PhD scholarship in Engineering Students’ Construction of Conceptual Understanding in Introductory Physics – DTU Energy

Do you want to contribute to the development of high-quality STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) teaching at university level with a focus on conceptual understanding? Do you want to engage in a career within university pedagogy and didactics of engineering education? Are you passionate about how to teach introductory physics using experiments to build the students’ conceptual understanding? 

With this PhD project, DTU is initiating a strategic initiative, which is a collaboration between teachers of the introductory physics course at DTU Energy and DTU Physics, and the related introductory mathematics course at DTU Compute, and the teaching and learning experts at DTU Learning Lab.  

This project will investigate new experimenting forms of teaching and learning activities according to the theory of didactic situations in teaching, e.g. open experiments supporting the students’ construction of conceptual understanding, all centered around DTU’s introductory physics course in the students’ first year experience, at DTU the so-called polytechnical foundation. The aim and purpose are to enhance student learning via their construction of conceptual understanding and grounding and retention of learning outcomes ensuring a positive spillover effect on the building of their engineering mindset. The strategic objective is to develop even better education to train engineers for an uncertain future with new jobs, using technologies not yet invented, to solve problems we do not yet see as problems.

Responsibilities and qualifications
During the past 10 years, DTU’s physics educators have developed experiments for students to work actively themselves, and we have experimented with various new teaching methods to support active learning. You will apply systematic approaches to investigate and document which elements of the experimenting teaching are crucial for the students to achieve deeper learning and a better conceptual understanding. 

The objective of this PhD project is to research how students learn and do – or do not – construct a profound conceptual understanding of central terms and concepts of physics via active learning, for instance, open experiments, during their first one and a half year of studies at DTU. The focus will be on learning classical mechanics.

You will apply observation of and interviews with students, tests of conceptual understandings via diagnostic multiple-choice tests and in-depth interviews. You will compare student learning in different learning environments applying a quasi-experimental design to compare passive versus active learning environments and outcomes. The students participating in the study will be a part of the students in the DTU courses 10060 (in Danish) and 10063 (in English) in physics, along with the courses 01001 and 01004 in mathematics as part of the polytechnical foundation.

As part of the PhD project, a 3-6 month stay at an international collaboration university (e.g. in Europe, USA, or Australia) is expected with the purpose of performing field studies and data analysis with one of the leading groups in the field.

Qualified applicants must have:

• A BSc in physics followed by a master’s degree in educational science, philosophy, physics, engineering, or similar. 
• Pedagogical training, preferably within high school or university teaching.
• Basic knowledge of learning, student motivation, and didactics would be beneficial.
• Experience with realizing experimental setups would be beneficial.
• Knowledge of the Danish High School curriculum will be preferable.
• Ability to work independently and plan and carry out complicated tasks. 
• Good communication skills in English, both written and spoken. 

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education .

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms 
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. Starting date is 1 December 2024 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information 
If you need further information concerning this position, please contact Professor Luise Theil Kuhn at [email protected]  or phone +45 5141 9371. Please do not send applications to this e-mail address; instead, apply online as described below.

You can read more about DTU Energy at www.energy.dtu.dk/ , DTU Learning Lab at https://learninglab.dtu.dk/ , DTU Physics at www.fysik.dtu.dk/english/ , and DTU Compute at www.compute.dtu.dk/ .  

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 8 September 2024 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae incl. 2 references that the assessment committee may contact 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including an official description of the grading scale
• A short text (max. 1 A4 page) where you outline your research vision within the given topic

You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Energy is focused on education, research, and development within functional materials and their application in sustainable energy technologies. In a sustainable energy system, a large part of the energy will be supplied by fluctuating sources such as solar and wind power. This makes it critically important to be able to convert and store the energy as needed. Our research areas include fuel and electrolysis cells, solar cells, and batteries as well as advanced filtration devices. We are ca. 250 employees. Additional information about the department can be found on  www.energy.dtu.dk .

DTU Learning Lab is DTU’s center for teaching and learning in engineering education. DTU Learning Lab researches how students learn STEM and is responsible for the pedagogical and didactical teacher training of DTU’s faculty. Currently, DTU Learning Lab has 10 employees with the aim to grow the field of research in teaching and learning STEM. Find further information here: https://learninglab.dtu.dk/ .

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.