Postdoctoral Researcher, EDUCA-Doc doctoral education pilot
The University of Jyvaskyla EDUCA-Doc doctoral education pilot is currently seeking to recruit candidate to the position of
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER for the period 1.1.2026 -30.6.2027.
The appointed postdoctoral researcher is expected to conduct research linked to the EDUCA-Doc doctoral education pilot and the activities of the EDUCA Flagship Future of Education. The research should focus on one of the following themes: randomized controlled trials supporting learning; variations in children’s and adolescents’ learning and well-being; social and individual learning processes; scalable educational technology solutions and their impact on teaching and learning; professional development of teachers and educational leaders; organization of learning and school support; or processes of educational policy decision-making in diverse contexts of growth, learning, and educatio
n. In addition, the researcher is expected to actively participate in the coordination and reporting of the EDUCA-Doc doctoral education pilot.
The Doctoral Education Pilot is an expansion of doctoral training funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture for 2024–2027 and implemented by universities. The initiative provides funding for up to 1,000 new fixed-term doctoral researcher positions and part of the related supervision. The discipline-specific pilots aim to develop new practices in doctoral education that enable completion of the doctoral degree within three years and support the employment of graduates across various sectors of society.
The EDUCA-Doc pilot was allocated a total of 78 doctoral researcher positions, of which 22 are positioned at the University of Jyväskylä and the remainder at other universities. The first doctoral researchers began their three-year appointments in August 2024. In spring 2025, the Ministry of Education and Culture granted additional funding to the doctoral education pilots for the recruitment of postdoctoral researchers.
The current EDUCA-Doc pilot postdoctoral position is affiliated with the EDUCA Flagship Future of Education. EDUCA is a multidisciplinary consortium that combines theoretical and multi-method expertise from educational sciences, psychology, learning analytics, sociology of education, and economics, alongside the utilization of extensive longitudinal and registry-based datasets. The Flagship aims to strengthen the research-based foundation of educational policy decisions and experimental interventions. The consortium comprises the Universities of Jyväskylä, Helsinki, and Turku, as well as Aalto University. At the University of Jyväskylä, EDUCA is a collaborative initiative between the Faculty of Education and Psychology and the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER). EDUCA flagship seeks to generate knowledge on issues such as declining learning outcomes, increasing school absenteeism and dropout rates, and the impact of technology use on teaching and learning.
Who we are looking for
The research conducted by the EDUCA-Doc pilot postdoctoral researcher should be aligned with at least one of the following EDUCA flagship research areas or with cross-cutting themes related to educational policy:
- Effectiveness of educational experiments, reforms, and interventions.
- Variation in learning, adaptive support for learning, and the role of interaction processes in diverse contexts of growth and learning.
- Variation in technology-supported learning and scalable digital solutions for teaching and learning.
- Strengthening the professional competence of teachers and educational leaders, and analyzing organizational cultures.
The duties, qualification requirements, and language skills of a postdoctoral researcher are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. The PhD degree required for the position must have been completed before the starting date. A trial period of six months will be used in the beginning of the employment.
The position focuses on internationally high-quality research. Applicants are expected to demonstrate prior evidence of research within EDUCA’s thematic areas and active engagement in research activities and publication merits relative to their career stage. In assessing qualifications, consideration will be given to the applicant’s national and international networking experience and track record in securing external research funding or active efforts to obtain such funding, methodological expertise, experience in interdisciplinary research and collaborative projects, as well as interest in impact-oriented collaboration with private, public, or third-sector organizations. Additional merits include supervision of theses, contributions to development and impact work within EDUCA’s research domains and pedagogical training.
Benefits
At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a recognized member of our community with a unique opportunity to influence international research. You get to participate in our international and multidisciplinary community where the welfare of each individual is important. At the University of Jyväskylä, we offer a great and lively campus area with opportunities to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
Finland has a high standard of living, with free schooling (also in English), affordable childcare, good family benefits, and healthcare. Jyväskylä is located in central Finland in the Finnish lakeland and has excellent opportunities for different nature, outdoor, and sports activities. The city of Jyväskylä is a major educational center and the city has a large student population. As such there is a vibrant cultural scene in the city. To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, see the University's International Staff Guide.
The salary for a Postdoctoral Researcher is determined based on the task-specific demand level 5–6 of the university salary system for teaching and research staff. The salary range will be approximately 3600-4800 €/month (gross income), depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate. We also support your relocation to Jyväskylä with a settling-in allowance.
How to apply?
Please make sure that your ORCID-profile (https://orcid.org) works: your publications are listed and public (Set visibility: Everyone). You cannot apply to this job without an ORCID profile.
The application documents that should be included in English and in PDF format:
- 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.
- A numbered list of all scientific publications and other publications showing the applicant's ability and merits for the position using the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland.
- Degree certificate (highest degree).
- A research plan related to the position and a vision of how the applicant’s current and future research will complement those of the EDUCA research themes and its development (total of max 4 pages).
Applications should be submitted via the University of Jyväskylä online application form by 7.12.2025. Applications sent via emails are not considered.
For further information, please contact Professor Marja-Kristiina Lerkkanen, marja-kristiina.lerkkanen@jyu.fi.
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.
Our application process is transparent, professional and international. We communicate openly with the applicants throughout the recruitment process. All appointment decisions are based on careful consideration within the faculty. We value equality and diversity in our work community and encourage qualified applicants, regardless of background, to apply for this position.
Department of Teacher Education
Kasvatustieteiden ja psykologian tiedekunta on vahvoilta juurilta ponnistava ja rohkeasti kestävää tulevaisuutta rakentava tutkimus- ja koulutusyksikkö. Tiedekunnan missiona on Oppiminen ja hyvinvointi kestävän tulevaisuuden yhteiskunnan rakentajana. Opettajankoulutuksessa sekä psykoterapeuttikoulutuksessa tiedekunta on maan kärkitoimijoita.
Tiedekunnan korkeatasoisen ja kansainvälisesti tunnetun tutkimuksen vahvuuksia ovat oppiminen, opetus ja vuorovaikutus. Tutkimuksen viisi painopistettä ovat: Koulutus, opetus ja interventiot; Oppimisen psykologinen ja neurokognitiivinen perusta; Vuorovaikutteiset ja teknologiset oppimisympäristöt; Lapsuus, perhe, vuorovaikutus ja hyvinvointi sekä Hyvinvointi, oppiminen ja vuorovaikutus työssä. Tiedekunnassa koordinoitavia infrastruktuureja ja verkostoja ovat mm. monitieteinen aivotutkimus (CIBR), ihmistieteiden metodikeskus (IHME), psykoterapian opetus- ja tutkimusklinikka, monitieteinen perhe- ja lapsuustutkimus sekä oppimisen ja opetuksen tutkimus (CLT).
Jyväskylän yliopiston 2600 asiantuntijan ja 14 700 opiskelijan ihmisläheisestä yhteisöstä jokaisen on helppo löytää paikkansa. Tavoitteenamme on hyvinvoiva ja osaava ihminen. Meille on tärkeää, että yhteisömme jäsenet voivat hyvin ja heillä on mahdollisuudet kasvaa ja kehittyä. Vaalimme tutkimuksen ja koulutuksen tasapainoa sekä ajattelun avoimuutta. Kaunis puistokampuksemme sijaitsee Jyväskylän keskustassa. Yliopisto on Keski-Suomen kolmanneksi suurin työnantaja.
Information for the applicant
The application form cannot be saved as draft. However, after submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.
You have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout.
