The Faculty of Law at the University of Turku is seeking applications for fixed-term doctoral researcher positions within the Doctoral Programme in Law. A doctoral researcher position begins on 1 January 2027 or by agreement during the year 2027.

The application period is from 25 August 2026 – 8 September 2026 at 23:59 (local time in Finland)

Job Description

The position is intended for full‑time doctoral research and doctoral studies. Participation in teaching and other duties should be arranged so that the dissertation can be completed within the planned timetable. The employment contract is based on a total annual working time of 1,612 hours, which gives the doctoral researcher flexibility to arrange working hours. As a rule, teaching and other duties may account for up to 5% of the annual working time (approximately up to 80 hours per academic year).

When determining the length of the employment, previously awarded funding for doctoral studies as well as the planned schedule and stage of the doctoral degree will be taken into account. The duration of a UTUGS‑funded fixed‑term doctoral researcher position is at most four years, but not beyond 31 December 2030. The basis for the fixed-term employment is doctoral researcher's work related to their doctoral studies.  

A person who already holds a doctoral degree cannot be selected to a doctoral researcher position. The doctoral researcher position requires working in Finland and the place of work is Turku.

The person we are looking for

When applying for a doctoral researcher position

• You must hold an active study right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Turku in the Faculty of Law, Doctoral Programme in Law. In addition, when acquiring the degree or otherwise, you are required to have demonstrated the ability to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan.  (University of Turku Rules of Procedure 13.12.2024).
• or if you have not yet been granted right to pursue a doctoral degree, you must apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree in the Doctoral Programme in Law in this call via the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service (see the instructions at ADMISSION page of the DPLAW). The right to pursue a doctoral degree is a prerequisite for being selected for a position of a doctoral researcher;
• You are planning to pursue or pursuing your first doctoral degree;
• You have not previously received four years of full‑time funding for doctoral studies.
• The doctoral researcher position requires working in Finland and the place of work is Turku.

We value community and promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We encourage qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

We offer

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. 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.

• Possibilities to develop your expertise – We encourage our personnel to develop their professional expertise by offering versatile training and competence development possibilities which employees can take advantage of during their working hours. Also, the course offering of Open University is free of charge for our personnel.
• Your well-being is important to us! – In addition to comprehensive occupational health care, our own well-being services monitor, support and develop the well-being of our personnel. You are entitled to use the CampusSport’s services at a personnel price.
• We support your work-life balance – Flexible working hours and extensive remote work options help you balance work and leisure time. 
• An inspiring and supportive work community – We encourage each other and value working together!

Please read more about University of Turku as an employer 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 quality label. The label 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 of Turku is among the top of the world’s universities in most rankings and among the best universities in the world in certain fields. Our high-quality basic research, a multidisciplinary research profile and close cooperation in research infrastructures creates the basis for international top research. Read more about University of Turku in international university rankings.

The University of Turku has several high-quality research infrastructures required for cutting-edge research. Learn more about the roadmap of research infrastructures and how the research infrastructure and expert teams offer tailored solutions for businesses and organizations.

Salary and trial period

Salary is based on the salary system of the University’s teaching and research staff. Salary will consist of a task-specific salary component and a personal performance salary component. The task-specific salary component of a doctoral researcher varies between levels 2 to 4, depending on the stage of the doctoral degree. In addition, a personal performance salary component is paid. The salary of a doctoral researcher ranges roughly from € 2,500 to € 3,300 depending on progress of the doctoral research and the experience and skills of the person concerned. The level of task-specific salary component of a new doctoral researcher is generally assessed as level 2. The probationary period is six months, however not more than half of the employment period.

Application instructions

Please submit your application through our electronic recruitment system by September 8, 2026, at 11:59 PM (Finnish time).

Applicants must attach the following to their application:

Application documents can be written in Finnish, Swedish or in English.

1) Curriculum Vitae and List of publications

CV according to guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board of Research Integrity. The CV must include a list of publications.

2) Research plan

When preparing the research plan you must follow the principles of good scientific practice (link to TENK’s guidelines on good scientific practice). The research plan may be checked with the Turnitin OriginalityCheck plagiarism‑detection system. Any use of artificial intelligence (AI) as an aid in preparing the research plan must be clearly declared in the application.

When applying for the Doctoral Programme in Law, you must draft a research plan for a doctoral dissertation in accordance with the guidelines of the Faculty of Law. To ensure equality among applicants, it is important that the maximum length of the research plan is not exceeded. Any use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools when drafting the research plan must be carefully disclosed in the plan, clearly explaining and distinguishing the work of the applicant from that of AI software.

3) Degree certificate and transcript of study records

Attach to the electronic application form:

• the scanned or electronic original certificate of the higher university degree (e.g. Master’s degree),
• the scanned or electronic original transcript of study records of the higher university degree,

If the documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, you must also submit an official translation into one of those languages; an official translation is accepted if issued by the degree‑awarding university or produced by an authorised translator. A Diploma Supplement (DS) issued by a European higher education institution may be accepted instead of an English translation of the degree certificate and transcript, provided it contains the details of the study records.

Applicants selected for fixed-term doctoral researcher positions must meet the eligibility requirements defined in the University of Turku Rules of Procedure (13.12.2024).

In the selection, the following aspects are also evaluated: 

• The scholarly originality, ambition, rigour, importance and feasibility of the research plan,

• Applicant’s eligibility for postgraduate studies (academic performance, possible scientific merits, the progress of studies and research to the current date). 

For applicants who have previously been granted the right to pursue a doctoral degree, progress in doctoral research and doctoral studies will also be assessed; prior funding received for the completion of the doctoral degree may be taken into account when determining the duration of a doctoral researcher position.

Usually, the selection for the employed positions in the Doctoral Programme in Law is a two-stage process. In the first stage the steering group evaluates all eligible applicants in relation to the above criteria and selects the most successful candidates for the second stage, which may include an interview. Each application is assessed with the same number of evaluators. Supervisors don’t evaluate applications in which they have agreed to act as supervisor. The final selection is based on a comprehensive evaluation of applications, since the applicants may be at different stages of their doctoral dissertation process.

Further information

For further information about the position, please contact Associate Professor Daniela Alaattinoğlu, daniela.alaattinoglu@utu.fi.

For further information about the recruitment process, please contact Coordinator Kirsi Tuohela, kirsi.tuohela@utu.fi.