Postdoctoral Researcher In Contested Waterfront Developments (Conwa)-Project

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 16 000 students and 5 200 employees, including 446 professors. Our campus is in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The Department of Architecture at Aalto University is an internationally renowned education and research unit (within app. top 2% in the world of architecture). With Finland’s esteemed architectural heritage, we search for new solutions to the challenges of sustainable development. To us, architecture is an art form that requires practical skills and individual artistic development, as well as knowledge on sustainability relevant to design and planning. We educate critical thinkers who accept their responsibility to research and design a socially, culturally, and ecologically sustainable built environment. The Department of Architecture offers degree programs in architecture, landscape architecture, and interior architecture. For more information, please see http://architecture.aalto.fi/en/.

We are now looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher (ConWa Project, 12 months)

Are you an academically driven researcher who wants to publish high-quality work on how housing and land policy shape social inclision in cities?

We are now looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Research Council of Finland funded Contested Waterfront Developments (ConWa)-project at Aalto University’s Department of Architecture, led by Senior Scientist Johanna Lilius. In this position, you will investigate how social inclusion is negotiated and transformed in European waterfront developments amid the financialization of land and real estate.

Your role and goals

• Design and conduct research on housing and land policy across ConWa case studies (Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium)
• Lead and co-author peer-reviewed articles and policy-relevant outputs
• Analyze negotiations among policymakers, developers, and other growth coalition actors regarding social inclusion targets
• Support project dissemination (briefs, presentations, blog posts) and good research data management

Your network and team

• Your supervisor will be Senior Scientist Johanna Lilius and through the ConWa-project, you will collaborate with scholars in planning, geography and social sciences and interact with city officials and developers

Your experience and ambitions

• PhD in a relevant field (e.g., planning, urban studies, economics)
• Demonstrated expertise in housing policy and/or land policy
• Strong academic writing skills and a clear track record or potential to publish in leading journals
• Experience with qualitative research (policy analysis, interviews, comparative case studies); quantitative/spatial skills are an advantage
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an international, interdisciplinary team
• Language requirements:
• EN: Excellent skills in English

What we offer

• Meaningful, agenda-setting research. You will publish on timely questions at the intersection of housing/land policy, financialization, and social inclusion and contribute to evidence that can shape real planning and policy decisions in Nordic and European cities.
• Tangible impact and visibility. Beyond academic outlets, you’ll contribute to policy briefs, and multimedia outputs (blog, videos), increasing the societal relevance and reach of your work.
• Interdisciplinary consortium and advisory strength. Collaborate closely with scholars in planning, geography, and social policy, and benefit from guidance by internationally recognized experts in housing financialization, segregation, and public space.

Our vast array of professional development opportunities means you will grow and learn, having the chance to participate actively in staff trainings and development projects based on your interests and needs. The starting salary for an entry-level postdoc is approximately 4150€ per month (fulltime). We value work-life balance and well-being in all aspects of life. We work in a hybrid model, with the primary workplace located at the Otaniemi Campus in Espoo, Finland. Life on the revitalized campus is vibrant, featuring stunning architecture, tranquil nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, and services, all complemented by excellent public transportation connections.

Join us!

To apply, please share uour CV and a motivation letter outlining what you would like to explore within the ConWa project and how you would approach it.with us through our recruitment site latest at 23.59pm (EET) 3. August 2026.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). If you are a student or visitor at Aalto University, please apply with your personal email address (not aalto.fi) via Aalto University open positions.

For more information about the role, please contact Senior Scientist Johanna Lilius (johanna.lilius@aalto.fi).

For questions related to the application process, please contact hr-arch@aalto.fi.

For more information about ConWa, please visit the project webpage: https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-architecture/conwa-contested-waterfront-transformation

You will hear from us the latest in the second week of August.

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