Employed Doctoral Researcher in Transdisciplinary Pedagogy

University of the Arts Helsinki; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) invites applications for One employed Doctoral Researcher in Transdisciplinary Pedagogy. The position is fixed-term, full-time, starting 1 January 2027, with initial two-year term and possible extension to 31 August 2030 pending interim review.

Based in the Research Institute of Uniarts Helsinki, you will contribute to the Training Transdisicplinarity in Performing Arts Higher Education project, conducting research while pursuing doctoral

Qualifications

• Completed master's degree or current doctoral student at Uniarts Helsinki.
• Excellent command of English; language of instruction includes English.
• Strong organisational, planning, and time‑management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Undertake doctoral research within the Training Transdisciplinarity in Performing Arts Higher Education project.
• Contribute to project activities and shape its direction in relation to your research.
• Engage in interviews, data collection, transcription and analysis as needed.
• Collaborate with international partners and disseminate findings.

Education

Master's degree

Job description

The University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) is now recruiting

One employed Doctoral Researcher in Transdisciplinary Pedagogy

for a fixed-term, full-time, salaried position starting 1 January 2027. The position is initially for two years. Continuation of employment will require successful completion of an interim review within the first two years of doctoral studies, after which the employment will continue for a further one year and eight months until 31 August 2030.

Working environment and job description

Doctoral education at Uniarts Helsinki is divided into three doctoral programmes: Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Music. This researcher position is situated within the Research Institute of Uniarts Helsinki, which is a joint unit tasked with developing the university’s research and promoting cross-artistic and interdisciplinary research projects.

The doctoral researcher will become an integral member of the project Training Transdisicplinarity in Performing Arts Higher Education, funded by the Research Council of Finland. While fulfilling the requirements of their doctoral degree, the researcher will offer new insights and expertise to the project, contribute to its ongoing activities, and help shape its direction in connection with their own research work.

Who can apply and selection criteria

The successful candidate must apply for and obtain the right to pursue doctoral studies or already be enrolled in one of the doctoral programmes of the three academies of Uniarts Helsinki. Details of the application requirements and process can be found on the doctoral training website (each doctoral programme has its own admissions guides). As the university’s doctoral application period is only open 7-21 January 2027, the successful candidate may start the position on 1 January 2027 before formal admission is confirmed. In this case, continuation of the employment relationship is contingent on the candidate being granted the right to pursue doctoral studies at Uniarts Helsinki. As with all positions, employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

The position is open to individuals with a completed master’s degree or current doctoral researchers at Uniarts Helsinki with professional experience in the performing arts, arts education, or a related field. Applicants will be assessed primarily on the viability of their individual research topic at Uniarts Helsinki and its potential to flourish within the Training Transdisciplinarity project. For this reason, applicants are encouraged to consider and explain how their own research topic and methods could intersect with the project’s ongoing activities, which may include interviewing and collecting data, transcribing and analyzing interviews, teaching, creating/performing, writing/publishing, attending conferences, and/or collaborating with international partners. Application materials should critically engage with the project’s key areas of investigation (e.g. transdisciplinarity, higher arts education, counter‑critical pedagogy), highlight how you envision contributing to its objectives, and articulate how the project can support you and your work.

Other requirements

• Language skills requirements: The languages of instruction at Uniarts Helsinki are Finnish, Swedish, and English. For this position, an excellent command of English is required. Language proficiency will be assessed throughout the application process in relation to the foreseen duties of the position. Uniarts Helsinki staff are committed to the university's language policy, which emphasises multilingualism.
• Strong organisational, planning, and time‑management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Salary, working hours, and location

The salary follows the general collective agreement for universities. The salary level for doctoral researchers corresponds to requirement level OV02–OV04 of the teaching and research staff, depending on the stage of studies. A personal performance component is also paid, resulting in a total gross monthly salary of €2,509.63–€3,129.13 for a full‑time position. Once 50% of the doctoral studies have been completed, the job requirement level will be raised to OV03. When 75% of the studies have been completed, the job requirement level will be raised to OV04.

Working time follows the total working time system for universities, 1,612 hours per year. About 5% of working time consists of tasks other than one’s own research.

Uniarts Helsinki's contractual obligations require the successful candidate to work in Finland. Thus, the assignment requires the doctoral researcher to reside officially in Finland for the duration of the employment relationship.

How to apply

Submit your application no later than Sunday 1 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC+2) through the online recruitment system of the Uniarts Helsinki. All application materials must be submitted by the deadline; late applications will not be considered.

Following an assessment of the applications online interviews of shortlisted candidates will take place on 19 November 2026.

Inquiries

• For more information on the position and the application process please contact the project’s primary investigator by email: Kevin Skelton, kevin.skelton(at)uniarts.fi
• If you have questions related to the recruitment process or the online recruitment system, please contact HR, Anne Kilpeläinen, [phone], anne.kilpelainen(at)uniarts.fi.