Doctoral Researchers in the Doctoral Programmes of Human Science; Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, and Technology and Natural Sciences Long-term and short-term positions. - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

We are now looking for applicants for

Four- and two-year university-funded doctoral researcher positions

in the Human Sciences doctoral program HS-DP, Information Technology and Electrical Engineering doctoral program ITEE-DP, and Technology and Natural Sciences Doctoral Programme TNS-DP  of the University of Oulu. The University of Oulu Graduate School (UniOGS) and the research units fully fund the positions.

About the positions

HS-DP: max. six four-year positions and max. three two-year positions 

HS-DP funds doctoral research in the following doctoral degree programs: economics and business administration, educational sciences and psychology, humanities, geography (human geography) 

ITEE-DP: max. six four-year positions and two two-year positions 

ITEE-DP funds doctoral research in the following doctoral degree programs: electrical                engineering, communications engineering, computer science and engineering, and information processing science 

TNS-DP: max. eight four-year positions and max. four two-year positions 

TNS-DP funds doctoral research in the following doctoral degree programs: architecture; biology; physics and astronomy; geosciences and mining engineering and mineral processing; chemistry; mechanical engineering; geography (natural geography); mathematical sciences; process and environmental engineering; civil engineering; industrial engineering and management

NOTE! Please note that you can only apply for one position, either a four-year or two-year. 

Four-year positions: These doctoral researcher positions are primarily intended for dissertation research for researchers who do not yet have doctoral study rights or are in the early stages of their dissertation work. The position is full-time and fixed-term for a maximum of four years, starting earliest on 1.1.2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. In the current call, there are max 13 full-time four-year positions for the period of 2024-2027.

Two-year positions: These doctoral researcher positions are primarily intended for doctoral researchers in the later stages of their dissertation work for full-time dissertation research. Each position is full-time and fixed-term for a maximum of two years, starting earliest on 1.1.2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. In the current call, there are six full-time two-year positions for the period of 2024-2025.

What we offer?

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic community where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.

Who are you?

You are expected to have the ability to pursue independent research, work productively in a team of various backgrounds, and potentially supervise undergraduate students. Specifically, you must have:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field. 
• Candidates must meet all the requirements to receive doctoral study rights as defined in: https://www.oulu.fi/en/research/graduate-school/admissions (see section ‘What is required for admission?’)
  • If you do not yet have the study right, you need to apply for the study right if you are granted one of these funded positions as soon as possible
• NOTE for the Four-year positions: You must be starting or starting your thesis project soon.
• NOTE for the Two-year positions: These doctoral researcher positions are primarily intended for doctoral researchers in the later stages of their dissertation work for full-time research. You are expected to graduate within this two-year funding period.

NOTE! Priority will be given to such doctoral researchers whose supervisor is not a PI or a project member in a focus institute spearhead or emerging project and is not receiving University of Oulu (strategic) funding related to doctoral training in 2024 and onward. The applicant should discuss this issue with the principal supervisor, who fills in the commitment form (see required attachments).

Salary

The successful candidate will be employed at the University of Oulu. The salary will be based on levels 2-4 of the demand level chart for the Finnish universities' teaching and research staff. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (a maximum of 50% of the job-specific component). The starting gross salary will be approximately €2400 – 2700 per month, depending on the qualifications. A trial period of 6 months is applied for the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 29.10.2023 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

Before submitting, applicants are expected to find a prospective main supervisor in an eligible research unit. Applicants are advised to seek potential supervisors on the faculty web pages (https://www.oulu.fi/en/university/faculties-and-units). The proposed main supervisor must clearly be identified in the application (full name, title, position, faculty, and research unit at the University of Oulu). A commitment form from the proposed supervisor willing to commit to supervision must be attached to the applicant’s documents (see below).

The application must be written in English (in the University’s Varbi recruitment system) and include the following attachments:

1. Cover letter (max. 1 page)
2. CV following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland: https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/how-to-apply-for-funding/az-index-of-application-guidelines2/cv-guidelines/ (max. 3 pages)
3. Certificates/Diplomas: Scanned electronic copies of diplomas and transcripts of the records of relevant previous degrees. If the original documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, each document must be accompanied by an official certified translation into Finnish or English.
4. Research plan – following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland: https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/how-to-apply-for-funding/az-index-of-application-guidelines2/research-plan-structure/2021/structure-of-research-plan---academy-research-fellow/ (max. 4 pages)
5. DP_CommitmentForm_2023  signed by the supervisor (the pre-formulated form that must be used): In this document, the eligible supervisor (either a professor or a docent-level researcher who the University of Oulu employs) states his/her willingness to act as the supervisor for the applicant. The commitment letter must include the (tentative) supervisor’s assurance that the research unit director is aware of and committed to the financial obligations related to these positions. Concerning the two-year and four-year positions: the principal supervisor needs to indicate if (s)he or any of the other supervisors is a PI or a project member in a focus institute spearhead or emerging project funded in 2024 and onwards.

Selection criteria:

• Applicants will be ranked based on:
  • Competence of the applicant
  • Quality of research (scientific quality, novelty, innovativeness)
  • Implementation (feasibility)
  • => Overall rating
• Four-year positions: Applicants who are in the early stages of their thesis project will be given priority
• Two-year positions: Applicants who have the potential to graduate within the two-year funding period are given priority

Ineligible or incomplete applications are rejected. The selection panel makes selection. All applicants will be informed of the selection by e-mail.

Contact Information

For information about admission and doctoral study rights at the University of Oulu, please see https://www.oulu.fi/en/research/graduate-school.

For questions about salary, other conditions of employment, and matters related to work permits, please contact: hr@oulu.fi.

For questions about the selection process and selection schedule, please contact (email 

For questions about the selection process and selection schedule, please contact (email firstname.lastname@oulu.fi):  

Coordinator Janne Kurtakko – for questions related to HS-DP 

Coordinator Mirjami Jutila – for questions related to ITEE-DP 

Coordinator Riitta Kamula - for questions related to TNS-DP