PhD Candidate in Children’s Media in English
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Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0About the position
The Department of Teacher Education, Section for English and Foreign Languages, invites applications for a full-time, 4-year position as a PhD candidate connected to the project “Global Childhoods on Screen: Children’s Film, English Learning, and Critical Media Literacy”. The position is affiliated with the research group CLEAR: Children’s Literature in Education and Research. The project leaders are Associate Professor Alyssa Christine Magee Lowery and Professor Libe García Zarranz, and the successful applicant will be supervised within an active research environment focused on children’s literature, media, and pedagogy.
For a position as a PhD Candidate, the goal is a completed doctoral education leading to an obtained doctoral degree.
The project examines how globally circulating children’s and family films from the English-speaking world shape young learners’ understandings of language, culture, and childhood. It is also interested in how such films can be integrated in English language education in critical and ethical ways. Positioned at the intersection of children’s media studies, critical literacy, and English as an Additional Language (EAL) pedagogy, the project addresses the growing role of screen media in children’s everyday encounters with English.
The successful applicant will contribute to research on selected children’s and family films and their pedagogical use in English teaching. The doctoral project is expected to combine one or more of the following approaches: multimodal textual analysis, qualitative educational research, teacher interviews, creative methods, arts-based methods, and/or classroom-oriented inquiry related to film in English education.
Applicants must submit an individual project proposal of at least two pages, clearly connected to the advertised theme. The proposal should explain the project’s research questions, theoretical orientation, proposed material and methods, and planned contribution to CLEAR’s ongoing work in children’s literature, media, and education. Projects with relevance for critical media literacy, multimodal literacy, and pedagogical work in English classrooms will be particularly valued. The successful applicant will be based at NTNU in Trondheim and is expected to participate actively in CLEAR seminars, relevant conferences, and collaborative research activities within and beyond the department, including collaboration with the research group TransLit: Sustainable Ethics, Affects, and Pedagogies. The position is a 4-year appointment with 25 per cent teaching and other career-promoting work. Teaching duties will primarily be connected to English and English education in the Department of Teacher Education and may include teaching, supervision, assessment, and course-related development work at bachelor’s and master’s levels. The distribution and content of these duties will be agreed with the department and adapted to the successful applicant’s qualifications.
Your immediate leader is the Head of Section for English and Foreign Languages
Duties of the position
- Develop and carry out a PhD project on the topic “Global Childhoods on Screen: Children’s Film, English Learning, and Critical Media Literacy”
Complete the required coursework and other components of the PhD programme
Conduct and disseminate research of high academic quality through publications, conference participation, and other relevant channels
Participate actively in CLEAR and contribute to seminars, workshops, conferences, and collaborative research activities, including relevant collaboration with the TransLit research group
Contribute to teaching, supervision, assessment, and academic development work in English and English education
Other duties may arise in consultation with the PhD supervisor and immediate leader. Be prepared for possible changes to your work duties after employment.
Required selection criteria
- Completed MA degree with a strong academic background in English, English education, children’s literature, media studies, film studies, pedagogy, or a closely related field
- Applicants who will complete an MA degree in 2026 can be considered, provided that documentation of completion is submitted by 1 January 2027.
Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree programme, where normally 120 credits are obtained at master’s level including a master’s thesis or equivalent work with a scope of at least 30 credits.
You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master’s degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD degree.
You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty’s doctoral program
Excellent written and oral English skills
The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.
Preferred selection criteria
- Academic background in children’s literature, children’s media, critical literacy, film analysis, and/or multimodal analysis
Experience with qualitative educational research, textual analysis, teacher interviews, and/or classroom-based inquiry
Knowledge of English teaching in school and/or teacher education contexts
Documented teaching experience at the university level or previous experience that will support the candidate in their teaching duties
Familiarity with critical media literacy perspectives or children’s media cultures
The academic quality, feasibility, originality, and relevance of the proposed project to “Global Childhoods on Screen” and to CLEAR’s research profile
Personal characteristics
Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities, including:
Ability to work independently, systematically, and with academic curiosity
Good listening skills, flexibility, and openness to new ideas and approaches
Strong collaborative and communication skills, including the ability to participate constructively in interdisciplinary and international academic communities
Preparedness to plan and complete a demanding research project and doctoral education within the given time frame
Motivation to contribute actively to the research environment, teaching activities, and collegial life of the department
Interest in teaching and pedagogical innovation
Personal suitability for the position
We offer
- exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
opportunities to participate in Norwegian language coursework if desired
an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
employee benefits
Diversity
Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and we strive to be creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse, and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.
We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.
If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability, and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.
Salary and conditions
As a PhD candidate (code 1017) your gross salary will normally be NOK 550 800,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority, A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.
The period of employment is 4 years, including a 25% teaching load.
Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Educational Sciences, Specialization Teaching Profession and School Research, within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.
As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.
To facilitate necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.
The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.
About the application
The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.
Publications and other scientific work must follow the application. Please note that applications are only evaluated based on the information available on the application deadline.
You should ensure that your application shows clearly how your skills and experience meet the criteria which are set out above.
The application must include:
CV, certificates and diplomas and transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. If you have not completed the master’s degree, you must submit a confirmation that the master’s thesis has been submitted.
A copy of the master’s thesis. If you recently have submitted your master’s thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
Individual research project proposal and progress plan of at least 2 pages, grounded firmly within the aims of the research group and relevant to the focus of the PhD position.
Academic works (published or unpublished) that you would like to be considered in the assessment.
Name and address of three referees
If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor’s and master’s education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.
Joint publications will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint publications, you must attach a brief description of your participation.
In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience, and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.
NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment and CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).
General information
Working at NTNU
A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates of all genders, functional capacities, and cultural backgrounds to apply.
The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture, and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.
A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.
If you think this position looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, you are welcome to apply.
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Alyssa Lowery (alyssa.lowery@ntnu.no) or Libe García Zarranz (libe.g.zarranz@ntnu.no).
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Adviser Terese Brå email: terese.bra@ntnu.no
Application deadline: 30.09.2026
The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.