University Lecturer (Digital Linguistics, Applied AI and Digital Cultural Heritage)

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Turku invites applications for the position of University Lecturer in Digital Linguistics, Applied AI and Digital Cultural Heritage in the School of Languages and Translation Studies. The position will be filled on a permanent basis beginning on 1 August 2026. The position is shared 70%/30% between Digital Linguistics (School of Languages and Translation Studies) and the Department of Computing (Faculty of Technology). The university lecturer will work in close collaboration with the TurkuNLP group which is based in the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Technology.

The position is part of the Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age (DigiHeri) initiative, which belongs to the University of Turku’s profiling funding (PROFI 8) and represents a multidisciplinary collaboration across five faculties. DigiHeri emphasises research on digital cultural heritage, the development and exploration of open methods and tools, the construction of shared digital infrastructures, and the societal and cultural implications of new forms of heritage. Further information about the project is available at https://sites.utu.fi/digiheri/ .

Job description

The teaching and research areas of the university lecturer include digital linguistics and methods of applied AI and language technology as parts of a broader framework of digital humanities and digital cultural heritage. The position focuses on the use of large language models and applied artificial intelligence in language research, as well as on the development of modern computational language technology methods in collaboration with the Department of Computing.

Teaching covers both introductory-level courses in applied AI and digital humanities, which are offered widely, as well as master's and doctoral-level courses in digital language research and language technology. In addition, the person selected for the position will participate in the development of teaching and the supervision of theses. The position has a strong research focus in order to develop applied artificial intelligence research, digital linguistics and the DigiHeri profile area at the University of Turku.

University lecturer is expected to actively engage in their own scientific research and apply for research funding.

Who we are looking for

Qualifications and requirements

The eligibility criteria for prospective applicants are defined in the University of Turku’s rules of procedure.

In accordance to the eligibility criteria for university lecturer, the applicant should

  • have an appropriate doctoral degree in a relevant field in language studies or similar
  • be able to provide high-quality teaching that is based on research knowledge
  • have the ability to supervise theses on all levels.

Successful performance in the post of university lecturer requires

  • ability to work in a multidisciplinary setting
  • scientific qualification in linguistics, language studies, computational linguistics, or similar language-related field, with a distinct orientation on the use of computational methodology
  • substantial experience in exploring very large collections of digital language materials using modern, deep-learning based AI methodology in a high performance computing environment

Successful performance of the position requires proficiency in Finnish and good command of English. However, an applicant who has good English skills but does not yet have Finnish language skills may also be recruited.

If the applicant does not have Finnish language skills at the time of application, we require the person selected for the position to acquire a sufficient level of Finnish for performing the duties within three years. We provide support for language studies.

In addition, successful applicants are required to demonstrate

  • clear evidence of postdoctoral research
  • a strong research agenda in line with the profile of TurkuNLP

When assessing the merits of the applicants we will take into account

  • scholarly work and practical expertise in the field in question
  • teaching experience and teacher training
  • ability to produce study materials
  • other teaching merits
  • teaching demonstration

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

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

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

The salary for the position is determined on the basis of job demand assessment levels 5–7 of the university salary system for teaching and research personnel, where the task-specific salary component is between € 3366–4525 per month. A component that is based on personal performance is also paid in addition to the task-specific salary, and this component is min. 6 % of the task-specific salary. The salary will in the beginning of the employment be approximately 4300 €/month.

The position has a trial period of six (6) months.

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 30 March 2026 at 16.00 (Europe/Helsinki).

The application and the attachments should be written either in Finnish or in English.   

Your application must include the following:

  • a CV
  • a motivation letter
  • a teaching portfolio
  • a list of publications
  • a research plan including a proposal that is no longer than three typed pages and that lays out your vision for the future development of your research and teaching activities in the Department.
  • copies of degree certificates
  • other documents verifying the applicant’s competence and qualifications

The CV, teaching portfolio and list of publications should follow the guidelines of the University of Turku.

The top candidates will be interviewed and invited to provide a teaching demonstration that will be open to the public.

Further information

For additional information on the position, please contact Professor Tuomas Huumo.

For further information on the selection process, please contact HR Specialist Maija Österlund.

 

School of Languages and Translation Studies

The School of Languages and Translation Studies (SLT) is an international teaching and research centre that trains various types of experts in languages, cultures and communication. Our research focuses on different phenomena in languages and cultures, such as multilingualism and language contacts during different times and eras, interaction and variation, language and cognition, translation, as well as literary studies.

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Turku aims to develop its surrounding society by training experienced, open-minded and critical experts for the societal needs of both Finland and the world. Our task is to act as the maintainers and promoters of civilisation. The Faculty operates in two locations, in Turku and Pori.

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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University Lecturer (Digital Linguistics, Applied AI and Digital Cultural Heritage)

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