Doctoral researcher in the Study of Religions

Åbo Akademi University; Turku; Hybrid; EUR 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Åbo Akademi University in Turku invites applications for a fixed-term Doctoral Researcher position in the Study of Religions within the Department of Humanities. The appointment runs full time from 16 November 2026 (or as agreed) to 31 August 2029, with the project focusing on Meaningful Margins and collaboration with the University of Turku.

The Doctoral Researcher will conduct independent doctoral research and contribute to departmental life on campus.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in the study of religions or a related field.
• Strong collaborative and organizational skills.
• Strong communication skills in English (written and spoken).
• Experience of empirical and/or ethnographic fieldwork.
• Finnish language skills (B2 or higher) for empirical research in Finland.

Responsibilities

• Work on own doctoral thesis within the Meaningful Margins project.
• Contribute to department activities and research environment on Turku campus.
• Teaching and supervision tasks may comprise up to 5% of working time.

Skills

Communication skills

Collaborative skills

Organizational skills

Ethnographic fieldwork

Education

Master’s degree

Job description

Doctoral researcher in the Study of Religions

Åbo Akademi University invites applications for a fixed-term salaried position as Doctoral Researcher in the Study of Religions. The position is placed at the Department of Humanities in Turku, Finland. This position is full time for the period from 16 November 2026 (or as agreed) to 31 August 2029.

ABOUT THE RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AND THE PROJECT

The Study of Religions at Åbo Akademi University constitutes a dynamic and internationally recognized research environment with a particular focus on contemporary religious change and pioneering mixed-methods research. Strong areas of research include the sociology of religion; the psychology of religion; the discursive study of religion; religion, gender, and sexual minorities; religion and media; Indian and South-Eastern Asian religions; and religion and social exclusion. Beside the research activities of individual researchers, the Study of Religions has established a strong tradition of working in larger research teams around a shared research agenda. This shared agenda is currently pursued in the internal Åbo Akademi University Centre of Excellence in Research project “Religion and Social Exclusion: A Cross-Cultural Approach and New Methodology” (RelEx, 2024–28, sites.abo.fi/relex/ ).

Between 1.9.2025-31.8.2029, the Study of Religions also hosts the research project “Meaningful Margins: Christianity and Alternative Spiritual Meditation and Healing Practices at the Interface between Margins and Mainstreams”, funded by the Research Council of Finland ( https://sites.utu.fi/margins/en/ ). The project is a consortium (partnership) between Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku and brings together researchers from both universities. The project investigates the present-day relationship between Christianity and various alternative healing- and meditation practices in Finland on a firm empirical basis. See the complete research plan here .

QUALIFICATIONS AND MERITS

We are looking for a motivated doctoral researcher with a master’s degree in the study of religions or in a related field to pursue their own doctoral research in direct relation to the Meaningful Margins-project.

The required qualifications and merits for the position are outlined below and will be evaluated together with the application.

Basic eligibility criteria:

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent).
• Strong collaborative and organizational skills.
• Strong communication skills, including strong written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Previous experience of empirical and/or ethnographic fieldwork.
• Other academic achievements in addition to the master’s degree.
• Good Finnish language skills (appr. Europass B2 or higher) since the project conducts empirical research in Finland and collects and analyzes large amounts of data in the Finnish language.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

The doctoral researcher’s primary task is to work on their own thesis. Doctoral researchers are expected to contribute to the activities of the department or subject and actively take part in the research environment on campus in Turku. Teaching tasks and supervision can comprise a maximum of 5% of the work time.
The principle of total working time (1612 hours per year) is applied to employed doctoral researchers. The supervision and study plan for doctoral researchers will be evaluated annually.

The salary for a doctoral position will be based on levels 2-4 of the job demand level for teaching and researching personnel in the salary system. In addition, there is a salary component based on personal work performance, according to the general collective agreement for universities. For a first year-doctoral researcher, the salary will be ca 2700 €.
The selected candidates will be employed for a maximum period of up to three years. The length of the employment is determined from the candidate’s possible ongoing and/or partly completed research studies.
A trial period applies to new employees.

Please note

that there is a separate application process for the admission to a doctoral programme at ÅAU. An applicant for the employed position, who is not yet accepted as a doctoral researcher at the department, needs to apply and fulfil the requirements for doctoral studies according to the principles for admission to the doctoral programmes at the department. The application for admission to the doctoral programme will be initiated when the decision on appointment is made.

Åbo Akademi University works actively for even gender distribution and increased diversity in all staff groups.