Employed Doctoral Researcher In Transdisciplinary Pedagogy

The University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) is now recruiting

One employed Doctoral Researcher in Transdisciplinary Pedagogy

for a fixed-term, full-time, salaried position from 1 January 2027-31 August 2030 (duration of the funded project).

Working environment and job description

Doctoral education at Uniarts Helsinki is divided into three doctoral programmes: Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Music. This researcher position is situated within the Research Institute of Uniarts Helsinki, which is a joint unit tasked with developing the university’s research and promoting cross-artistic and interdisciplinary research projects.

The doctoral researcher will become an integral member of the project Training Transdisicplinarity in Performing Arts Higher Education, funded by the Research Council of Finland. While fulfilling the requirements of their doctoral degree, the researcher will offer new insights and expertise to the project, contribute to its ongoing activities, and help shape its direction in connection with their own research work.

Who can apply and selection criteria

The successful candidate must apply for and obtain the right to pursue doctoral studies or already be enrolled in one of the doctoral programmes of the three academies of Uniarts Helsinki. Details of the application requirements and process can be found on the doctoral training website (each doctoral programme has its own admissions guides). As the university’s doctoral application period is only open 7-21 January 2027, the successful candidate may start the position on 1 January 2027 before formal admission is confirmed. In this case, continuation of the employment relationship is contingent on the candidate being granted the right to pursue doctoral studies at Uniarts Helsinki. As with all positions, employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

The position is open to individuals with a completed master’s degree or current doctoral researchers at Uniarts Helsinki with professional experience in the performing arts, arts education, or a related field. Applicants will be assessed primarily on the viability of their individual research topic at Uniarts Helsinki and its potential to flourish within the Training Transdisciplinarity project. For this reason, applicants are encouraged to consider and explain how their own research topic and methods could intersect with the project’s ongoing activities, which may include interviewing and collecting data, transcribing and analyzing interviews, teaching, creating/performing, writing/publishing, attending conferences, and/or collaborating with international partners. Application materials should critically engage with the project’s key areas of investigation (e.g. transdisciplinarity, higher arts education, counter-critical pedagogy), highlight how you envision contributing to its objectives, and articulate how the project can support you and your work.

Other requirements

• Language skills requirements: The languages of instruction at Uniarts Helsinki are Finnish, Swedish, and English. For this position, an excellent command of English is required. Language proficiency will be assessed throughout the application process in relation to the foreseen duties of the position. Uniarts Helsinki staff are committed to the university's language policy, which emphasises multilingualism.
• Good IT skills
• Strong organisational, planning, and time-management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Salary, working hours, and location

The salary follows the general collective agreement for universities. The salary level for doctoral researchers corresponds to requirement level OV02–OV04 of the teaching and research staff, depending on the stage of studies. A personal performance component is also paid, resulting in a total gross monthly salary of €2,509.63–€3,129.13 for a full-time position. Once 50% of the doctoral studies have been completed, the job requirement level will be raised to OV03. When 75% of the studies have been completed, the job requirement level will be raised to OV04. Continuation of employment will require successful completion of an interim review within the first two years of doctoral studies.

Working time follows the total working time system for universities, 1,612 hours per year. About 5% of working time consists of tasks other than one’s own research.

Uniarts Helsinki's contractual obligations require the successful candidate to work in Finland. Thus, the assignment requires the doctoral researcher to reside officially in Finland for the duration of the employment relationship.

How to apply

Submit your application no later than Sunday 1 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC+2) through the online recruitment system of the Uniarts Helsinki. All application materials must be submitted by the deadline; late applications will not be considered.

Attach the following documents in PDF format in English:

• Motivation letter (max. 2 pages) - in the recruitment system Cover letter
• Concise CV (max. 3 pages) following the guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity
• Research plan abstract (maximum of 2,000 characters including spaces)
• Research plan (maximum of 20,000 characters, including spaces and references)
• Optional portfolio of key artistic work and how it relates to the proposed research (maximum of 5 pages/minutes of material)
  • o If your portfolio includes video or audio material, the PDF document should include links to the recordings (YouTube or Vimeo only). Links must be set to “Unlisted” or “Public”.
• Degree certificate (master’s degree)

To ensure equal treatment of applicants, the maximum lengths given for documents must not be exceeded. The body text in the documents should use 1.5-line spacing and 12‑point Arial or Times New Roman font.

The use of AI tools is permitted in preparing the application. Applicants are expected to use AI responsibly and in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity. Applicants should clearly state how AI, if any, has been used in preparing the research plan. Submission of the application implies consent to checking the research plan using Turnitin Originality Check.

Following an assessment of the applications online interviews of shortlisted will take place on 19 November 2026.

Inquiries

• For more information on the position and the application process please contact the project’s primary investigator by email: Kevin Skelton, kevin.skelton(at)uniarts.fi
• If you have questions related to the recruitment process or the online recruitment system, please contact HR, Anne Kilpeläinen, +358 50 348 4539, anne.kilpelainen(at)uniarts.fi.

Työsopimuksen voimassaolo: määräaikainen työsopimus | Työsuhteen luonne: kokoaikainen | Paikkojen lukumäärä: 1 | Työllisyysaste: 100 % | Paikkakunta: Helsinki | Maakunta: | Maa: Finland | Ilmoitusnumero: 2026/72 | Julkaistu: 2026-10-01 | Haku päättyy: 2026-11-01