Doctoral Researcher (PhD student), Tax Law

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher position, which is part of the Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies (Law School, Tax Law). The position is located on the Joensuu campus and starts on 1 January 2026 or another mutually agreed-upon date. Read more below and submit your application by 23 October 2025 at the latest.  

Position and Salary  

A Doctoral Researcher position (Law School, Tax Law) will be filled in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies. In addition to traditional legal research, the doctoral programme aims to develop interdisciplinary and internationally compliant research expertise, with tax law forming one of the key areas of specialization. 

The primary responsibility of the Doctoral Researcher is to conduct doctoral research in accordance with an approved research plan. The position is based at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies on the Joensuu campus. 

The position is filled for a fixed term of three years starting on 1 January 2026 or another mutually agreed-upon date. The position is full-time, allowing the applicant to work full-time on their doctoral dissertation. Part-time arrangements can also be agreed upon separately. Doctoral Researcher positions are always filled for a fixed term. A probationary period is applied to new members of the staff. 

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities for teaching and research staff. The salary consists of a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. For this position, the job-related salary element is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart (EUR 2,281.43–2,844.66), and the personal salary element is 6–50 % of the job-related salary element. The final salary for the Doctoral Researcher is determined based on the stage of their doctoral research and postgraduate studies, as well as on personal performance.
 
Expectations and merits 

The selected candidate must be eligible for postgraduate studies in law at the University of Eastern Finland. To be eligible, the person must be pursuing their first doctoral degree and hold a relevant Master’s degree or have suitable foreign education that qualifies for equivalent university studies in the country concerned. In addition, the selected candidate must have a good English skills.

Applicants without the right to pursue doctoral studies may also apply, but the selection will then be conditional; they must be granted the right to pursue doctoral studies in law at the University of Eastern Finland within a separately agreed schedule before the employment contract as a Doctoral Researcher is signed. 

In the selection process, consideration will be given to the applicant’s research plan, previous academic performance, international orientation, research merits, the duration and progress of any previous funding received for the doctoral research, the applicant’s motivation and commitment to research activities, as well as an assessment of the feasibility of completing the research and studies. 

The research plan will be evaluated based on the following criteria: scientific and societal relevance, goals, theoretical framework and concepts, mastery of research literature, plan for data collection and methods of analysis, timetable, publication and funding plan, consideration of ethical aspects, as well as the scientific quality and innovativeness of the research plan. 

We offer you   

• An interesting position as part of an international, creative, participatory, and inclusive university community 
• The opportunity for flexible, multi-location work 
• The chance to engage in international collaboration as part of a research team 
• Staff benefits at the University of Eastern Finland, including comprehensive occupational healthcare, a wide range of staff training opportunities, affordable campus restaurant lunches, and access to Sykettä sports services 

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

How to apply   

Applications must be submitted by 23 October 2025 via the online application form by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+3).

Please note that the application must include:   

• A curriculum vitae (Template for CV, TENK) 
• A list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland web page)
• A research plan or a preliminary draft of the final research plan to be submitted later, which will serve as the basis for applying for the right to pursue doctoral studies, prepared in accordance with the guidelines of the doctoral programme. Current doctoral students must submit an updated research plan. (https://www.uef.fi/en/degree-programme/doctoral-programme-of-the-faculty-of-social-sciences-and-business-studies) 
• A copy of the degree certificate and a transcript of academic records that prove the applicant’s eligibility for postgraduate studies. Documents must be in Finnish or English. For translated documents, only the Diploma Supplement issued by the relevant university and/or official translations issued by the university or an authorized translator are accepted. 
• Copies of certificates/diplomas demonstrating the applicant’s language proficiency, if not indicated in the degree certificates/diplomas. 

Questions?  

For more information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Mika Nissinen, tel.: +358 50 301 4844, email: mika.nissinen@uef.fi.

For more information about the application process, please contact HR Specialist Airi Leppänen, tel.: +358 29 445 5171, email: airi.leppanen@uef.fi