About the opportunity
The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a full-time Doctoral Researcher position in Global Development Studies for a fixed term of at least three years, starting March 1, 2027 (or as agreed). The position is part of the project ‘Forests At Tipping points in the Era of Post-truth and Polycrisis: Insights from Brazil and Finland’ (FATE), funded by the Research Council of Finland (2024–2030) and led by Markus Kröger. The appointee will investigate deforestation, clearcutting, and climatic ecological tipping points, contributing to research on political economy, media discourses, and environmental policy while carrying out in-situ fieldwork in Brazil. Duties include independent and collaborative publishing, project communications, event organization, and up to 5% teaching.
Salary and benefits
- Annual gross salary ranging from approximately €32,000 to €42,000 depending on qualifications and experience
- Standard Finnish pension benefits and occupational health care
- Fixed-term employment contract for at least three years
- Support for publishing, networking, and interdisciplinary collaboration
Who can apply?
- Must hold a master's degree and thesis with excellent grades in global development studies, social sciences, human geography, or another field relevant to the research topic
- Demonstrated ability and motivation to pursue postgraduate studies and a doctoral degree according to a study plan and research proposal
- Prior expertise conducting research, working, or having major exposure in the context of Brazilian Amazon forest communities and politics
- Fluency or excellent language proficiency in both Portuguese and English
- Must secure the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment or obtain it within the six-month probationary period
- Willingness to reside in Finland while employed and conduct extensive field research in Brazil
Required documents
- Motivation letter describing interest in and suitability for the project (maximum 1 page, PDF)
- Research plan (1,500–2,000 words, PDF)
- Curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages, PDF)
- List of publications (PDF)
- Recommendations from up to two referees including their contact details (PDF)
- Relevant supporting documents verifying qualifications, such as degree certificates and language certificates in English and Portuguese (PDF)
When to apply
- Application deadline is November 12, 2026, at 23:59 Europe/Helsinki time
- Interviews with shortlisted candidates will be conducted during November 2026
- Anticipated start date is March 1, 2027, or as agreed
How to apply
- Review doctoral education application guidelines and requirements at the University of Helsinki
- Prepare all required application documents formatted as individual PDF files
- Register and submit your application online through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System using the 'Apply now' button (or 'Employee Login' for internal applicants) before the closing deadline
Additional information
- The position includes a probationary period of six months
- Working language is English, while fieldwork requires spoken Portuguese
- Technical recruitment system inquiries can be addressed to recruitment@helsinki.fi
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Early-career researchers in social sciences, development studies, or human geography with strong qualitative and ethnographic fieldwork backgrounds
- Scholars with proven on-the-ground experience working with rural or forest communities in the Brazilian Amazon
- Bilingual researchers fluent in Portuguese and English who seek structured doctoral funding integrated into a multi-year research project
What should you think carefully about?
- Requires splitting time between residing in Finland and conducting extended in-situ field research in Brazil
- Appointees must independently secure doctoral study rights at the University of Helsinki within the first six months if not already obtained
- Contract is fixed-term for a minimum of three years and includes teaching duties up to 5% of annual working time
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This appointment directly serves candidates aiming to complete a funded doctoral degree while building international fieldwork credentials. It provides substantial salary support, dedicated research time, and co-authorship opportunities within a major Research Council of Finland project focused on environmental governance and political economy.
Our take
A compelling, fully funded opportunity for development and geography researchers with established field experience in the Brazilian Amazon and strong Portuguese skills; less appropriate for those unable to relocate to Finland or undertake fieldwork in Brazil.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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