The University of Turku is a world-class multidisciplinary research university which offers interesting challenges and a unique vantage point to national and international research and education.

The Turku Institute for Advanced Studies promotes cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in the humanities and social sciences including studies in arts and literature, cultural studies, history, archaeology, languages, linguistics, speech and language pathology, business studies, economics, education, law, philosophy, political science, psychology, social policy, social work, sociology and research methodologies. TIAS is supported by the faculties of Education, Humanities, Law and Social Sciences and the Turku School of Economics and its Fellows span these disciplines.

TIAS invites applications for four (4) Collegium Fellow (Collegium Researcher) positions for a three-year period starting from 1September2022. Collegium Fellow is defined as being within twelve (12) years of applicants having passed their PhD. Tenured Professors (i.e. those with the title of Professor) are not eligible to apply.

TIAS selects its Fellows via an international call for applications and welcomes applications from all disciplines within its five constituent faculties (Economics, Education, Humanities, Law and Social Sciences).

The main task of TIAS Fellows is to carry out an internationally excellent research project over a three year period, during which the results of the project should be disseminated in a number of ways. Fellows are also required to contribute to the intellectual life of the Institute via such things as attending and presenting at TIAS meetings, organising TIAS events and cross disciplinary working with their co-Fellows.

The positions are located at one of the campuses of the University of Turku and successful candidates are required to live in Finland. In addition to TIAS meetings, Fellows are expected to attend the campus regularly. TIAS Fellows are located in departments which act as hosts to the research. Selected applicants will benefit from being hosted within departments in the University’s faculties, while also being part of the vibrant TIAS research community. In their motivation letter, applicants should state how their work supplements existing work at the University, identifying both the department within which they wish to be located and relevant members of staff whose work aligns with their own.

TIAS supports the research priorities of the University of Turku and applicants should outline how their work relates to one or more of the strategic research and education profiles of the University of Turku for 2021–30: 1) Biodiversity and sustainability, 2) Future technologies and digital society, 3) Cultural memory and social change, 4) Children, young people and learning, 5) Health, diagnostics and drug development, 6) Sea and maritime studies (see strategic profiles). Successful candidates are requested to demonstrate engagement in international academic networks and must provide evidence of their ability to work in a research environment of high international standard.

Selection of successful applicants will be on the basis of academic excellence. External Reviewers are asked to rank, from 1–6, the following: (i) applicants’ previous academic achievements, (ii) the quality of the research plan, (iii) the theoretical and methodological framework, (iv) the proposed outputs plan and (v) an overall assessment. Reviewers are also asked to comment on any ethical issues around the proposed research. Based on the external evaluations, the TIAS Board of Management makes final decisions on the successful applicants.

TIAS Fellows’ salaries are determined in accordance with the university salary system for teaching and research personnel.  The salary for Collegium Researcher positions corresponds to a requirement level 7 and the pre-estimated personal performance percentage of 17% (current euro-dominated salary 4 720 €/month). Progress in the researcher's personal performance can be taken into account when determining the salary during employment.

The University of Turku is a responsible employer and educator and follows The Equality Plan of the University of Turku approved by the University Board. The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo. The logo 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.

>> Detailed Instructions and guidance for applicants

The closing date for applications is 7 January 2022 (23.59.59 Finnish time, GMT +2). Applications must be submitted via the University of Turku’s electronic application form, a link to which can be found at the beginning of this announcement (Apply for the job).

For more information on applying, please contact the TIAS Director, Professor Martin Cloonan martin.cloonan@utu.fi or the TIAS Coordinator, Jenni Kankaanpää, TIAS-haku@utu.fi. For further information on TIAS please see TIAS website.

Q&A session about the call will be organised on Wednesday 8 December 2021 between 14.00 and 16.00 Finnish time (GMT+2). Further details of the location of the Q&A session will be posted on the TIAS website.