The Doctoral Programme in Technology (DPT), the University of Turku, Finland, is inviting applications for fixed-term doctoral researcher positions beginning on 1 January 2027 or by agreement during the year 2027. It is also possible to apply for a continuation of the current doctoral researcher employment contract. The duration of the doctoral researcher position is at most four years, but not beyond 31 December 2030.
In addition, up to one‑year positions for 2027 are available for applicants in the final stages of their doctoral research. For these positions, the aim is to submit the dissertation for pre‑examination during 2027.
Please read the more detailed instructions for the applicant on the programme’s webpages. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the application is submitted correctly.
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 contract, prior funding granted for pursuing a doctoral degree, planned schedule and current phase of the research are taken into account. A person already awarded with a doctoral degree cannot be chosen as a Doctoral Researcher under an employment contract.
The Doctoral Researcher works at the Department of Computing, Department of Life Technologies, Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering or in Turku Bioscience Centre.
A doctoral researcher position requires residence in Finland. The place of work is Turku. The University of Turku has flexible opportunities for remote work.
Who we are looking for
Requirements:
- You must hold an active study right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Turku in the Doctoral Programme in Technology. 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 December 2024).
- If you have not yet been granted the right to pursue a doctoral degree, you must apply for the right to pursue a doctoral degree in the Doctoral Programme in Technology in this call via the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service (see the instructions on the programme’s webpages). The degree which grants the applicant the eligibility for the study right for a doctoral degree must be completed within the application period, or after the application deadline on the condition that the applicant graduates and submits a scanned degree certificate and a transcript of study records to the University of Turku email [email protected] by 13 November 2026. 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.
Criteria used in the selection of doctoral researchers for fixed-term doctoral researcher positions include:
- Implementation of research: feasibility to perform doctoral research at the host group/premises, supervisor’s assessment of the applicant
- Planned research: clarity of goals/objectives, methods, feasibility of the timeframe, novelty, impact, relevance
- Background: motivation, success in studies, publications, completed doctoral studies, international activities
Any other funding received by the applicant for doctoral studies can be taken into consideration when determining the duration of the doctoral researcher position. The Doctoral Programme is multidisciplinary and aims to promote all research fields, which may be taken into consideration when positions are filled.
Benefits
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
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 € 2,400 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.
How to apply
Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 8.9.2026 at 23.59 (Europe/Helsinki).
Please write your application and accompanying documents (as PDF files) in English.
Applicants should enclose with their application:
- Curriculum vitae (mandatory)
- Dissertation research plan (mandatory) Note! must be prepared using the mandatory template: link to the DPT research plan template
- Degree certificate and transcript of study records (mandatory)
- List of publications (needed if you have publications)
- Transcript of study records of completed post-graduate studies (mandatory for funded position applicants who already have the study right)
- Supervisor’s statement (submitted to the RefApp-platform, see instructions below)
The supervisor’s statement is submitted to the RefApp-platform at the latest by 16.9.2026. The applicant will receive a personal link to the RefApp-platform where they provide the contact details (name, email address and phone number) of their dissertation supervisor. The supervisor will then receive a personal link to the RefApp-platform, where they will be able to fill the supervisor’s statement form. Please note! The requests for supervisor's statement will be sent starting from the first week of September.
You can find more information about the required application documents on the programme’s webpages. Please read the instructions carefully.
The Head of the Department in question will decide on recruitment of the applicants for a fixed-term Doctoral Researcher positions, based on the proposals of the steering committee of the Doctoral Programme. All applicants will be personally informed about the decisions by 30 November 2026. The names of the persons who have been selected for the funded positions will be published on the website of Doctoral Programme (www.utu.fi/dpt). A selected applicant has to notify their acceptance of the position according to the instructions given in the offer notification.
Further information
Aiste Ivanauskaite, DPT coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]
