Doctoral Researcher, 4 positions (The Social Research Unit , Faculty of Social Sciences) / Väitöskirjatutkija, 4 tehtävää (Yhteiskuntatutkimuksen yksikkö, Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta)

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The Faculty of Social Sciences and The Social Research Unit (YKT), Tampere University invites applications for four (4) Doctoral Researcher positions. The duration of the employment is from six months to four years fixed-term.  Selected Doctoral Researchers must begin work between 1 January to 2 August 2027 and are expected to complete their dissertation by the end of the employment.  

The Unit of Social Research is the largest unit in the Faculty of Social Sciences (SOC). Its key research themes are the transformation of social governance, social and societal processes and risks, and the challenges of well-being and sustainable development. The Unit hosts seven fields of study: criminology and criminal policy, gender studies, social anthropology, social policy, social psychology, sociology as well as youth work and youth research. The Unit also has five research centres: Emerging Technologies Lab (ETL), Tampere Centre for Childhood, Youth and Family Research (PERLA), Tampere Centre for Knowledge, Science, Technology and Innovation Studies (TaSTI), Tampere Peace Research Institute (TAPRI), and Work Research Centre (WRC).

The Unit offers education on the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. The Unit has a joint, comprehensive Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Social Science. Master’s degree education is given in the fields of study mentioned above. Finnish-language master’s degree programmes that are separate from the fields of study are the Master's Degree Programme in Comparative Social Policy and Welfare and Master's Degree Programme in Work, Welfare and Well-being. In addition, the Unit has five English-language degree programmes: Comparative Social Policy and Welfare, Peace, Mediation and Conflict Research, Public Policy Analysis, Socially Sustainable Societies and Sustainable Urban Development. Doctoral education takes place under the umbrella of the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences which includes criminology and criminal policy, gender studies, peace and conflict research, social anthropology, social policy, social psychology, sociology, social work, and youth research.

The positions are located in the Doctoral Programme in Social Sciences. 

Job description  

The applicants selected in the positions will pursue a doctoral degree in the doctoral program of the Social Research Unit at Tampere University. The expected duration of full-time studies is four years. Fixed-term employment contracts may be from six months to four years; the length of the contract depends on the doctoral researcher’s current stage of studies and the expected graduation date.  

The position is intended primarily for applicants who have previously not received funding for doctoral studies or the funding period has been less than four years (full-time equivalent).  

The terms of the dissertation work are defined in the annual work plan, doctoral researcher’s personal study and supervision plan. Annual progress reports are required.    

In addition to the dissertation work, doctoral researchers are expected to teach or perform other duties related to their studies. These duties may not exceed five per cent of their total working hours.   

Requirements 

Candidates should have a completed higher university degree and be already registered as a doctoral student in the doctoral programme of Social Sciences, Tampere University. 

Selection is based on the following criteria:

• Scientific quality and innovativeness of the research plan
• Feasibility of the proposed research
• Merits of the applicant
• Supervisory arrangements and research environment 
• Motivation

The salary will be based on both the job demands and the employee's personal performance in accordance with the  University Salary System. According to the criteria applied to teaching and research staff, the position of a Doctoral researcher is placed on the job demands levels 2−4. In addition, employees receive performance-based salary. The starting salary for a Doctoral Researcher at the beginning of the PhD work typically ranges between 2700 and 2800 euros per month. A Doctoral Researcher is assigned to a specific pay grade based on academic progress toward the doctoral degree, meaning the salary increases with academic progress.

The position is based in Finland, and the work must be performed in Finland.

A trial period (max 6 months, depending on the length of the employment) applies to all our new employees.   

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, please read more about Tampere University as an employer and more information about  working at Tampere University.  

How to apply 

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system (link below). Please write your application and all the accompanying documentation in PDF format.  

The closing date for applications is Monday 31st August 2026 (at 23.59 EEST / UTC +3). Only applications by the deadline will be accepted.  

Please attach the following documents to your application:  

1. Curriculum Vitae prepared according to the guidelines issued by the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (TENK)

2. Your research plan prepared according to these instructions:
    Research plan: The maximum length is 6 pages including references (Times New Roman or similar, font size 11, with 1,5 line spacing).
    
    1. Summary of the research plan (max. 1 page, no references, not part of a 6 pages research plan)
    2. Title of the study, in English and in Finnish
    3. Background
    4. Aims
    5. Methods and materials
    6. Publication plan
    7. Timetable, implementation and research environment
    8. Ethical considerations
    9. References  

3. Motivation letter (max. 1 page, describes the applicant’s personal goals for doctoral studies)   

For more information about the positions, please contact:  

Associate Professor Anitta Kynsilehto, anitta.kynsilehto@tuni.fi

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Yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunnassa Yhteiskuntatutkimuksen yksikössä on avoinna neljä (4) väitöskirjatutkijan tehtävää. Tehtävät sijoittuvat yhteiskuntatutkimuksen tohtoriohjelmaan. 

Hakuohjeet  

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta.  

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

Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy maanantaina 31.8.2026 klo 23.59.

Tagged as: Research, development & R&D