Doctoral Researcher in the MSCA Cofund DP-FOBI Doctoral Programme, Linguistics, Language Studies, Communication Studies

University of Eastern Finland; Joensuu; On-site; EUR 39,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Supervision by experienced researchers

Interdisciplinary research environment

Doctoral training and DP-FOBI courses

Workshops and summer schools

Research visits and secondments

Mobility and travel allowances

Family and travel allowances (per MSCA

Occupational health care

Job summary

The University of Eastern Finland invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher position (4 years) on the Joensuu campus. The researcher will enroll in the UEF Doctoral Programme and work within the DP-FOBI project, focusing on contested conceptualizations of forest in bioeconomy discourses.

English proficiency and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential. The role includes doctoral training, workshops, and potential secondments, with a competitive salary and extensive staff benefits.

Qualifications

• > Master’s degree (or equivalent) in languages, translation studies, linguistics, media studies, cultural studies, environmental humanities, or a closely related field
• > Excellent written and oral communication in English
• > Ability to work in more than one language (advantage)
• > Prior methodological knowledge of language data analysis such as metaphor analysis or rhetorical analysis (advantage, not required)

Responsibilities

• Enrol in the UEF Doctoral Programme leads to doctoral degree.
• Conduct dissertation research and complete required doctoral studies (DP-FOBI training, workshops, summer schools).
• Prepare an individual study plan and career development plan; participate in secondments, visits, collaborations, dissemination and exploitation activities.
• Contribute to an international, creative and inclusive academic community.

Skills

Master's degree in languages or close

Excellent written and oral English

Multilingual ability (advantage)

Education

Master’s degree (or equivalent) in languages, translation studies, linguistics, media studies, environmental humanities or related field

Job description

The Philosophical Faculty, School of Humanities Research theme: Contested conceptualizations of forest in bioeconomy-related discourses The University of Eastern Finland invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher position (4 years) in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND Doctoral Programme for Advancing Forest-Based Bioeconomy (DP-FOBI ).

The position is based on Joensuu campus, and it is expected to begin no later than 1 April 2027. Applications must be submitted no later than 10 August 2026.

Description of the research theme

This research project concentrates on scrutinizing the different ways in which forest and nature are conceptualized through various rhetorical, metaphorical, and affective means of expression in the public bioeconomy-related discourses that deal with forest-based suggestions to the societal and environmental problems we are trying to solve. In addition to traditional and social media, these discourses can be detected, for example, in works of art, advertisements, policy documents and textbooks and involve governmental and non-governmental organizations, corporations and general public. The way a forest and forest-based bioeconomy is conceptualized and contested in these discourses influence the way the whole phenomenon is depicted. By understanding these conceptualizations better, the project can help develop tools to interpret these discussions more fruitfully and participate in them more efficiently in the future.

Read detailed description in DP-FOBI website.

Benefits and Support

• supportive supervision by experienced researchers with expertise relevant to the research theme to ensure timely completion of your doctoral degree
• a unique and encouraging interdisciplinary research and work environment
• an access to comprehensive doctoral training and DP-FOBI activities: workshops, summer schools, research visits and secondments
• an opportunity to become a part of the FOBI research community
• possibilities to cooperate closely with industry and societal partners enhancing the real-world impact of your research

In addition, UEF offers wide range of staff benefits and support services, including extensive occupational health care, a broad selection of staff training and staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants. Researchers will also have access to the national healthcare system and high-quality, affordable childcare and school services.

Employment Relationship and Salary

The position will be filled for a fixed term of four years. Total working time is 1 612 hours per year. A probationary period of four months applies to all new staff members.

• living allowance (EUR 3,200), forming the main part of the gross monthly salary
• mobility allowance (EUR 87 monthly) for mobility-related private expenses
• family allowance (EUR 300 monthly) for Doctoral researchers with a spouse and/or a dependent
• paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in summer

• travel allowance (EUR 1,500 per year) is allocated for conference travel and an additional allowance (EUR 10,500 in total) for travel to secondments and short visits
• research costs (EUR 6,000 in total) is allocated for costs, such as lab consumables, data collection, publication, etc.
• special needs allowance and support are available, if needed

Requirements and expectations

Requirements and expectations have Master’s degree (or equivalent) in languages, translation studies, linguistics, media studies, communication studies, cultural studies, environmental humanities, or a closely related field not have a doctoral degree at the time of the call deadline meet MSCA mobility rule: less than12 months in Finland during past 3 years fulfil the language skills requirements of the at Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty at UEF Applicants are expected to have excellent written and oral communication skills in English ability to work in more than one language (advantage) prior methodological knowledge of language data analysis such as metaphor analysis or rhetorical analysis (advantage, not required)

The selected researcher is expected to work in the premises of the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu campus.

Tasks and Responsibilities of the Doctoral Researcher

At the time of signing the employment contract, the recruited researcher must be enrolled in the UEF Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty, which leads to the award of a doctoral degree. Admission to the doctoral programme requires a research plan, which the selected candidate will prepare in collaboration with their supervisors shortly after being accepted to DP-FOBI.

The main tasks of the doctoral researcher include conducting dissertation research, and completing the required doctoral studies, including DP-FOBI training such as workshops and summer schools. The researcher will also prepare an individual study plan and career development plan to build advanced expertise, and is encouraged to participate in secondments, research visits, collaborative projects, and dissemination and exploitation activities.

You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting/meaningful/diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

The Philosophical Faculty operates on the Joensuu Campus of the University of Eastern Finland.

The faculty trains professionals and experts in the fields of the humanities, education, psychology and theology. In addition to four academic schools, the faculty comprises a teacher training school intended for supervised teaching practice and for the development of teacher training. The faculty's research activities are multidisciplinary and theoretically and methodologically diverse, and they are closely linked to the university's strategy. The faculty has approximately 4,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and some 340 postgraduate students. The staff amounts to 450 persons, including the staff of the teacher training school.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 17,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone.

Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en. Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.