This is an exciting opportunity for a post-doctoral researcher to join a research project examining the effectiveness of an online teacher professional development course in preparing teachers to deliver the Mathematical Reasoning programme for Year 2 pupils. The project is funded by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) and the post-holder will join the interdisciplinary Reasoning First team, whose backgrounds are in mathematics education, psychology, and teaching and teacher education, based at the University of Oxford Department of Education. 

 

The post-holder will report to Professor Gabriel Stylianides and will lead on the design of methods and instruments to investigate the effectiveness of a training offered to Teacher Leaders who mentor teachers using the online professional development course. The post-holder will have the opportunity to work collaboratively in the design of this investigation as well as to develop ideas for generating new research projects, to carry out comprehensive research reviews, and to present detailed research proposals to senior researchers.

 

The post-holder will be able to manage own workload and administrative activities, working closely with the team at Oxford and with the team of independent evaluators appointed by the EEF. This involves some project management as well as co-ordinating multiple aspects of work with other team members to meet deadlines. On a small number of occasions, travel to observe a lesson being delivered by a teacher may be required, when arrangements for online observations of lessons are not possible.

 

The post-holder will work in collaboration with other team members to ensure that the project extends intellectual understanding of Teacher Leaders’ and teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge relevant to the Mathematical Reasoning programme. The post-holder will review literature and analyse evidence, refining theories and instruments for data collection and publication as appropriate. The post-doctoral researcher will have demonstrated ability to prepare and check data sets, to analyse qualitative and quantitative data from a variety of sources, to carry out research syntheses, and to manage research projects.

 

The successful candidate will hold a relevant PhD/DPhil and possess sufficient specialist knowledge of mathematics teaching and learning to analyse the implementation of training Teacher Leaders and teachers to use the Mathematical Reasoning programme. They will have the capability to manage a discrete area of a research project, conduct quantitative and qualitative research, successfully manage competing demands, and work collaboratively with others. They must also be fluent in English, possess advanced Excel and SPSS skills, solid IT skills for working with websites and online materials, and excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research team at meetings. Experience of actively collaborating in the development of research articles for publication is desirable.

 

The post is 18 months, fixed-term, to be completed by 31st March 2026 and is offered on a part-time  basis at 30 hours per week (0.8 FTE).

 

The post is based at the Oxford University Department of Education, UK, where the successful candidate is expected to start work on the project soon after the interview or on 1st September 2024 depending on the successful candidate’s availability and profile.

 

Any questions regarding the post can be sent via email to Professor Gabriel Stylianides gabriel.stylianides@education.ox.ac.uk.

 

Applications for this vacancy should be made online and you will be required to upload a CV and supporting statement as part of your application. Applicants are asked to organise the supporting statement by subheadings, explaining how they meet the criteria for this post.