Doctoral Researcher, Strategy And Emotions

At Aalto University, science and art meet technology and business. We build a sustainable future by achieving breakthroughs in our key areas and at their intersections. At the same time, we inspire the change-makers of the future and create solutions to the world’s grand challenges. Our university community comprises 16,000 students, 446 professors, and over 5,000 employees representing more than 120 nationalities. Our campus is located in Otaniemi, Espoo. Diversity is part of who we are, and we work continuously to ensure diversity and non-discrimination in our community. We therefore encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to join us.

Doctoral Researcher position in research on strategy and emotions

We are looking for an ambitious researcher to join a research project examining the role of emotions in strategic decision-making, strategy work, and strategy implementation.

The research group operates at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. The position is full-time and based in Finland. The project involves field research in both Finnish and international companies.

Students of Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM) are particularly well suited for the role. Studies in IEM and an understanding of corporate strategy, management, and operations are considered an asset.

You might be a great fit if you

• are genuinely interested in the relationship between strategy and emotions
• have strong qualitative research skills or motivation to develop them
• enjoy demanding intellectual discussion and constructive critique
• aim to publish in leading international journals in management and organization studies
• want to work closely in a research group committed to collaboration
• work independently, proactively, and with perseverance.

We require excellent command of English, strong communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a research team. Proficiency in Finnish is an advantage but not a requirement.

The Doctoral Researcher position

The position is particularly suitable for IEM students in the final stage of their studies as well as recent graduates.

Your Master’s thesis does not need to be completed at the time of application. However, you must have a clear and credible plan for finishing the thesis and graduating. In your application, please describe the current status of your thesis, remaining work, and your planned graduation timetable.

Applicants must hold a relevant higher university degree or be able to complete the degree before starting the position. The degree may be, for example, in Industrial Engineering and Management, strategy, organization studies, management, or another relevant field.

Previous publication experience is not required for the Doctoral Researcher position. Key selection criteria include research potential, analytical thinking, academic ambition, study performance, and the ability to carry out demanding research work over the long term.

Salary is determined according to the Finnish university salary system. The starting salary for Doctoral Researchers is 3263,32 EUR/month.

The preferred starting date is as soon as possible during 2026. The initial contract period is two years, with a mandatory mid-term evaluation during the second year. Upon a successful evaluation, the contract will be extended for a second two-year period.

Level of research ambition

The project’s academic ambition is very high. Our aim is to produce internationally excellent and genuinely novel research and to publish it in the field’s leading journals.

This requires full commitment to research, patience, and sustained effort. Research inevitably involves uncertainty, critical feedback, rejections, and the need to develop the work through multiple rounds. Acceptance rates at leading journals are often below five percent.

The research topics are closely connected to prior work on strategy and emotions. The goal is not merely to apply existing research but to significantly advance our understanding of the emotional dynamics of strategy. The research should push the frontier beyond what has already been published, for example, in Administrative Science Quarterly, Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, and other leading journals.

Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with this body of literature before preparing their application.

What we value in applicants

We particularly value a proactive approach. A strong application shows that the applicant is familiar with prior research and is able to present well-founded ideas, for example, on

• what current research does not yet explain
• how existing theories or research designs could be developed
• what new research questions could be formed in the domain
• how the applicant’s expertise could strengthen the research project.

Applicants are expected to be able to independently identify the core prior literature.

Evidence of academic excellence is also important. For Doctoral Researcher applicants, such evidence may include, for example, excellent study performance, a demanding Master’s thesis or strong indications based on a thesis in progress, experience as a research assistant, a conference presentation, an award, or other proof of research potential.

How to apply and required application materials

Apply by submitting your application through our recruitment system (“Apply now!” link) no later than 28 August 2026. Applications sent by email will not be accepted. We encourage early submission, as candidates may be invited to interviews during the application period and the position may be filled before the deadline. Please note that the position may remain unfilled if a suitable candidate is not found.

If you are an Aalto employee, please apply with your employee profile via the Workday system (internal jobs). If you are an Aalto student or visitor, please apply with your personal email address (not aalto.fi) via the external Open positions page.

All materials must be submitted as PDF files, up to five (5) files with a maximum size of 5 MB each.

Please attach:

• Motivation letter describing your interest in the position and the research topic, and explaining why you would be a good fit for the project.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Official transcript of records.
• A preliminary research idea or research plan (1–2 pages) demonstrating your familiarity with research on strategy and emotions and presenting ideas for developing the research.

If your Master’s thesis is still in progress, briefly describe its topic, current status, remaining work, and a realistic completion schedule in your application.

For more information about the position, please contact Professor Timo Vuori, timo.vuori@aalto.fi. For questions related to the application process, please contact HR Partner Hanna Koli at hanna.koli@aalto.fi.

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