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Faculty of Social Sciences at Tampere University invites applications for a fixed-term (3 years) Doctoral Researcher position, starting 1 September 2025 (or as agreed) till 31 August 2028. The position is open as part of a research team of the project “Utopia and Eastern European Literature after 1989” (PI Natalya Bekhta; funding: Research Council of Finland).

The research project “Utopia and Eastern European Literature after 1989” at the Tampere University runs from September 2024 to August 2028. We study utopian imagination of the 20^th and 21^st centuries in Eastern Europe with a larger aim to deprovincialise literatures of this region by (a) mapping anew the existing geographies of comparison, (b) developing a world-systems theory of literary semi-peripheries, and (c) revising the current understanding of the novel as a globally-dominant genre. Thematic focus on utopia serves as a strategic frame and a socio-cultural interest, through which we approach the above set of research problems.

The project is hosted at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Tampere University. The Faculty of Social Sciences covers a wide range of disciplines, including literary and language studies. Tampere University is an internationally renowned research-led university. For more information about Tampere, please see VisitTampere. For further information about Finland, please visit InfoFinland and This is Finland.  

Job Description

We are seeking a candidate capable of developing a research project in the frameworks of comparative literature, cultural studies and literary theory, with focus on the themes of futural imagination and utopia. The proposed project should aim to study these themes in Hungarian and/or Estonian literatures as its main focus and set them in comparison with the relevant trends in the Eastern European region and in world literature more broadly. The genre focus of the proposed project will be on utopias, satires, SF as well as texts deemed peripheral by the mainstream literary canons. 

Please note: Research proposals that creatively modify or expand the given focus – within the general framework of the project “Utopia and Eastern European Literature after 1989” – are welcome.

The overarching aim of the team project “Utopia and Eastern European Literature after 1989” is to bring Eastern-European literary traditions into the world-literary discussion and out of the confines of area studies. The selected candidate can influence the emphasis and direction of their own research within the thematic and geographical scope of the project “Utopia and Eastern European Literature after 1989”.

The doctoral researcher’s main duties will consist of writing their dissertation and related activities. In addition, the doctoral researcher is required to participate in meetings and other activities of the research team, such as occasional administrative tasks, organization of academic events related to the project and joint presentations at relevant research events. A successful candidate is expected to show interest and enthusiasm towards working in a research team and towards contributing to solutions of the project’s research problems. 

Requirements

The selected candidate must hold a Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as literary studies, cultural studies, or comparative literature. The selected candidate will need to apply for acceptance in Tampere University’s Doctoral Program in Social Sciences during Autumn semester 2025.

The selected candidate must have the ability to conduct independent, high-quality scientific research. The candidate should have excellent analytical and methodological skills and be able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team. A successful candidate is expected to have a linguistic expertise relevant for the study of East-European literatures, with the knowledge of Hungarian and/or Estonian considered an advantage. 

Excellent skills in written and oral English are required. International applicants are encouraged to acquire Finnish skills during their 3-year position via the language courses provided by the Tampere University.

Please be prepared to provide proof of your merits if requested.

We offer

Position is fixed-term (3 years) position, starting as of 1 September 2025 (or as agreed) until 31 August 2028. A trial period of six months applies to all new employees.

The salary of the Doctoral Researcher will be based on levels 2-4 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition to the basic salary, supplementary salary will be paid according to the personal performance, depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. At commencement, the monthly salary of a doctoral researcher will typically be approximately 2600 EUR. 

How to apply

Applications should be written in English and submitted electronically via the Tampere University’s electronic recruitment system (link below). The closing date for applications is 7thJuly 2025 (at 23:59/UCT +3:00). A shortlist will be announced in mid-July, followed by the online interviews of the top candidates in the first weeks of August.

The following documents should accompany your application: 

(1)    CV (including your publications; max. 3 pages)

(2)    Short letters of reference from two (2) referees

(3)    Preliminary research proposal (max. 3 pages) consisting of 

    i.    a description of previous research experience (such as MA thesis);

    ii.    a research idea/vision where you tell why the project’s themes or approach interest you and how you would like to focus your own PhD in this context.

Enquiries

For further information about the position please feel free contact the project PI, Natalya Bekhta, Ph.D., Docent in Comparative Literature at natalya.bekhta(at)tuni.fi.

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Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat yhdessä Suomen toiseksi suurimman monitieteisen, innostavan ja vaikuttavan tutkimus- ja oppimisyhteisön. Korkeakouluyhteisömme osaamiskärjet ovat tekniikka, terveys ja yhteiskunta. Lue lisää: www.tuni.fi

Tampereen yliopiston yhteiskuntatieteiden tiedekunta hakee määräaikaiseen (3 vuotta) väitöskirjatutkijan tehtävään alkaen 1. syyskuuta 2025 (tai sopimuksen mukaan) ja päättyen 31. elokuuta 2028. Tehtävä sijoittuu tutkimusprojektiin "Utopia and Eastern European Literature after 1989" (vastuullinen johtaja: Natalya Bekhta; rahoitus: Suomen Akatemia).

Luethan tarkemman tehtävänkuvauksen ja hakuohjeet englannin kielisessä ilmoitustekstissä ylläpuolelta. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 7.7.2025 klo: 23:59.