About the opportunity
The University of Helsinki invites applications for two fixed-term Postdoctoral Researcher positions for four years, starting in April 2027 or later as agreed. These positions are part of the Research Council of Finland-funded project “The Epistemic Significance of Concepts,” led by Academy Professor Maria Lasonen and based in Theoretical Philosophy at the Faculty of Humanities (City Centre Campus). The project aims to ask epistemological questions about concepts in an empirically informed way, bridging philosophy with psychology, cognitive science, and linguistics. The postdoctoral researchers will be expected to author peer-reviewed journal articles, collaborate with project members, organize and participate in international academic events, prepare competitive grant applications, provide research-based teaching (approximately 5-10% of annual working time), and attend regular project seminars in person.
Salary and benefits
- Starting salary of approximately 4000 to 4400 euros per month before taxes, based on level 5 of the Finnish universities salary system plus a personal performance component.
- Annual travel budget of 2000 euros for project-related conference travel.
- Paid holiday of approximately 5 to 6 weeks per year under the 1,612 annual working hour system for teaching and research staff.
- Comprehensive employee services including occupational health care, health insurance, sports facilities, language courses, and professional development opportunities.
- Support for internationally recruited employees with relocation and transition to life in Finland.
Who can apply?
- Hold a doctoral degree in philosophy, or complete a doctoral degree by the beginning of the work contract.
- Candidates should not have more than three years of previous postdoctoral experience, given the salary bracket of the position (though exceptional cases with more than three years of experience may be considered).
- Candidates with doctoral degrees in other areas such as cognitive science, psychology, or linguistics are welcome if they possess adequate expertise in philosophy.
- Pre-existing interest and publication record on topics within the general theme of the research project.
- Expertise intersecting psychology, cognitive science, linguistics (pragmatics, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics) and philosophy bearing on concepts and word meaning is specifically desired.
- Ability to write and publish high-quality peer-reviewed articles both independently and collaboratively.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- Sufficient teaching skills to successfully teach undergraduate and master programme courses in philosophy.
- Expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki.
Required documents
- Curriculum vitae including a list of publications (maximum 4 pages, including contact details of two referees).
- Cover letter (maximum 1 page) outlining motivation, relevant expertise, and contribution to project aims and collaborative activities.
- Writing sample of maximum 10,000 words.
- Research plan (maximum 3 pages) consisting of a description of alignment with project aims, a research idea outlining why project themes are of interest, and a preliminary publication plan.
When to apply
- Application deadline is 30 November 2026 at 23:59 Europe/Helsinki time.
- Video interviews may take place during January or February 2027.
- Selection decisions will be made by March 2027.
- The positions start in April 2027 or later as agreed.
How to apply
- Prepare all required application documents in PDF format.
- Submit the application through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system via the official application link.
- Current employees of the University of Helsinki must submit applications through SAP Fiori's Suffeli recruitment portal.
Additional information
- The positions include a six-month trial period.
- Further information can be obtained from the project PI, Academy Professor Maria Lasonen.
- Support with the recruitment portal can be requested via 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 philosophers with up to three years of postdoctoral experience looking for a secure, four-year funded research position.
- Researchers whose work sits at the intersection of philosophy, cognitive science, psychology, or linguistics, particularly those studying concepts and word meaning.
- Scholars eager to engage in collaborative publishing, international conference organization, and minor teaching duties within a renowned European research environment.
What should you think carefully about?
- Applicants must be prepared to relocate to and reside in Finland for the duration of the employment contract.
- The positions carry a fixed four-year term with a mandatory six-month trial period.
- Candidates must commit to attending regular project seminars in person at the City Centre Campus in Helsinki.
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This four-year postdoctoral fellowship offers an exceptional platform for researchers aiming to establish a strong publication record, build international networks, and secure future competitive grants in epistemology and philosophy of mind or language. It provides stable funding, protected research time, and collaborative support that can significantly advance an academic career in philosophy or cognitive studies without requiring an immediate transition to permanent faculty roles.
Our take
Early-career researchers with a strong background in philosophy, cognitive science, or related fields who are ready to relocate to Helsinki and dedicate four years to collaborative research on concepts should seriously consider applying. It is less suitable for scholars seeking permanent positions immediately or those unable to relocate to Finland.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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