Doctoral Researcher or Project Researcher

The Faculty of Social Sciences, INVEST Flagship Research Centre at at the University of Turku invites applications for contract-based, fixed term doctoral researcher or project researcher position from 1.2.2025 to 31.12.2026. Employment starts on 1.2.2025 or as agreed.

Master’s students who are about to graduate can also apply for the position, in which case the job title will be research assistant.

We are looking for a project researcher to a City of Turku funded research project examining residential segregation (“The impact of increasing socio-economic segregation in residential areas on the accumulation of educational disadvantages and people's life courses. (SOSE)” / “Asuinalueiden sosioekonomisen segregaation heijastuminen koulutuksellisten riskien kasaantumiseen ja ihmisten elämänkulkuihin (SOSE)”). Project is strongly interdisciplinary combining sociology, human geography, psychology and genetics.  

Job description

The project examines the impacts and antecedents of growing residential socioeconomic segregation. We approach this central theme of urban studies from a sociological perspective focusing on people’s life courses (University of Turku subproject) and from the perspective of the spatial concentration of educational, psychological and genetic risk factors (Institute for Health and Welfare,THL, subproject). The project researcher will take part in both subprojects together with researchers from the University of Turku and from the THL. Both subprojects use quantitative statistical methods and comprehensive register data.

A project researcher or research assistant is required to apply for the right to pursue doctoral studies and to conduct dissertation research in the Inequalities, Interventions and New Welfare State doctoral program (DPInvest, https://invest.utu.fi/dpinvest/ ). The research tasks of the selected candidate will be defined to support the completion of the dissertation. The position includes a teaching obligation (up to 5% of working time).

The project offers excellent possibilities to work in an international environment with research themes related to residential segregation. The project includes co-operation with Amsterdam UMC and Humboldt University of Berlin. It is funded by the Urban Research Programme of the City of Turku.

The primary workplace is the University of Turku, but research team meetings can be arranged in Helsinki. Additionally, most of the work can be performed remotely.

Apply between and

Who we are looking for

Requirements

  • Master’s degree in a relevant discipline or the completion of Master’s degree as soon as possible during the project
  • Basic knowledge of statistical methods
  • Motivation to work independently on a doctoral thesis
  • Good proficiency of English language

We value equality and diversity in our work community and encourage all qualified applicants with different backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Desirable qualifications

  • Knowledge on the use of statistical programs (for example Stata and R) will be favourably considered but is not a requirement
  • Previous knowledge on the themes of segregation of residential areas or sociogenomics will be favourably considered but is not a requirement

Benefits

We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a versatile operating environment. You get a professional and inspiring team to support your work and active competent supervision during your doctoral studies. We take care of your well-being at work and the functionality of your everyday life, e.g. with the help of flexible working hours and our well-being services.

Please read more about University of Turku as an employee from our Come work with us! pages.

The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo. The logo is a token of the University's commitment to continuous development of the position and working conditions of researchers according to the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers. 

The university offers good support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and relocation to Finland:

Salary and trial period

The starting salary for a doctoral researcher / project researcher is estimated to be €2500–2600 per month, depending on previous experience and expertise. If a research assistant is hired for the position, the salary will be approximately €2200 per month, depending on previous experience and expertise.

The position has a trial period of six months.

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 28.1.2025 at 16.00 (EET/ UTC+2).

Please write or present your application and accompanying documents in English or Finnish and send all attachments in the form of a SINGLE PDF file. Candidates may be invited for a video interview during the recruitment process and may also be invited for an in-person visit at a later stage, if this is necessary.

Applicants should enclose with their application:

  • Motivation letter (max. 2 pages)
  • Master’s thesis (or a version of it, if not yet accepted)
  • Study register extract illustrating the courses done at Bachelor’s and Master’s degree
  • As a voluntary attachment you can also include contact details of a referee (for example Master’s thesis supervisor)

Those, invited to the interview, will be informed at week 5 and the interviews will be held at the same or following week.

Further information

For further information about the position, please contact: Senior Research Fellow Aleksi Karhula (aleksi.karhula@utu.fi, +358 29 450 3022).

With questions about the application process, please contact: HR Specialist Laura Nieminen, laura.nieminen@utu.fi , +358 29 450 4987.

INVEST Research Flagship Centre

Think, Question, Get Inspired – New Welfare State

The research flagship Inequalities, Interventions, and New Welfare State (INVEST) aims at providing a new model for the welfare state that is more equal, better targeted to problem groups, more anticipatory as well as economically and socially sustainable. The existing research indicates that the Nordic welfare states are efficient in reducing the negative outcomes that are related to many of the structural family disadvantages, such as parental low education, unemployment or poverty. Despite this, children and youth are still particularly vulnerable when negative life course events take place unexpectedly or when many disadvantages accumulate to the same families. The growth environments can strengthen these negative effects. 

The flagship has been funded by the Academy of Finland and is implemented in cooperation with the University of Turku and the Institute of Health and Welfare (THL). The multidisciplinary project combines sociology, social policy, demography, psychology and psychiatry, in addition to the other connected fields of sciences.

The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.

See our open vacancies

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Information for the applicant

The application form cannot be saved as a 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.

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Doctoral Researcher or Project Researcher

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