University of Oxford, Department of Education
Postdoctoral Fellowship: GRADE 7: Salary £27,466 - £33,780
Professor Herb Marsh, Department of Education, University of Oxford
(http://www.education.ox.ac.uk/research/resgroup/self/index.php) seeks a
post-doctoral fellow (3 years with possible extension) to help lead a newly
funded (ESRC Professorial Fellowship) research programme starting in October
2008: Value Adding In Diverse Educational Contexts: Substantive-
Methodological Synergies That Address Complex Issues With Sophisticated
Methodology.
The research programme applies new statistical (multilevel latent variable)
models in a combination of simulated and “real data” projects:
1. Statistical innovation (simulation studies);
2. Contextual and value-added models used to construct league tables
(and their biases);
3. Benchmarking UK universities (National Student Survey responses of
educational experience by all graduating students from all 140 UK universities);
4. Science engagement in classrooms (international OECD/PISA data
from 60 countries);
5. Classroom/school (motivational and teacher/school effectiveness)
climate.
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow would work on all five projects in
conjunction with Prof Marsh and International members of the Oxford and SELF
Research network
(http://www.education.ox.ac.uk/research/resgroup/self/selfi.php), but would
choose one or two most related to their research interests as a focus.
The Postdoctoral Fellowship provides the opportunity for new researchers to
submit papers for publication, to develop research proposals, and to work
alongside a senior mentor who will support their academic career development.
The post provides a valuable and enriching, allowing the applicant to gain a
wide variety of academic research and management skills, entry into national
and international research networks, and to build quickly a research track
record suitable for a career in academic research.
A sum of £4,000 will be available to support the Fellow in carrying out their
research, for travel and subsistence, equipment and other costs.
Selection criteria include:
• organizational/research management skills,
• quantitative/statistical skills,
• good (English) research writing skills,
• a strong quantitative doctorate (or equivalent experience).
All applicants should contact Erica Oakes, Assistant Administrator, University
of Oxford Department of Education, 15 Norham Gardens, Oxford, OX2 6PY, tel.
01865 274178, e-mail erica.oakes@education.ox.ac.uk for application
materials. For more details about the research position, also contact Prof Herb
Marsh: tel. 01865 274041, herb.marsh@education.ox.ac.uk
The closing date for applications is 1 October 2008. Interviews are tentatively
scheduled for 15th October and the Fellowship would begin as soon as possible
thereafter.
