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Doctoral Researcher positions, Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Science (DPSoc)

  • //applyindex.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/finland.png Finland
  • University/Institute Name University of Turku
  • Position Funding Type
  • Unspecified Unspecified
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Position Details

Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences (DPSoc) at the University of Turku invites applications for fixed-term doctoral researcher positions with an employment contract.

The Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences is multidisciplinary and wide-ranging, and part of the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS). The disciplines of the doctoral programme are contemporary history, East Asian studies, economic sociology, speech-language pathology, philosophy, political science, psychology, social policy, social work and sociology.

Job description

The position of a doctoral researcher is set to begin on 1 January 2026 at the earliest and for the duration of a maximum of four years (up to until 31 December 2029).

The positions are intended for full-time doctoral dissertation research and completing the doctoral studies. There are also positions available for doctoral researchers to finalize their dissertation, for a maximum period of one year. Duties other than those related to doctoral dissertation research, such as teaching duties, must be proportioned so as not to compromise the completion of the doctoral dissertation within the planned schedule. As a rule, up to 5% (a maximum of about 80 hrs per academic year) of the annual working time of the doctoral researcher can consist of teaching and other duties not related to the dissertation research.

When determining the length of the employment contract, the funding previously granted for doctoral degree is taken into account, as well as the timetable and the stage of completion of the degree. The maximum duration of a doctoral researcher position is four years. The maximum duration of a doctoral research position intended for persons in the final stage of their doctoral research is one year (from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2026). A person already awarded with a doctoral degree may not be appointed to a position of doctoral researcher with an employment contract.

The position of doctoral researcher with employment contract requires working in Finland. The doctoral researcher works in the department of the Faculty of Social Sciences to which his or her main subject belongs. The place of employment is Turku. The University of Turku offers flexible possibilities for remote work.

Who we are looking for

 
When applying for a doctoral researcher position with an employment contract
  • You must have an active right to study for the doctoral degree in the Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences. In addition, when acquiring the degree or otherwise, you are required to have demonstrated the ability and motivation to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan (University of Turku Rules of Procedure 20.5.2022).
    If you have not yet been granted a right to study, you must apply for a right to study for a doctoral degree in the Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the same time as this application period for the position of a doctoral researcher in the Studyinfo system (see instructions in the section ‘How to apply for a right to study’ from the Call for applications – DPSoc). The right to study is a prerequisite for being selected for a position of a doctoral researcher. Read more on applying for a doctoral degree study right from the doctoral programme admission page: https://www.utu.fi/en/research/utugs/doctoral-programme-of-social-and-behavioural-sciences/admission.
     
  • You are planning to pursue or pursuing your first doctoral degree.
     
  • You have not previously received four years of full-time funding for a doctoral degree.

Particular attention will be paid to the following:

  • Quality of the research plan (general quality, feasibility, relation to doctoral programme research profile). The research plans attached to the applications may be checked with the Turnitin OriginalityCheck plagiarism detection software in accordance with the University of Turku quality assurance system.
  • Success in previous studies, if the applicant has not yet started a doctoral degree at the University of Turku (master’s thesis, or equivalent, grade and other studies)
  • Scientific merit and progress in doctoral studies

The evaluation is carried out as an overall assessment, taking into account the stage of the research career. The funding needs of applicants in relation to the funding periods available will also be taken into account. The doctoral programme aims to promote all its research fields, which may be taken into consideration when positions are filled. Shortlisted applicants for the fixed-term doctoral researcher position may be interviewed.

Benefits

The University of Turku offers an international research environment and high-quality supervision for doctoral dissertation research. We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a versatile operating environment. In your work, you will be part of a large group of doctoral researchers, other researchers, and supervisors in the doctoral programme and Graduate School. We take care of your well-being at work and the functionality of your everyday life with the help of our well-being services, among other things.

The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research quality label. The label is a token of the University’s commitment to continuous development of the position and working conditions of researchers according to the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers. 

Please read more about University of Turku as an employee from our Come work with us! pages.

The university offers good support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and relocation to Finland:

The University of Turku is among the top of the world’s universities in most rankings and among the best universities in the world in certain fields. Our high-quality basic research, a multidisciplinary research profile and close cooperation in research infrastructures creates the basis for international top research. Read more about University of Turku in international university rankings.

Salary and trial period

The salary is based on the salary system of the University’s teaching and research staff. Salaries will consist of a task-specific salary component and a personal performance salary component.

The task-specific salary component of a doctoral researcher varies between levels 2 to 4, depending on the stage of the doctoral degree. In addition, a personal performance salary component is paid. The salary of a doctoral researcher varies between approximately € 2 500 and € 3 300, depending on the progress of the doctoral research and the experience and skills of the person concerned.

The probationary period of six months applies.

How to apply

To apply for a doctoral researcher position with an employment contract, fill in the electronic application form in the University of Turku’s recruitment system (Talentti) and submit the required attachments with the application form. The link to the application form is included in this announcement “Apply for this position”. The application form will open on 29 August 2025 and close on 12 September 2025 at 4 pm (local time in Finland).

Late applications will not be considered. It is not possible to change the doctoral programme or the application after the deadline.

To be eligible for the position of a doctoral researcher, the applicant must have an active right to study for a doctoral degree in the Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences. If you have not yet been granted a study right for a doctoral degree in the doctoral programme, you must apply for a right to study from the Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences at the same time as this application period for the position of a doctoral researcher in the Studyinfo system (see the section ‘How to apply for a right to study’ from the Call for applications – DPSoc). Read more on applying for a doctoral degree study right from the doctoral programme admission page: https://www.utu.fi/en/research/utugs/doctoral-programme-of-social-and-behavioural-sciences/admission.

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 12.9.2025 at 16.00 (Europe/Helsinki).

Applicants should enclose with their application the following obligatory attachments:

  • an up-to-date research plan, max 6 pages (excl. list of references) (see instructions, choose ‘Research plan’) Note: For longer research plans, only the first six pages will be taken into account in the evaluation.
    The research plans attached to the applications can be checked via the TurnitinOriginalityCheck plagiarism detection software, in accordance with the quality assurance system of the University of Turku. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the research plan must be clearly stated in the application.
     
  • Curriculum vitae (CV), max 3 pages.  A CV includes a list of publications. Please see the instructions of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity for writing a CV.
  • motivation letter, max 2 pages
  • information on completed studies
    • A transcript of records of your previous degree (original scanned documents in English, Finnish or Swedish or an official translation in one of these languages)
    • AND if you are a Doctoral researcher at DPSoc, UTU: Up-to-date transcript of study records for doctoral studies downloadable from the Peppi system (add to “Study transcript of the completed postgraduate studies”)
  • degree certificate(s)
  • other documents that may influence the filling of the position

Please ensure that all attachments are of good-quality, easy to read, also full colour scans or photographs of the complete document required. Attachments should be submitted in pdf format and written in Finnish or English. Attachments that do not meet these requirements may be rejected.

In addition, the application must include information on the major subject in the relevant section:

  • If you have a doctoral degree study right in DPSoc, add information on your major subject to the form.
  • If you don’t have a doctoral degree study right in DPSoc, add information on the major subject you are applying for. Note! You have to apply for the doctoral degree study right with a separate application form in MyStudyinfo service.

Decisions

The Steering Committee of the Doctoral programme makes a proposal to the departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences for the selection of the doctoral researchers. The decision on the appointment is made by the Head of each department. The evaluation of applications is described in the combined call for applications of the doctoral programme (pdf) concerning the right to study and the doctoral researcher positions with an employment contract.

All applicants will be informed personally by email of the decision. The names of those selected for the position of doctoral researcher will be published on the website of the doctoral programme by 28 November 2025 at the latest. Doctoral researches selected for the position will be required to notify their acceptance of the position in accordance with the instructions given in the selection decision.

Further information

For further information on applying please contact: Doctoral Education Specialist Kirsi Tammi, [email protected].

Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences

The University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) consists of doctoral programmes which cover all disciplines and the approximately 2,000 doctoral researchers of the University. 

The aim of the Graduate School is to provide systematic and high quality doctoral training for the doctoral researchers of the University of Turku. Each doctoral researcher has a personal supervisor and the progress of the doctoral dissertation is followed regularly. The aim of doctoral training is to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional career in research and other positions of expertise.

The Doctoral Programme of Social and Behavioural Sciences is multidisciplinary and wide-ranging, and part of the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS). The disciplines of the doctoral programme are contemporary history, East Asian studies, economic sociology, speech-language pathology, philosophy, political science, psychology, social policy, social work and sociology.

The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.

 

See our open vacancies

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Phone:
+358 29 450 5000
Email:
[email protected]

Location: 20014 Turun yliopisto

Information for the applicant

The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, after submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.

You have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout.

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