4 Doctoral Researchers
The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences is recruiting Doctoral Researchers starting 4th January 2027, or as agreed. These positions are available for a fixed term of up to three years. In addition, total of 24 months during 2027 is available for persons finalizing their doctoral thesis.
Doctoral education at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences is part of the JYU Graduate School.
Who should apply
The tasks of a Doctoral Researcher focus on research aiming at the completion of a doctoral thesis, doctoral studies, teaching assistance, and other related tasks. The duties, qualification requirements, and language skills of Doctoral Researchers are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines (Doctoral Students). A good command of English is required. A trial period of six months will be used at the beginning of the employment.
Eligible applicants must have a suitable Master's degree and they must have been admitted to the doctoral program at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences. Admissions for the doctoral program at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä take place twice a year. If the applicant has not already been admitted to the doctoral education, they are not eligible to apply in this round and must first apply for the study right during the next application period (Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences | University of Jyväskylä (jyu.fi).
Persons applying funding for finalizing their doctoral thesis should have their public PhD defence scheduled to be held during 2027.
What we offer
Come to Jyväskylä, Finland, and join our vibrant and inspiring community!
At the University of Jyväskylä, you will be a valued member of our community with a unique opportunity to contribute to international research. You will become part of our international and multidisciplinary community that prioritizes the wellbeing of each individual. Our lively campus provides excellent opportunities for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.
Salaries are based on job demands and employees’ performance following the Finnish University Salary System. The salary for a Doctoral Researcher is determined based on the task-specific demand level 2–4 for teaching and research staff. The starting salary will be approximately EUR 2500 per month (gross income). A holiday bonus is paid to all employees. With progress of thesis work, the salary will be revised in accordance with the Collective Agreement of Finnish Education Employers. If you are relocating from abroad, we will support your move to Jyväskylä and Finland.
We offer good working conditions for researchers and promote the principles of HR Excellence in Research, HRS4R. The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is based on the values of the European Charter for Researchers & The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter & Code). JYU is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions, and undertakes the recommendations for the responsible evaluation of a researcher in Finland. JYU has signed the DORA Declaration. By signing the agreement, JYU is committed to complying with the CoARA principles.
How to apply?
The following application documents are mandatory and must be included in English as PDF files:
- A Curriculum vitae, composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity.
- A short and informal motivation/cover letter (max 2 pages), including your research interests, career goals and previous experience and merits in relation to the qualifications for this position. Describe your progress so far (if relevant), funding status, and how you are going to proceed from now on. If you have not proceeded as planned, justify any changes made to the original plan. Briefly state how your research aligns with the faculty´s strategic aims.
- List of publications, composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template of Research Council of Finland
- Research plan, based on the template found here https://www.jyu.fi/sport/en/admissions/doctoral-school/phd-application-process
- Degree certificate (highest degree)
We look forward to receiving your application in our recruitment system by 15 November 2026. Applications sent via email will not be not considered.
The primary evaluation criterion is the scientific quality and feasibility of the research plan. For applicants who have already started their doctoral dissertation work, progress is also assessed. Activity in applying for grants is considered an advantage, because the current funding can also be used to supplement other funding received.
Before applying, please discuss first with your dissertation supervisor. For additional information, please contact: Vice Dean, Professor Taija Juutinen: taija.m.juutinen@jyu.fi, tel. +358405566582.
Our application process is transparent, professional and international. We communicate openly with the applicants throughout the recruitment process. We value equality and diversity in our work community and encourage qualified applicants to apply for this position.
Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences
The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Finland’s only faculty dedicated to sport and health sciences, is an internationally significant scientific community. In multidisciplinary collaboration with a wide range of societal partners, we study the connections between physical activity and health. We educate specialists with broad expertise in physical activity and health and are responsible for physical education teacher training in Finland. The faculty has approximately 200 staff and nearly 1,400 students.
The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, you have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout. After submitting your application, you can return to edit it via the link you receive by email until the application deadline.
