Postdoctoral position in Education – Scientific Evidence of Social Impact in Education Policy and Practice (ACHIEVE4EDU) University of Barcelona in Spain

A postdoctoral opportunity is available in Education at the University of Barcelona for the ACHIEVE4EDU project, Advancing the Use of Scientific Evidence of Social Impact in Education Policy and Practice to Improve Student Achievement. The project is funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement No. 101288796; HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-06) and is coordinated by the University of Barcelona within a consortium of eleven institutions across ten European countries.

The project runs from September 2026 to August 2029 and focuses on strengthening the use of Scientific Evidence of Social Impact (SESI) in education policy and practice. The research centres on improving student achievement in reading, mathematics, and science during the transition from primary to secondary education. The work combines systematic literature review, qualitative case studies, mixed-methods analysis, and participatory co-creation with policymakers and practitioners. It also includes the development of a recognition and use framework, an open-access digital platform, and dissemination activities to support policy transfer and broader uptake across Europe.

The selected postdoctoral researcher will join the University of Barcelona team and contribute to research, coordination, dissemination, and stakeholder engagement. Typical tasks include reviewing peer-reviewed literature and meta-analyses under PRISMA, supporting qualitative case studies on successful SESI adoption, contributing to dialogic training processes, helping collect and analyse administrative and survey data, and supporting scientific outputs such as journal articles, policy briefs, and conference presentations. The role also involves collaboration with consortium partners, project reporting, deliverables, and quality assurance for the digital platform.

This is a full-time temporary position (37.5 hours per week) with a gross salary of €37,779.36 per year. The contract is initially for 12 months and may be renewed up to 31 August 2029. The expected start date is 2 November 2026, though this may depend on administrative procedures.

Applicants must hold a PhD in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, or equivalent, by the time the contract is formalised. Competitive candidates will have experience in dialogic education, Successful Educational Actions (SEAs), and/or SESI approaches; familiarity with the communicative methodology; experience with systematic reviews, qualitative case studies, and mixed-methods research; participation in European Framework Programme projects; publications in peer-reviewed international journals; and excellent English communication skills.

The deadline for applications is 23 October 2026 at 23:59 (Europe/Madrid). Apply via the provided link and submit the required CV, motivation letter, and registration form. The CV should include contact details for references.