Mathematics Education Researchers (MER) community
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We are looking forA doctoral student within the National Research School for Science and Technology Education (FontD) who is accepted into the postgraduate subject of Science and Mathematics Education (NMDI) at Malmö University.
Content and tasksA doctoral student shall primarily devote himself to his own doctoral education. However, a doctoral student may work to a limited extent with education, other research or artistic research and administration, but not more than 20 percent of full working time (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 5, Section 2).
To be admitted to a doctoral program, the applicant must have basic qualifications and the specific qualifications required by the subject, and must be deemed to have the other abilities needed to benefit from the program.
Basic eligibility for doctoral education (according to HF Chapter 7, Section 39) is for those who:
- have completed an advanced level degree,
- have completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at advanced level, or
- have acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in some other way within or outside the country
Special eligibility
Special eligibility is granted to those who have successfully completed independent work in the subject area of natural science didactics of at least 15 credits at advanced level, or have equivalent knowledge that is deemed equivalent by Malmö University.
Both teaching experience and university credits in natural science subjects and subject didactics are desirable.
Selection criteriaSelection among applicants who have basic and special qualifications shall be made with regard to their ability to benefit from the education (HF Chapter 7 Section 41) and the relevance of the planned research focus in relation to the graduate school's priority areas. Institutional factors such as the department's future need for teacher training competence in certain areas and supervisor competence are important if several applicants are otherwise deemed equivalent.
When assessing eligibility, external examiners are used to assess the applicant's ability to benefit from the education. Consideration is given to the applicant's independence, ability to collaborate and planning of previous work; the applicant's previously demonstrated ability to complete work adequately; the applicant's ability to formulate research and problem areas, both in previous work and in the research plan for the planned dissertation/thesis work; the degree of methodological and scientific maturity in previous work, as well as in the research plan, and communication skills, both written and oral; the applicant's ability to translate subject didactic knowledge into the research plan. The external examiners also assess the relevance of the planned research direction in relation to the graduate school's priority areas.
During admission, the necessary language skills required by the education are taken into account.
A work test may be conducted in connection with the job interview. The work test is intended to test the applicant's linguistic and other academic skills and abilities.
Faculty, department and research environment
The Faculty of Learning and Society offers professional education for schools, culture, leisure and sports. The faculty runs one of Sweden's largest teacher education programmes where students choose one of four degrees: preschool teacher, primary school teacher, subject teacher or vocational teacher. In addition to education for sports scientists, historians, teachers, special educators, special teachers and study and career counselors, there are master's and doctoral programmes, as well as independent courses, further education and commissioned education. The faculty is characterised by innovative thinking when it comes to the design of the programmes and collaborations with schools, municipalities, organisations and the business community. Our research is conducted in close collaboration with the surrounding community. We are located in the Orkanen and Scylla buildings, at Hjälmarekajen next to Malmö Central Station.
The Department of Science, Mathematics and Society (NMS) is a broad multidisciplinary environment with connections to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subject areas. NMS has approximately 50 employees and conducts teaching, research and collaboration. Research at NMS focuses on issues of education and learning in science, sustainability and mathematics in preschool, school, adult education and teacher education.
Didactics of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, NMDI
Research in Science and Mathematics Education (NMDI) aims to develop knowledge about teaching, learning, subject content, democratic issues and identity formation in relation to science and mathematics. This includes educational practices in preschool, school, adult education and teacher education, both in formal and non-formal contexts.
The subject investigates the relationship between specific subject content and how it is communicated in different environments, as well as how individuals and groups develop and use knowledge in these environments. Furthermore, the research includes studies of teaching processes and how participants develop different approaches to science and mathematics.
At Malmö University, the postgraduate subject NMDI is linked to the research environment SISEME – Studies in Science, Environmental and Mathematics Education, which primarily applies didactic, societal and linguistic perspectives on learning and education in the aforementioned subject areas.
We are looking for a PhD student in science education. Applications related to interdisciplinary issues in education linked to STEM are welcome, but science/technology needs to be in the foreground.
See the graduate school's websites, both the joint one at the host university, Linköping University, and the local one at Malmö University, for information about the graduate school's priority areas both nationally and locally.
InformationContact person for the Department of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Society (NMS): Head of Department Eva Davidsson, eva.da...@mau.se , 040-665 72 40
Contact person for doctoral student positions in Natural Science and Mathematics Education (NMDI): Associate Professor Helena Roos, helen...@mau.se , 040-665 86 23
Contact person at Malmö University for the Graduate School of Science and Technology Education (FontD): Professor Jesper Sjöström, jesper....@mau.se , 040-665 80 50
In preparation for the recruitment process, Malmö University has taken a position on recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore decline all offers of advertising and recruitment assistance in connection with this advertisement.
ApplicationYou apply for the position via Malmö University's recruitment system by clicking on the "Apply" button. You as the applicant are responsible for ensuring that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions below and that it is received by the university no later than 2026-03-01. Your application must be written in Swedish, English or one of the Scandinavian languages. You as the applicant are responsible for ensuring that your application and its attachments are translated if necessary.
The application must contain:
- Curriculum vitae
- Diplomas, study certificates and other relevant certificates
- Brief research plan that presents the research focus and thesis idea and how this relates to the specific call, i.e. in this case the graduate school's prioritized focuses both nationally and locally (max. 4 pages). The tentative research plan should contain thoughts on the overall purpose, ideas for questions that the project intends to answer, outlines of the methodological approach and theoretical basis, and a description of the planned material collection and type of research material.
- Independent work at advanced level (including thesis or equivalent)
The preparation of admission to doctoral education and employment as a doctoral student takes place in parallel. Only those who have been admitted or have already been admitted to doctoral education at a university may be employed as a doctoral student (HF Chapter 5, Section 3).
The employment is full-time and is limited to four years in accordance with HF Chapter 5, Section 7. An employment as a doctoral student shall be valid until further notice, however, at the latest until a certain point in time and never for a period longer than one year after the completion of the doctoral degree or artistic doctorate. The first employment may be valid for a maximum of one year. The employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time.
Malmö University is a workplace and an institution of higher education that strives to have an open and inclusive approach, where gender equality and equal opportunities add value to our operations.
As part of this:
- Applicants of the underrepresented gender are given priority in admission, provided they have an equal ability to benefit from the education.
- PhD students with permanent disabilities are given the opportunity to receive support and adaptations during their studies with the aim of ensuring that everyone can study on equal terms in a good study environment.
Employees who do not speak Swedish should learn Swedish in the long term so that they can participate in the everyday and ongoing work at the department or department.
Malmö University applies salary setting for doctoral students according to the local agreement on salary setting for doctoral students.
If the admitted student needs a residence permit to stay in Sweden and pursue their studies, the university reserves the right to revoke the admission decision if the admitted student cannot present a valid residence permit required for the studies on the date of study commencement.
Access2026-09-01
Union representativesSACO Emma Lundin, emma....@mau.se
Sweden's teacher Charlotte Paggetti, charlotte...@mau.se
ST/ORF Lutfi Zuta, lutfi...@mau.se
Student representativeChair of the Doctoral Student Board, Johan Deltner, johan....@mau.se
Welcome with your application!
You can apply by 2026-03-01 by clicking the button below.