Doctoral Researcher (AI agent applications in real estate and construction) / Väitöskirjatutkija (

Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our university community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society. www.tuni.fi/en  

At Tampere University, we are now seeking a Doctoral Researcher for AI agent applications in real estate and construction. The fixed-term contract will include working on a dissertation in the newly funded AI Champion project. The thematic focus of the dissertation will be on advancing AI agent-based systems within the MEP construction supply chain. 

The position is located at the Faculty of Built Environment within the Real Estate Development research group, led by Assistant Professor Antti Kurvinen. The group conducts interdisciplinary research on real estate and urban development, combining qualitative and quantitative approaches. AI functions as a core, cross-cutting research theme, enabling the development of novel analytical tools, models, and decision-support systems. The group’s research agenda covers both new construction and renewal, adaptive reuse, and long-term management of existing buildings and urban areas. 

The Faculty of Built Environment conducts high-quality scientific and applied research and education in architecture and civil engineering, addressing the long-term social, economic, and environmental impacts of the built environment. With a strong focus on sustainability, structures and infrastructure, advanced design and modelling methods, and emerging technologies, the Faculty promotes multidisciplinary collaboration, innovation, and close cooperation with industry and society. In collaboration with Tampere University of Applied Sciences, we develop unique teaching and research environments and aim to achieve international visibility and recognition as a leading pioneer in our fields. 

Job description 

The position is linked to the AI Champion project, which has recently secured significant funding (€20 million) from Business Finland. The dissertation work will be conducted within the project, providing strong opportunities for high impact research. The related project activities within the research group are coordinated by Postdoctoral Research Fellow Mika Lehtimäki and are carried out in close collaboration with one of the project’s principal authors, Postdoctoral Research Fellow Osku Torro. 

About AI Champion:  

“The main goal of AI Champion is to create Europe’s leading showcase for AI agents in the MEP supply chain, enabling next-generation process automation and enhancing data flow across the supply chain, while demonstrating the value and capabilities of advanced AI and multi-agent systems for the construction industry. 

The project consortium encompasses all stakeholders involved in the MEP construction supply chain and data flow lifecycle, from design to maintenance. Tampere University contributes to the project with a multidisciplinary research team from three different faculties. The research focuses on construction, information and knowledge management, and AI agent development from the MEP perspective. Oulu University brings expertise in industrial engineering and management in the MEP sector.” 

The dissertation is embedded in predefined research tasks within the AI Champion project and is conducted in close collaboration with the GPT Laboratory, construction industry researchers, and founding companies Granlund, Fira, and Koja. The research is closely integrated with industry practice, enabling rich empirical data collection through continuous collaboration with these organizations. The dissertation work should optimally connect with the following thematic areas: 

1. Designing and studying AI control solutions and human–AI agent collaboration in organizations adopting AI agents in the MEP construction supply chain, with emphasis on system design principles, sociotechnical considerations, and user interaction. 

2. Developing and conceptualizing linked data approaches for intelligent dataflows, focusing on how AI agents mediate, enrich, and coordinate data across construction and MEP processes. 

3. Integrating regulatory and environmental sustainability requirements into AI-supported systems, examining how EU-level and national regulations are translated into data structures, system requirements, and design choices in AI-enabled MEP solutions. 

The dissertation is expected to adopt a qualitative and design science research approach and contribute to design knowledge for AI agent–based systems in the construction industry. 

The doctoral researcher’s position will include some project tasks in the AI Champion, but the main aim is to collect data and work on the dissertation. Although we expect the student to steer towards research in the Information Systems discipline (e.g., instead of computer science), the position is a multidisciplinary one and potentially caters for students from different backgrounds. The project activities are handled mostly as teamwork. We appreciate a positive attitude and willingness to learn about new technologies. 

Requirements 

• An applicable master’s degree in information systems science, knowledge and information management, construction management, or related fields  
• Ability and interest to work in teams 
• A competence to pursue independent scientific work 
• Experience with qualitative methods or eagerness to develop these skills 
• Fluent in both written and verbal English 
• Ability and motivation to pursue and complete a doctoral degree as demonstrated during prior studies or otherwise

Finnish language proficiency is not required but will be considered beneficial for understanding the detailed processes and viewpoints of the companies involved in AI Champion. Previous research experience is appreciated in the application. Interest in teaching in topics relevant to above and project-related fields is strongly appreciated. 

During the Doctoral researcher position application phase, you do not yet need a study right within the faculty’s doctoral program, neither approved study nor detailed research plan, but they are required before starting in the position. Please visit the admissions webpage for more information: Doctoral Programme in Built Environment | Tampere universities (tuni.fi). 

Tampere University is a unique, multidisciplinary and boldly forward-looking, evolving community. Our values are openness, diversity, responsibility, courage, critical thinking, erudition, and learner-centredness. We hope that you can embrace these values and promote them in your work. 

We offer 

In this position, you will have an opportunity to combine research and practice of new technologies and shape the upcoming future practices in the AI agent domain. You will also experience working in a large national research project with multiple partners from the private sector. You will have plenty of peer support via the real estate development research group. The position is located at the Unit of Civil Engineering on the Hervanta campus (Tampere). The work can be conducted partly remotely, although we expect you to collaborate with us at the campus as well. You will also experience working with multi-user remote tools in Virtual Reality. 

Tampere University offers many benefits to its employees, e.g., occupational health services, flexible working hours, high-quality sport services, and affordable lunch opportunities on campus. Please read more about Working at Tampere Universities. You can also find more information about us and working and living in Tampere by watching Tampere Higher Education Community – our academic playground.     

The position will be filled full-time for a fixed-term period of 3 years, starting from February/March 2026, or as mutually agreed upon by both parties. The salary will be based on both the job requirements and the employee’s personal performance in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities. A typical starting salary for Doctoral Researchers is approximately 2,700 EUR/month. According to the criteria applied to teaching and research staff, the position of a doctoral researcher is placed on level 2-4 of the job requirements scale. The salary of a Doctoral Researcher is increased based on the progress of doctoral studies. A trial period of six months applies to all our new employees. 

We are inviting you to be a part of a vibrant, active and truly international research community. We value interdisciplinarity, as it allows you to expand your research network and exposes you to new perspectives and ideas to solve complex research problems and pursue novel research findings. We are strongly committed to the highest level of scientific research and the provision of high-quality doctoral education. 

How to apply 

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is the 22nd of January 2026 (at 23.59 EET / UTC +2).  

Applications and all accompanying documentation should be written in English or Finnish and in PDF format. 

Please attach the following documents to your application:   

• Curriculum Vitae according to TENK guidelines (including the contact details of two referees). 
• Copy of your master’s and bachelor’s degree certificates, including transcripts of all university records and their English translations (Finnish certificates are accepted) and Diploma Supplement. 
• A letter of motivation 
• A4 plan highlighting the envisioned research focus (note: one A4 page excludes references)

We may invite the most suitable candidates for interviews even during the application period. 

For further information, please contact: 

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Osku Torro, osku.torro@tuni.fi, +358407473375 

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Mika Lehtimäki, mika.lehtimaki@tuni.fi, +358405342273 

Assistant Professor Antti Kurvinen, antti.kurvinen@tuni.fi, +358401981887 

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Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat yhdessä Suomen toiseksi suurimman monitieteisen, innostavan ja vaikuttavan tutkimus- ja oppimisyhteisön. Korkeakouluyhteisömme osaamiskärjet ovat tekniikka, terveys ja yhteiskunta. Lue lisää: www.tuni.fi 

Haemme nyt väitöskirjatutkijaa kolmen vuoden määräaikaiseen tehtävään tutkimaan tekoälyagenttien soveltamista rakennus- ja kiinteistöalalla. Tehtävä sijoittuu apulaisprofessorin johtamaan Kiinteistökehittämisen tutkimusryhmään. 

Tehtävänkuvaus  

Tehtävä liittyy laajaan AI Champion -projektiin, jossa tutkitaan AI-agenttien soveltamista rakennus- ja kiinteistöalan prosesseihin ja on saanut Business Finlandilta 20 miljoonan euron rahoituksen. Väitöskirjatyö toteutetaan osana projektia, tarjoten erinomaiset mahdollisuudet vaikuttavaan tutkimukseen ja tiiviiseen yhteistyöhön alan huippuasiantuntijoiden ja yritysten kanssa. Väitöskirjatutkijana työskentelet erityisesti tutkijatohtori Mika Lehtimäen koordinoimassa työpaketissa läheisessä yhteistyössä tutkijatohtori Osku Torron (toinen hankkeen pääkirjoittajista) kanssa. 

Väitöskirjan tulisi liittyä seuraaviin teemoihin: 

• Tekoälyagenttien ohjausratkaisujen ja ihmisen–tekoälyn yhteistyön suunnitteluun 
• Älykkäiden tiedonkulkujen ja linkitetyn datan ratkaisuihin 
• Sääntely- ja kestävän kehityksen vaatimusten integrointiin tekoälypohjaisiin järjestelmiin

Hakuohjeet      

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta.     

Jätäthän hakemuksesi yliopiston sähköisellä hakulomakkeella (linkki löytyy tämän ilmoituksen alta). 

Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 22.1.2026 klo 23.59. 

Tagged as: Research, development & R&D