University of Eastern Finland

Six (6) part-time (40%) Doctoral Researcher positions are open for applications. The posts will be based in the facilities of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and will start (on 1 November 2023 at the earliest) no later than on 1 January 2024. Please find more information below and submit your application by 14 August 2023.

We are developing the doctoral education provided by the University of Eastern Finland in cooperation with research institutes with the aim to strengthen and support the competence of our doctoral graduates in their research career. The vacancies are in disciplines that support strategic cooperation between research institutes and the University of Eastern Finland. 

The full-time posts are shared with VTT, so that the Doctoral Researcher will work simultaneously for the University of Eastern Finland and for VTT, in the thematic area defined by VTT.

The vacant positions (6) and their thematic areas 

The posts will be filled for a fixed term of a maximum of four years starting on 1 November 2023 at the earliest but no later than on 1 January 2024. The posts are filled for a fixed term due to doctoral education.

Position and contracts

The title is Doctoral Researcher at the University of Eastern Finland. VTT will determine a separate job title for their share of the post.

The appointee will work full-time so that they will work, simultaneously, part-time for the University of Eastern Finland (40%) and part time for VTT (60%). The appointee will conclude two separate employment contracts, one with the University of Eastern Finland and one with VTT. The appointee will work in VTT’s facilities in both part-time posts.

As regards the employment relationship with the University of Eastern Finland, the main duty of the doctoral researcher is to work on their doctoral dissertation; as regards the employment relationship with the VTT, the main duties include working on the doctoral dissertation and conducting research that supports their research career, see description of the post.

We expect you to

  • be eligible for doctoral education, i.e., to have completed a relevant Master’s degree awarded by a university, a relevant Master’s degree awarded by a university of applied sciences; or a relevant study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for the corresponding level of higher education (Universities Act, section 37(4)).
  • be planning your first doctoral degree, or already be enrolled as a doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland.
    • Students who are in the final stages of a degree that will give eligibility for doctoral studies may also apply, provided that they complete their degree by 31 October 2023. The possible granting of a doctoral student position will be conditional and tied to the completion of the degree by the above-mentioned deadline.
  • meet the qualification requirements and admissions criteria of the doctoral programme concerned https://www.uef.fi/en/uef-doctoral-school
    • For applicants who do not yet have a study right for doctoral studies at the University of Eastern Finland, the appointment to a Doctoral Researcher position will be conditional until they have been granted a study right for doctoral studies at the University of Eastern Finland. A study right for doctoral studies must be applied for via the Studyinfo system.
    • The contents and requirements of the doctoral studies will be the same for the appointees as for all other students of the doctoral programmes.
    • The applicant must have the consent of the supervisors of their doctoral dissertation already at the application stage (if the applicant simultaneously applies for a study right for doctoral studies).
  • you will be in an employment relationship with VTT for the entire duration of your part-time post of Doctoral Researcher at the university
    • In both employment relationships, the work will be carried out in Finland.
  • meet the criteria specified in the description of the post you are applying for.

How to apply

Please submit your application by 14 August 2023 by using the electronic application form.

Please note that the application must contain the following appendices:

  • A CV/résumé: http://www.tenk.fi/en/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae
  • A research proposal
    • Students already enrolled as doctoral researchers at UEF must submit an updated version of their approved research proposal, prepared in accordance with the instructions of the doctoral programme concerned. Applicants not yet enrolled at the UEF must prepare a research proposal in accordance with the instructions of the doctoral programme to which they are applying for a study right.
  • A copy of the degree certificate proving the applicant’s eligibility to pursue doctoral studies and a transcript of academic records are required from persons who do not have an existing study right for doctoral studies at the University of Eastern Finland. The documents need to be submitted in Finnish or in English. As regards translated documents, only a Diploma Supplement and/or other official translations issued by the awarding higher education institution or an authorised translator are accepted.
  • Copies of certificates / diplomas relating to the applicant’s language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates / diplomas

The appointee must have a valid study right for doctoral studies (UEF) before they can be recruited for an employment relationship on 1 January 2024. If you do not yet have a study right for doctoral studies, you can apply for it immediately, if the post you are applying for falls under a doctoral programme that accepts applications throughout the year. In other cases, you should apply for a study right when the next application period to the doctoral programme opens (one month before the application period to the doctoral programme ends). A study right for doctoral studies must be applied for via the electronic Studyinfo system.

The aim is to make the decision on the persons to be appointed to Doctoral Researcher positions by the end of September 2023 (the processing of the applications will be started after the application period has ended).

Further information

Queries related to the description of the post

  • see the post-specific description of the post

Queries related to the doctoral programmes and Studyinfo

  • Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology: Head of Education Kaisa Laitinen, kaisa.laitinen(at)uef.fi, tel. +358 29 445 3003 (on vacation from 3 July to 5 August 2023).

  • Faculty of Health Sciences: healthpostgrad(at)uef.fi

Queries related to the application procedure 

  • Financial and Human Resources Coordinator Tuula Ranne, tuula.ranne(at)uef.fi (on vacation from 26 June to 9 August 2023).
  • Executive Head of Administration Henni Nevalainen, henni.nevalainen(at)uef.fi (on vacation 7 – 14 June and 10 to 28 July 2023).
  • Human Resources Coordinator Nina Miinalainen, nina.miinalainen(at)uef.fi (on vacation 3 July to 6 August 2023), Varbi System.

VTT in brief

VTT is one of the leading research institutes in Europe. The company is owned by the State of Finland. Our task is to promote the utilisation and commercialisation of research and technology in the business and industrial sector, as well as in society. VTT employs more than 2,200 researchers and experts, mainly in the following three business areas: Carbon neutral solutions, Sustainable products and materials, Digital technologies. VTT's offices are located in Espoo, Jyväskylä, Kajaani, Kuopio, Tampere and Oulu. Read more about VTT online at https://www.vttresearch.com/en/about-us/what-vtt.

Type of employment Temporary position
Contract type Part-time
Number of positions 6
Full-time equivalent 40 %
City -
Country Finland
Reference number 2206/01.01.03/2023
Published 14.Jun.2023
Last application date 14.Aug.2023

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