PhD Fellowship in University Statistics Education

Department of Science Education, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen

The Department of Science Education and the newly established Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for University Science Education (USE) seek an excellent PhD fellow in university statistics education, working with Professor Carl Winsløw. The position involves creating and implementing methodology for research into (1) the contents of current toolbox courses on statistics and data science, and (2) the needs for knowledge in these areas that arise within selected study programme served by these courses.

The starting date of employment is February 15, 2026.

The research will be framed by ATD (a theoretical research programme in which the Copenhagen group in Didactics of mathematics is leading), but it will require developing entirely new reference models as well as experimental methods, while drawing on relevant results from the international research in university statistics education. The PhD-student must be prepared to spend a part of the working time (up to 12 weeks in total, typically one week at a time) at the University of Aarhus, where parts of the empirical work is to be carried out. Also an international change of research environment (around 3 months) is to be foreseen.

The project
The PhD-student will work within a larger project focused on analysing and developing the contents of toolbox courses in statistics and data-science. The larger project has three main purposes: (1) posing the foundations for a Danish research environment in university-level statistics and data-science education, (2) developing innovative methodology for analysing and developing curricula in toolbox course on statistics and data-science, (3) contributing to the research foundations and practices in Danish university statistics education, while drawing on international research.

Who are we looking for?
Due to the nature of the research object – statistics and data science contents – applicants must have solid educational background (master level) in this area, and preferably experience of teaching such contents to students in one or more specialties of natural science (excluding mathematics, statistics and computer science); it is of paramount importance that the students can collaborate and communicate about the details of such teaching both with teachers of the courses and with university faculty of other natural science disciplines. Documented knowledge and experience of research in statistics education at university level will be considered an advantage.

A main part of the data collection will involve documents and collecting of data from teaching in Danish; therefore, a high level of command of the Danish language is necessary.

Formal requirements
Applicants should hold an MSc degree in statistics and/or data science with a strong component of mathematics and mathematical statistics. As criteria for the assessment of your qualifications, emphasis will also be laid on both experience with university teaching of statistics to natural science students, and on previous publications (if any) that are relevant to the project.

The PhD programme
A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme). 

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project (here Mathematical Sciences, Statistics, Data Science, Didactics of Mathematics and/or Statistics). For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Duties and responsibilities

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision, including extensive networking and data collection at both the University of Copenhagen and the University of Aarhus
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approximately 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis based on your project

The research environment
The Department of Science Education, in which the position is located, is an interdisciplinary department, involving specialists in didactics in both mathematics and science, as well as other specialties. The successful applicant is expected to engage in interdisciplinary activities in relation to teaching and development work. It is a hallmark of our research to unite strong fundamental and applied research with a high impact on society, including themes that are of particular interest to the University of Copenhagen in general as well as to the Faculty of Science in particular.

The Novo Nordisk Centre for University Science Education is established with an overarching vision: to create an international stronghold for university science education research and development. The mission of the center is to strengthen science education at Danish universities. Partly by enhancing the excellence and capacity of discipline-based science education research, and partly by enhancing quality of curriculum, competences of teaching faculty, and learning of students. The Centre is a collaboration between the University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University and University of Southern Denmark, and will host a vibrant group of PhDs in the broader area of discipline-based research on science at university level.

Principal supervisor is Carl Winsløw, Professor of Didactics of Mathematics, Department of Science Education, winslow@ind.ku.dk, direct phone: +45 35 32 04 33. Co-supervisor will be Bo Markussen, Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Further information about the Department can be found at https://www.ind.ku.dk/english/. Inquiries about the position and the department can be made to Carl Winsløw. 

The University wishes our staff to reflect the diversity of society and thus welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background. UCPH has an International Staff Mobility office that assists international scholars with their relocation to Copenhagen; see https://ism.ku.dk/. Information on life in Denmark is available on the official website https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk/. Similarly, information on life in Copenhagen can be found here: https://international.kk.dk/artikel/everyday-life-copenhagen.

The application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include

• Motivation letter (max. one page)
• Teaching portfolio (include only documents related to the applicant’s teaching of statistics or data science at university level)
• Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills, and other skills relevant to the position.
  • Please describe and document international network and activities
  • Positions held at universities/research institutions
  • Outreach activities, i.e. popular lectures or other activities in the media (where available)
  • Scholarships or career development grants (where available)
• Diplomas (Master’s degree or equivalent) and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
• Publication list (where available).

The deadline for applications is November 2, 2025 at 23:59 GMT +1.
After the expiry of the deadline for applications, the authorized recruitment manager selects applicants for assessment on the advice of the Interview Committee.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The University of Copenhagen wish to reflect the diversity of society and encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background. 

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.