Postdoc project

Over 50% of students in higher education have great difficulty self-regulating (i.e., steering) their own learning and regularly put effort into ineffective learning activities that do not foster knowledge or skills. This results in inefficient self-study and low learning achievements. How students regulate effort during self-regulated learning, and specifically, how they sustain effort in effective, but effortful learning activities (‘desirable difficulties’) remains unknown.

This Vidi project establishes a novel research paradigm examining the regulation of effort on desirable difficulties during self-regulated learning. The paradigm relies on a cutting-edge integration of instructional design/cognitive load and self-regulated learning paradigms. It will unravel (Aim 1, PhD project) how students decide to put effort into desirable difficulties (‘play or stop?’), and (Aim 2, this Postdoc project) how they optimally (dis)continue effort when engaging in desirable difficulties (‘play or pause?’).

Central to this Postdoc-project is examining how students optimally regulate effort when immediate learning gains are lacking (e.g., when engaging in desirable difficulties). Because the difficulty level of desirably difficult tasks is optimal, external support or guidance will fail to influence effort regulation. Since desirable difficulties are effortful, but doable and necessary for learning, examining how breaks can aid effort regulation is essential. Four studies will examine how students are trained to determine when to pause or continue studying.

Interviews for this position will take place through Skype.

Responsibilities
·           Conducting the research (literature research, collecting and analysing data, reporting the                    results), resulting in international scientific publications;
·           Supervising PhD students’ research;
·           Active participation in the research group of the project and of the department;

Job requirements

·         PhD (or nearly completed PhD) in educational sciences, educational / (applied) cognitive /                  experimental psychology, or a related discipline relevant to the theme of the project
·         Ambition to become a high-potential researcher aimed at excellent scientific research;
·         Social and organizational competencies, be an efficient team worker;
·         Be a fast learner, autonomous and creative, show dedication and be hard working;
·         Be willing to supervise PhD candidates
·         Good communication skills (written and oral) and statistical skills;
·         Proficiency in English and Dutch (for foreign applicants: the intention to reach proficiency in              Dutch within a short period of time);
·         Ambition to collaborate with (inter)national partners and pay visits to these partners;
·         Preferably experience or strong affinity with experimental research.

Fixed-term contract: 1 year.

The terms of employment of Maastricht University are set out in the Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities (CAO). Furthermore, local UM provisions also apply. For more information look at the website http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl > Support > UM employees.

The Postdoc position will be for an initial period of one year starting as soon as possible with an extension of three years after positive evaluation of capabilities and compatibility for 0.8fte. Full time salary range from € 2,709.- to € 4,274.- gross per month (pay scale 10, in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities)

In addition, we offer attractive and flexible secondary terms of employment such as an annual holiday pay of 8%, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3% per year and partially paid parental leave. Finally, we also provide an attractive working environment and a vibrant research climate.

Maastricht University

Maastricht University is renowned for its unique, innovative, problem-based learning system, which is characterized by a small-scale and student-oriented approach. Research at UM is characterized by a multidisciplinary and thematic approach, and is concentrated in research institutes and schools. Maastricht University has around 18,000 students and 4,400 employees. Reflecting the university's strong international profile, a fair amount of both students and staff are from abroad. The university hosts 6 faculties: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Faculty of Law, School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience.

School of Health Professions Education (SHE)

The Maastricht School of Health Professions Education (SHE) is a graduate school for education, research and innovation in health professions education. SHE provides high quality multidisciplinary research and teaching aimed at the improvement of health professions education. SHE helps you to innovate education programmes. The school offers a wide range of courses in health professions education, from short courses, certificate courses to degree programmes such as a Master of Science and PhD programme. SHE stands for excellent and innovative research and offers a stimulating environment to perform to the best of your abilities. Excellent researchers will guide and supervise you.