Postdoctoral Researcher in Science Education

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Postdoctoral Researcher in Science Education

Welcome to Maastricht University!

The Maastricht Science Programme (MSP) is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher in Science Education to primarily conduct research on a project on improving our understanding of how students interpret, evaluate, and represent scientific evidence. The project examines how instructional and assessment designs can support students’ epistemic thinking with respect to how they compare evidence, calibrate uncertainty, justify claims, and move between different forms of representation.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Science Education

Our goal: To better understand how students interpret, evaluate, and represent scientific evidence, and to improve instructional and assessment practices that support their epistemic thinking.

Your colleagues: You will work within the Maastricht Science Programme (MSP), collaborating closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) and a research team engaged in STEM education, contributing to both research and supervisory activities.

What you do

You will contribute to an ongoing research project while developing your own scholarly profile in science/STEM education. Working closely with the PI, you will take intellectual ownership of defined parts of the project and help shape its further development through activities such as:

refining the project’s research questions, interview protocols, coding frameworks, and analytic approaches;

leading one or more strands of data collection and analysis, including semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students and analysing coursework artefacts;

analysing how students interpret, evaluate, and represent scientific evidence;

leading or co-leading at least one academic output, such as a journal article, conference paper, or research report;

supporting project coordination, ethics procedures, data management, documentation, and stakeholder communication.

Are you ready to set the course for the years ahead? Then we’d love to meet you.

What you bring

We’re not looking for checkboxes; we’re interested in who you are and what you bring. Do you recognize yourself in this?

A PhD in science/STEM education or a closely related field.

Demonstrated familiarity with one or more of the following theoretical and research areas, preferably applied in prior research or professional work: Cultural Historical Activity Theory, epistemic cognition, epistemology, scientific reasoning, assessment, or uncertainty in science.

Experience using Cultural Historical Activity Theory to analyse interviews, representations, and artefacts.

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Strong organisational and interpersonal skills.

Ability to independently complete research projects within set timelines and to translate findings into publishable academic outputs.

Confidence and care in working with students in educational settings.

Willingness to collaborate and actively contribute to research and supervisory activities within the Maastricht Science Programme (MSP).

What we offer

At Maastricht University, you’ll work in an international, open, and engaged environment. We offer:

An 18-month contract (0,8-1,0 FTE).

A gross monthly salary between € 4.925 and € 6.682 (based on full-time employment of 38 hours per week). 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus.

29 vacation days (based on full-time), four additional days off (Carnival Monday and Tuesday, Good Friday, and Liberation Day), and the possibility to accrue up to 12 extra days through compensation hours.

Flexible working hours, a home office allowance, and the option to work from home.

Freedom and space to shape your work independently and develop your ideas.

A close-knit community of colleagues to collaborate and grow with.

A solid pension plan via ABP, company fitness schemes, and access to various university sports facilities.

An inspiring work environment in the heart of Europe.

About the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE)

At the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE), we focus on themes such as circularity and sustainability, future farming, digitisation and (scientific) instrument development. FSE's leading projects, like the Einstein Telescope Pathfinder, are sure to grab anyone's attention. The faculty is a vibrant hub of education and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). At FSE, over 450 staff members and 3700 students gather to explore exciting interdisciplinary research and educational programmes. Feel welcome, be part of our team and put your brilliant mind to work!

FSE at the Brightlands Campuses

Maastricht, Sittard-Geleen, Heerlen, and Venlo, the home of four creative Brightlands campuses, are bustling with 30,000 entrepreneurs, researchers, and students working diligently to solve global challenges. The Faculty of Science and Engineering is active on all four Brightlands campuses, and this is where our impact reaches its peak. To give you an idea of what is happening at each campus: Sittard-Geleen is home to the largest chemical site in the Euregion, while Venlo is a large hub for agri-food innovation. Maastricht is the site of the Health Campus, and Heerlen is the place to be for Smart Services.

Interested?

Want to know more about this position or what it’s like to work at our university? Reach out to Dr. May Lee at may.lee@maastrichtuniversity.nl. The deadline for submitting your application is 21 August 2026.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The vacancy may close before the stated deadline once a suitable candidate has been identified.

If you wish to apply for this position, please upload the following documents:

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Motivation and project-fit letter: a letter explaining your motivation for applying and how your academic background, research experience, and expertise prepare you to contribute to this project.

Writing sample: a recent academic publication, a manuscript, or a relevant chapter from your PhD thesis demonstrating your research and writing skills.

Contact details of two referees: please provide the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of two academic referees who can comment on your qualifications and experience.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

The preferred starting date for this position is early September 2026.

Apply now via the button below. We look forward to getting to know you!

About Maastricht University

At Maastricht University, we collaboratively seek solutions to help move the world forward. We do this with 23,300 students and 5,400 employees across 5 regional locations, 6 faculties, and more than 70 research institutes. We encourage you to push boundaries and discover new opportunities for yourself and the world around you. Together, we can find the answers for tomorrow.

The vacancy is open for internal and external candidates. In case of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be prioritized.

At Maastricht University, we prefer to contact potential candidates directly. We therefore kindly ask that no agencies or intermediaries submit offers or approaches.

Maastricht University is committed to promoting and nurturing a diverse and inclusive community. We believe that diversity in our staff and student population contributes to the quality of research and education at UM and strive to enable this through inclusive policies and innovative projects led by teams of staff and students. We encourage you to apply for this position.

Job Type: Academic

Faculty/Service Center: Faculty of Science & Engineering

Closing date: 21-08-2026

FTE min: 0,8

FTE max: 1,0

Salary min: €4925,00

Salary max: €6682,00

ID job: 3660

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Job Type: Academic

Faculty/Service Center: Faculty of Science & Engineering

Closing date: 21-08-2026

FTE min: 0,8

FTE max: 1,0

Salary min: €4925,00

Salary max: €6682,00

ID job: 3660

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