Scientific Assistant with Doctorate 60 %

About the job

Start date:

1 March 2027, the position is limited until 28 February 2031

Workplace:

Bern

Research project on interaction quality and child development

PHBern awards around 800 teaching diplomas per year and is thus one of the major Universities of Teacher Education in Switzerland. Equally significant is its commitment to further education and services for teachers and school leaders as well as its practice-oriented research, development and evaluation.

The Institute for Research, Development and Evaluation coordinates the research, development and evaluation area of PHBern. It supports the connection of research with teaching and the professional field, ensures effective networking within and outside the university and conducts its own projects.

The dissertation examines the role of the quality of instructional interactions for children’s learning and development as well as differences depending on individual learning and developmental prerequisites. A longitudinal study with four measurement points and around 1,200 children from 120 primary school classes is planned. Interaction quality is recorded using standardised observation methods, and child development is measured with tablet-based instruments in various cognitive, social and school-related areas.

The dissertation is part of the international research network LEVANTE (Learning Variability Network Exchange) initiated by the Jacobs Foundation, which investigates variability in learning and development of children aged two to twelve years.

Your tasks

• Substantive collaboration in the further development of research questions on instructional interactions and child development
• Assistance with the recruitment and support of participating schools and classes
• Participation in the organisation and implementation of data collection
• Collaboration in classroom observations with CLASS and inCLASS including coding and quality assurance
• Preparation and analysis of longitudinal research data
• Development of own research questions, writing a cumulative dissertation and publishing results within the international LEVANTE network

Your profile

• Very good Master’s degree in Psychology, preferably with a focus on Developmental Psychology, or Educational Sciences
• Strong interest in questions of child development, learning and the quality of social interactions in the classroom
• Good knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistics
• Interest in analysing longitudinal data and willingness to engage with complex statistical methods
• Very good English skills, spoken and written
• Careful, reliable and independent working style as well as organisational skills
• Enjoyment of working with schools, children and teachers as well as working in an international research team

We offer you

• Attractive development and further training opportunities
• An open, committed and competent team
• High flexibility in organising work
• Possibility for international research stays

Contact

Further information is provided by:
Prof. Dr Luciano Gasser, Head of the Focus Programme School and Educational Success
(luciano.gasser@phbern.ch)

We kindly accept your application in a single PDF file until 24 October 2026.

We do not consider application documents from recruitment agencies.