The Faculty of Social Sciences, INVEST Flagship Research Centre at at the University of Turku invites applications for contract-based, fixed term position of Senior Researh Fellow for a five-year contract. Employment starts on 1.4.2026 or as agreed.

The position is a part of the Academy of Finland–funded project “Equality of Opportunity in the Era of Social Differentiation and Technological Transformation” (STRATEQ).

Job description

Job description

The projects examines how contemporary social stratification and technological transformation are reshaping Equality of Opportunity (EoO). The focus lies on gendered educational expansion and socioeconomic polarisation in labour markets, as well as on automation and the rapid development of artificial intelligence. The study draws on large-scale comparative data, including EU-SILC across EU member states, Finnish full-population register data (INVEST IFP), German SOEP panel data, and the US Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID). Automation and AI exposure are measured using occupation- and education-based indices derived from O*NET data. The project is led by Academy Professor Jani Erola.The project works in close collaboration with another project led by Erola, “The Model of Individual and Shared Family Influences: A New Method for Analyzing Equality of Opportunity” (USFI).

A more detailed description of the project can be found here: https://invest.utu.fi/projects/

Applicants are expected to have strong and versatile methodological skills, including multilevel models (mixed models), fixed-effects models, as well as sibling and twin models. The selected researcher is expected to be able to contribute to leading research that uses these methods together with the project’s Principal Investigator. The research teams are international, their working language is primarily English, and they collaborate internationally.

The position includes a teaching obligation (up to 5% of working time).

The primary workplace is the University of Turku, but partial remote work in Finland is also possible.

Who we are looking for

Requirements

This position of Senior Researcher requires a doctoral degree and the ability to conduct independent scientific work, as well as evidence of scientific research activity and the teaching skills necessary for the position (University of Turku rules of procedure Section 36).”

Essential qualifications:

• A doctoral degree in sociology, social policy, economics, statistics, another social science, or another relevant field.
•  Strong skills in academic writing.
•  Good command of statistical research methods (see methods listed above).
•  Good proficiency in statistical software (e.g., R, Stata).
•  Experience in academic leadership or in supervising postgraduate-level research.
• A title of docent (adjunct professor) or equivalent non-formal academic qualification (see https://www.utu.fi/en/university/faculty-of-social-sciences/career ).
• Good command of the English language.

The eligibility requirements for the position must be fulfulled by the end of the application period for the position.

Desirable qualifications

 Desirable qualifications

• Previous research experience related to the themes of the project.
• Previous research funding.
•  Experience working with register data, panel data, or other complex datasets

We value collegiality and promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We encourage all qualified applicants with different backgrounds to apply for our open positions.