plan, not exceeding 5 pages (12pt font, excluding the reference list), should address questions relevant to the dissertation project, the subject context, the current state of research, materials and methods, as well as reflections on the relevance of the dissertation project. All accompanying documents must be in either Swedish or English.

Scientific publications, publications and the like that are not available in electronic form must be marked with a reference number and sent to:

University of Gothenburg

Department of Education and Special Education

Ivana Nikolic

Box 300

405 30 GOTHENBURG

Applications must be received by: 2026-03-06

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.