The University of Helsinki is among the leading multidisciplinary research universities in the world. In addition to its 11 faculties, the University includes several independent institutes, some of which are jointly operated with other universities. More than 30,000 students are currently pursuing a degree at the University of Helsinki.
The Faculty of Law at the University of Helsinki (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-law) is the leading Finnish institute of legal education. Some degrees granted by the Faculty are completed at the bilingual Vaasa Unit of Legal Studies. The Faculty’s mission is to train qualified, ethically responsible legal professionals for both the Finnish and international markets through high-quality international research and research-based teaching. The Faculty of Law offers undergraduate degrees in Finnish, Swedish and English as well as a bilingual degree in Finnish and Swedish. The Faculty has a teaching and research staff of around 120 people and 2,400 students pursuing a degree.
The appointee will also be affiliated with the University of Helsinki Legal Tech Lab (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/networks/legal-tech-lab).

The Faculty of Law invites applications for

POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHER (Potential and Boundaries of Algorithmic Transparency, ‘Algoritmisen läpinäkyvyyden mahdollisuudet ja rajoitukset’ - ALGOT)

until the end of project funding period 31.8.2022.

The appointee’s main duty is to conduct research and additionally to provide teaching in one of the fields of public law, legal sociology, research methodology, law and digitalisation or legal and social implications of AI, as well as engage in other activities at the Faculty and the University of Helsinki Legal Tech Lab.

The appointee will be a group member in the ALGOT research group (directed by Associate Prof. Ida Koivisto and Assistant Professor Riikka Koulu) that critically addresses the question whether algorithmic transparency mitigates legal and societal challenges raised by the increasing use of algorithms, such as algorithmic predictions and systemic biases. More specifically, the results of the appointee’s research contribute to the research group’s analysis on the meaning of transparency and how transparency affects the accountability, explainability and legitimacy of algorithmic governance. In practice, the appointee’s research task is to conduct empirical research (interviews of members in the EU’s High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence) that qualitatively examines what motivates relevant performative practices of legal and policy experts, and to collect as well as analyse this empirical data.

The appointee must have completed a doctoral degree. The appointee should have previous independent research experience and must have the ability to conduct empirical research. Moreover, the appointee must specifically have the necessary methodological expertise to conduct and collect data from expert interviews. Interest in or experience of research concerning law and new technologies will be considered an asset. In addition to independent research work, the post-doctoral researcher must be able to work as part of an interdisciplinary team with the other group members in order to follow the overarching project research plan. The main working language will be English.

The University of Helsinki Legal Tech Lab, where other similar research projects are ongoing, will serve as the daily working environment for the appointed post-doctoral researcher. For more, see: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/networks/legal-tech-lab.

The appointee shall have completed a doctoral degree in a relevant field of science (law, social science) before the start of employment. The position requires the ability and motivation to conduct independent scientific research, and very good or excellent oral and written proficiency in English.

The salary will be based on level 5 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system applied in Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. The salary range will be €3,100–3,600 per month, depending on the merits and experience of the appointee. There will be a six-month trial period for the position.

The application must be accompanied by the following enclosures (in English):

• An application written by the applicant, indicating the applicant’s interest in conducting research, as well as expertise and teaching experience related to the research field
• A curriculum vitae
• A list of publications
• A tentative research plan (max. 3 pages) that relates to the theme of the project

The application, together with the required attachments, must be submitted as one PDF file through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system by clicking on the link below. Applicants employed by the University of Helsinki must submit their application through the SAP HR portal (https://saphr.it.helsinki.fi/irj/portal). The closing date for applications is 7.10.2020. The appointed post-doctoral researcher is scheduled to start working on 1 November 2020 or soon after that.

Further information on the position may be obtained from Dean Pia Letto-Vanamo, pia.letto-vanamo(at)helsinki.fi and Associate Professor Ida Koivisto, ida.koivisto(at)helsinki.fi or Assistant Professor Riikka Koulu, riikka.koulu(at)helsinki.fi.

Further information on the recruitment system may be obtained from HR Specialist Minna Boström, minna.bostrom(at)helsinki.fi.