PhD in Archaelogy or Geoscience

University of Helsinki; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Occupational healthcare services

Professional development opportunities

Support for research funding

Library access

Job summary

The University of Helsinki invites applications for a fixed-term Doctoral Researcher in Archaeology or Geoscience for three years. The position is based in the Archaeology discipline within the Department of Cultures and is fully funded, commencing 1 January 2027 or as agreed.

Two research topics focus on strontium isotope analysis—prehistoric seals and aquatic materials—through lab work, GIS, and interdisciplinary methods.

Qualifications

• Excellent written and spoken English is required.
• Master's degree or equivalent in a field relevant to the proposed doctoral research (geosciences or archaeological sciences).
• Eligible to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki; rights to pursue doctoral studies must be obtained within six months of employment.

Responsibilities

• Conduct doctoral research and prepare a doctoral dissertation.
• Produce scientific publications related to the research project.
• Complete doctoral studies as part of the PhD programme.
• Independently carry out laboratory analyses.
• Perform statistical analyses.
• Apply GIS methods and software in research.
• Collaborate with other members of the research project.
• Participate in project activities, meetings, seminars, workshops, and administrative tasks.
• Present research results at national and international conferences and other scientific events.

Skills

English proficiency

Education

Master's degree or equivalent in geosciences or archaeological sciences

Tools

GIS software

Job description

Position Summary

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Helsinki and Academy Research Fellow Maria Lahtinen invite applications for the position of Doctoral Researcher in Archaelogy or Geoscience, for a fixed-term position of three years. The position is full-time (fully funded) and will be based within the discipline of Archaeology in the Department of Cultures. The employment will commence on 1 January 2027 or as agreed. The position is funded by the Research Council of Finland project "Strontium Isotope Tools to Trace Mobility of Aquatic Diet in the Past, the Present, and the Future (SRTOOL)." The successful applicant will focus on one of the following research topics:

Research Topics

A) Investigating the Origin and Use of Prehistoric Seals Using Strontium Isotope Analysis This research stream focuses on archaeological materials and the application of strontium isotope analysis. The aim is to determine, through the analysis of burned animal bones, where seals were hunted. The project will also explore the significance of seal hunting for prehistoric communities. The research combines scientific and humanities-based approaches.

B) Investigating the Use of Strontium Isotope Analysis in Aquatic Materials This research stream seeks to determine the strontium isotope signatures in various regions of the Baltic Sea and Finland's largest lakes and create baseline (isoscape) for the future studies. The project will also investigate whether large-scale temporal variation exists in strontium isotope compositions in major lake systems in the past. This research is primarily natural science-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Conduct doctoral research and prepare a doctoral dissertation.
• Produce scientific publications related to the research project.
• Complete doctoral studies as part of the PhD programme.
• Independently carry out laboratory analyses.
• Perform statistical analyses.
• Apply GIS methods and software in research.
• Collaborate with other members of the research project.
• Participate in project activities, including meetings, seminars, workshops, and selected administrative tasks.
• Present research results at national and international conferences and other scientific events.

Qualifications

• Meet the University's language requirements by demonstrating proficiency in Finnish, Swedish, or English. For this position, excellent written and spoken English is required.
• Hold a Master's degree or equivalent in a field relevant to the proposed doctoral research. Applicants who are close to completing their Master's degree are also encouraged to apply. Relevant topics can be for example geosciences or archaeological sciences.
• Be eligible to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki. Applicants who do not yet hold the right to pursue doctoral studies must apply for it separately. Continued employment is contingent upon obtaining doctoral study rights within the first six months of employment.

Benefits and Compensation

The salary is based on the Finnish university salary system for teaching and research staff at requirement level 2, plus a personal performance component.

The starting gross salary is approximately €2,700 per month.

The position includes a six-month probationary period.

• Occupational healthcare services
• Professional development opportunities
• Support for research funding applications
• Access to library and sports services

Application Deadline

20 November 2026 at 23:59 (Finnish time)

Contact Information

For further information about the position, please contact: Maria Lahtinen Academy Research Fellow [e-mail]

For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact: [e-mail]

Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Helsinki welcomes applications from individuals of all genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and minority groups.