Professor in Literacy

BACKGROUND Over the next few years Umeå University will promote research in the Educational Sciences in an extraordinary way.A new organisation, Umeå School of Education, has been implemented and several research areas will be supported by an additional grant of, in total, EUR 14,000,000.The aim is to further develop educational science research in order to make Umeå University an increasingly prominent and competitive and center for excellence at the international level.A number of researchers will be recruited, including five professors and several post-docs and PhD students, in nine different areas within educational sciences.One of these areas is Literacy, where a professorship is announced.Attached to this professorship are two PhD positions and two post-doc positions, to be announced by the professor after appointment, as well as funding for visiting scholars and an additional EUR 140,000 at the professor's disposal.SUBJECT AREA FOR THE POSITION Applicants should have made substantial contributions to the study of the processes, acquisition and teaching of reading and writing.The field of inquiry includes studies of early language and cognitive development as precursors of reading and writing, the critical initial phases of reading and writing acquisition and the development of automaticity of word recognition and spelling, as well as the fluency of reading and writing and higher-order comprehension and production strategies.Appropriate topics are also the assessment and remediation of reading and writing at all age levels and second language literacy.WEIGHTING OF THE CRITERIA Research skills is the most important criterion by which candidates will be assessed, followed by academic leadership skills and teaching skills.Research skills will be assessed on the basis of publication record, documented experience in developing research environments and ability to secure external financing.University policy concerning gender equality will be a factor in the selection process.Also see www.use.umu.se for more information about the research areas.Applications will be discarded or, if the applicant so wishes, returned two years after the position has been filled.Documents sent electronically should be in MS Word or PDF format. See complete ad: http://www.jobb.umu.se We look forward to receiving your application!