Project Researcher

We are seeking a Project Researcher in Logopedics (speech and language therapy) to the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Eastern Finland. The position will be filled for a fixed term of three years and will start at the turn of the year 2025–2026 at the earliest. Apply by 3 December 2025.

Role and salary

The Project Researcher position is part of the DLD-Global project, which is funded by the Research Council of Finland. In the post of Project Researcher, you will work in the School of Humanities on the Joensuu campus. 

The post is related to the “DLD-Global: Determinants and consequences of development in language and communication” (2025–2029), a research project funded by the Research Council of Finland. The project studies developmental language disorder (DLD) by using advanced machine learning methods in two international longitudinal cohorts (HelSLI from Finland and ELVS from Australia).

The duties include:

• conducting doctoral research focusing on the determinants and developmental trajectories of language development together with the project leader, and apply for admission to the doctoral program of the Faculty of Philosophy if the selected candidate does not yet have the right to pursue doctoral studies
• applying machine learning methods to longitudinal data under the supervision of experts in logopedics and computer science
• contributing to international scientific collaboration and the publication of research findings
• teaching and other departmental duties.

The position will be filled for a fixed term of three years starting at the turn of the year 2025–2026 at the earliest and ending by 31 August 2029 at the latest. Once the candidate has been granted the right to pursue doctoral studies, the job title will change to Doctoral Researcher, and the duties will then include conducting doctoral research focusing on the background factors and developmental trajectories of language acquisition. The post is filled for a fixed term due to doctoral dissertation work. A trial period is applied to new members of the staff.

The salary of the post is based on the salary system for the teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. The salary consists of a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. The job-related salary element is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart (EUR 2,281.48-2,844.66 /month). In addition, a personal salary element is paid, which is 6–50% of the job-related salary element.  

Our requirements

• a Master’s degree with logopedics as the major subject (degrees in related fields such as linguistics, psychology, or cognitive science will also be considered; however, logopedics is given priority)
• eligibility for postgraduate studies, i.e., the selected applicant must apply for and be granted the right to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Eastern Finland, and
• excellent skills in the English language (written and spoken)

The following will be considered an advantage:

• experience of statistical analysis and/or programming (e.g., R, Python)
• experience of longitudinal data or large datasets
• publications or conference presentations.

 Our expectations

• strong interest to learn advanced analysis methods
• interest in developmental language disorders and children’s language development
• ability to work independently and as part of an international multidisciplinary research team.

We offer you  

• an interesting position in an international, creative, participatory and inclusive university community
• the opportunity for flexible multilocation work
• the staff benefits of the University of Eastern Finland, including comprehensive occupational health care, extensive provision of staff training, affordable lunch in our campus restaurants and Sykettä sports services. 

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

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How to apply  

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 3 December 2025 by 23:59 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2). 

 Please note that the application must contain the following appendices: 

• a CV (Template for CV, TENK website)
• a list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland website)
• copies of your academic degree certificates 
• certificates/ diplomas relating to the applicant’s language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/ diplomas
• any other documents with which you wish to demonstrate your merits for the position   

If your certificate/diploma is not in English or Finnish, official English translations of the academic certificate/diploma documents must be provided.

Questions?  

Further information on the post is provided by Professor Marja Laasonen, tel. +358 29 445 2265, marja.laasonen@uef.fi.    

For more information on how to apply and on the application process, please contact HR Specialist Nina Miinalainen, tel. +358 29 445 2006, nina.miinalainen@uef.fi.