The PhD research is embedded in the CoM'n'Play-Science project funded by the EU which aims to help Europe better understand the new ways in which informal science learning is taking place through various coding, making, and play activities that young Europeans are nowadays increasingly engaged with outside school and higher education science classrooms, beyond the formal boundaries of science education.

The project investigates a wide range of loci and modes of this kind of informal science learning, including: a) learning occurring in the context of such activities intentionally organized to achieve informal science learning; b) informal science learning that occurs as a by-product of youngsters' various coding, making, and play activities that are not intentionally meant for science learning, and which may take place either in organized contexts or independently in everyday life.

Carefully positioning the research within the context of the overarching contemporary discourses on STEM/STEAM education, and science capital, the proposed project aims to shed light on the nature and impact of the informal science learning gained through coding, making and play activities. It identifies diverse practices and looks deeper into a sample of them, whereby participants of real-life activities are surveyed, observed, and gamefully engaged in intensive research. The project further explores the impact of this this kind of informal science learning on: a) formal science education and more traditional informal science learning interventions; and b) scientific citizenship, investigating in particular the attitudes, values and dispositions that young people as learners and as citizens may develop through such activities towards science, scientists, and science related information in everyday life. The project enables the exploitation of its research findings by developing relevant guidance for practitioners and recommendations for policy making and further research, and through an overall extrovert project approach.

The department of industrial design of the TU/e is looking to hire a candidate with expertise in education technology with a strong motivation to work in the domain of interaction design for children/child computer interaction. Candidates should possess a MSc in a relevant area such as learning sciences, educational psychology, human computer interaction, and interaction design. Experience in the field of child computer interaction, participatory approaches to design, educational technology or educational psychology will be highly valued. 

Candidates should be proficient in written and spoken English. Fluency and good command of the Dutch language will be very much valued in conducting research and design activities locally in which children can participate.

A genuine interest in research, familiarity with design thinking, experience with writing and publishing scientific research and experience in collaborative research projects will weigh positively.

The candidate should have (and will develop further in this project) strong professional and communication skills in order to work together with remote partners in a multi-national and multi-disciplinary research team.

a full-time temporary appointment for a period of 4 years, with an intermediate evaluation after 9 months;

a gross salary of  € 2.222 euro per month in the first year and increasing up to € 2.840 euro gross per month in the fourth year (PhD-salary scale Collective labor Agreement Dutch Universities) on a full-time basis, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% end of the year allowance.

excellent employment conditions (including excellent sport facilities and child care).

starting date: ideally 1 June 2018, the latest by 1 October 2018.