Research Assistant with Doctorate 60 %

Start of position:

1. March 2027, the position is limited until 28. February 2031

Work location:

Bern

Research project on interaction quality and child development

The PHBern awards around 800 teaching diplomas per year and is thus one of the large Pedagogical Universities of Switzerland. Equally significant is its commitment to continuing education and services for teachers and school leaders, as well as its profession-related research, development, and evaluation.

The Institute for Research, Development, and Evaluation coordinates the research, development, and evaluation area of the PHBern. It supports the connection of research with teaching and the professional field, ensures purposeful networking within and outside the university, and carries out its own projects.

The dissertation examines the role of the quality of instructional interactions for the learning and development of children, as well as differences depending on individual learning and developmental prerequisites. A longitudinal study is planned with four measurement points and around 1'200 children from 120 primary school classes. Interaction quality will be recorded using standardized observation procedures, and child development with tablet-based measurement instruments in various cognitive, social, and school domains.

The dissertation is part of the international research network LEVANTE (Learning Variability Network Exchange), initiated by the Jacobs Foundation, which examines variability in learning and in the development of children aged two to twelve years.

Your tasks

• Substantive collaboration in the further development of research questions on instructional interactions and child development
• Collaboration in the recruitment and support of the participating schools and classes
• Participation in the organization and implementation of data collection
• Collaboration in classroom observations with CLASS and inCLASS, including coding and quality assurance
• Preparation and analysis of the longitudinal research data
• Development of own research questions, writing a cumulative dissertation, and publication of the results within the framework of the international LEVANTE network

Your profile

• Very good Master's degree in Psychology, preferably with a focus on developmental psychology, or Educational Sciences
• Strong interest in questions of child development, learning, and the quality of social interactions in the classroom
• Good knowledge of quantitative research methods and statistics
• Interest in the analysis of longitudinal data and willingness to familiarize yourself with demanding statistical procedures
• Very good English skills in speaking and writing
• Careful, reliable, and independent way of working as well as organizational skills
• Joy in working with schools, children, and teachers as well as in working in an international research team

We offer you

• Attractive development and continuing education opportunities
• An open, committed, and competent team
• High flexibility in the design of work organization
• Possibility for international research stays

Contact

Further information is provided by:
Prof. Dr. Luciano Gasser, Head of the Focus Program School and Educational Success
(luciano.gasser@phbern.ch)

We look forward to receiving your application in a single PDF file by 24. October 2026.

We do not consider application documents from recruitment agencies.