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.

We invite applications for 3–4 positions of Senior Researcher (recent postdocs or equivalent) to the INVEST Research Flagship Center for a fixed term from 1.1.2022 to 31.12.2025.

The Senior Researchers are chosen to perform demographic and sociological research in the consortium “Family Formation in Flux – Causes, Consequences and Possible Futures”, funded by the Strategic Research Council.

FLUX Consortium Director is docent Marika Jalovaara (University of Turku) and Deputy Director is Prof. Mikko Myrskylä (University of Helsinki and MPIDR). The sub-project at the University of Turku (FLUX-UTU) focuses on changes in fertility and family dynamics (partnerships, childlessness, childbearing) and how fertility and family dynamics are associated with social and gender inequalities, economic insecurity, psychosocial factors and societal crises. The researchers working in the project are demographers and sociologists, but they collaborate with researchers who represent other disciplines (psychology, economics, epidemiology, social policy, data science).

FLUX is part of the research flagship  “INVEST – Inequalities, Interventions and New Welfare State” which aims at providing a new model for the welfare states that is more equal, better targeted to problem groups, more anticipatory as well as economically and socially sustainable. The flagship has been funded by the Academy of Finland and is implemented in cooperation with the University of Turku and the Institute of Health and Welfare (THL).

The persons chosen to the positions are expected to participate in research conducted according to the FLUX research plan and to realise their own research projects related to the topics of FLUX. We also encourage researchers to apply for further external funding for their research as this facilitates their career progress. Work tasks include some teaching responsibility (5% of the working time at the maximum) in the PhD and Master’s programmes of the flagship (DPInvest and MPInvest). The positions include possibilities to work as a visiting researcher in collaborating universities abroad. FLUX-UTU researchers collaborate with the other FLUX sub-projects in Turku and Helsinki, and there is mobility also between the sub-projects. In strategic research consortia, societal interaction has a central role, and FLUX offers excellent opportunities to gain experience also in societal impact of research.

Requirements 

The persons chosen for the positions are expected to have: 

1. a PhD in demography, sociology, or a related field (or expected to acquire such a degree within six months),
2. strong skills in quantitative methods and experience in using register, panel, or survey datasets,
3. the ability to conduct independent scholarly work and publish research on the topics related to the project.

Successful applicants have strong research orientation and fluency in English.

The eligibility criteria for the positions are defined in the rules of procedure of the University of Turku (Section 38).

The persons chosen for the positions are expected to begin their employment in January 2022 at the earliest and in April 2022 at the latest. Contracts will last for four years, with an option for an extension.

There will be a trial period of six months.

Salary

The salary is determined by the collective agreement system of Finnish universities. The position belongs to the category of teaching and research personnel. The pre-estimated salary will be on average 2850–3000 eur/month for a person holding a MSc degree, and on average 3300–4000 eur/month for a person holding a PhD degree. The exact salary will depend on the person’s competence and research experience and will be specified when the employment contract is prepared. Progress in the researcher's personal performance will be taken into account when determining the salary during employment.

Working in Finland

The university offers comprehensive support and orientation for international recruits. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and people:

• Career in Southwestern Finland (with information on Turku): 
• Working culture 
• This is Finland 
• University of Turku

Applications

The application should include: 

1. motivation letter
2. a research plan describing researcher’s own four-year research project (max 2 pages),
3. a CV,
4. a list of publications,
5. a copy of the PhD thesis (or if not yet defended, the manuscript and a statement from the supervisor on the expected date of defending the thesis) and
6. two writing samples (articles or manuscripts) on topics related to the topic areas of the flagship.

The appendices should follow the guidelines of the faculty. The electronic database allows the applicant to submit only one application file to each application section. Information on the file forms to be used can be found in the additional information on each application. Please note that the database only allows the publications to be submitted in a packaged form (.zip). One .zip-file may include several individual files.

Further details are available upon request from Marika Jalovaara, +358 40 587 98 26, marika.jalovaara@utu.fi. Any inquiries about the recruitment process or the e-recruitment system will be answered by HR Specialist Marja Andersson, +358 29 450 4756, marja.andersson@utu.fi.

Applications must be submitted by Monday the 15th of November, 2021 (23:59 GMT+02:00 Helsinki) using the electronic application form of the University of Turku on the following address: https://www.utu.fi/en/university/come-work-with-us/open-vacancies. The link to the application system is at the beginning of this announcement (Apply for the job).