Netherlands : PhD Student for Discovery Learning in Kindergarten

Responsibilities
As a PhD student you will participate in a project entitled ‘Individual variation in the processes of scientific discovery learning in kindergarten’.

In scientific discovery learning, children move from intuitive, implicit, context-bound domain-specific knowledge representations as initial state towards formal, explicit, context-free, domain-general knowledge representations.
In order to gain a better understanding of children's development of scientific representations, it is important to identify the basic principles in representational development across scientific domains in individual children and the factors explaining individual differences between children.

The aim of this project is to uncover individual variation in the processes involved in scientific discovery in kindergarten with a view to optimization. In a two-year longitudinal study, children's scientific discoveries will be evaluated by focusing on their redescription of representations from implicit to explicit in relation to their motivations and cognitive and linguistic skills. To optimize the processes in scientific discovery, a scientific discovery intervention programme will be implemented in kindergarten classrooms, in which the emphasis will be on redescription of scientific representations with teacher feedback.

Work environment
The Faculty of Social Sciences is one of the largest faculties at Radboud University Nijmegen. The faculty’s ambition is to become one of the top social science institutes in Europe, providing high-quality research and study programmes that rank among the best in the Netherlands.
The project is part of the nation-wide research programme ‘Curious Minds’ and will be embedded in the Learning and Plasticity priority programme of the Behavioural Science Institute (BSI, see: http://www.ru.nl/bsi/), This programme deals with the micro-analysis of learning processes. The BSI is a research school officially recognized by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences. It provides excellent research facilities and high-quality training for PhD students.

What we expect from you
- a Research Master’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience or Behavioural Science, Education, or another relevant field;
- broad experience in quantitative research, outstanding methodological and analytical qualities, and experience with collecting and analysing data;
- excellent oral and writing skills (in Dutch and in English);
- organizational talent, accompanied by independence and perseverance.

What we have to offer
We offer you:
- employment: 1,0 fte;
- a maximum gross monthly salary of € 2,612 based on a 38-hour working week;
- in addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
- the starting salary is € 2,042 per month on a full-time basis; the salary will increase to € 2,612 per month in the fourth year;
- you will be appointed as a PhD student (1 FTE) for a total of 4 years. Your performance will be evaluated after 18 months. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years;
- as part of the contract, you will participate in educational activities (i.e. teaching students);
- you will be ranked in the Dutch university job-ranking system (UFO) as a PhD student (promovendus).

Are you interested in our excellent employment conditions?

Would you like to know more?
Further information on: Faculty of Social Sciences
Further information on: Behavioural Science Institute

prof. dr. L. Verhoeven
Telephone: +31 24 3612822
E-mail: L.Verhoeven@pwo.ru.nl

dr. E. Segers
E-mail: E.Segers@pwo.ru.nl

Applications
Are you interested?
The job interviews will be held in the second half of February 2012. Starting date of the project: Spring 2012.
It is Radboud University Nijmegen's policy to only accept applications by e-mail. Please send your application, stating vacancy number 24.18.12, to vacancies@socsci.ru.nl, for the attention of Human Resource Department, before 15 February 2012

Further Information

Application Deadline : 15 February 2012

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Posted on 2012-01-15 11:30:52

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