PhD in Justice and Sustainability Transitions

LUT University; Lappeenranta; Hybrid; EUR 35,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

International collaboration

Support for publishing

Job summary

LUT University invites applications for a researcher or doctoral (junior) researcher to join the Circuits of Justice project in Finland’s battery supply chain. The role involves discourse analysis of policy and media, multi-site fieldwork, and collaboration with national and international partners.

Requirements include a relevant doctoral or master’s degree in social sciences, strong qualitative methods, and knowledge of energy transitions.

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree or pursuing doctoral studies in a relevant social science field.
• Advanced research experience with discourse analysis—policy or media.
• Strong qualitative research skills and interest in fieldwork.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the principal investigator and contribute to all major stages of the research process.
• Study policy, media, and public debates through discourse analysis.
• Conduct multi-site fieldwork, including interviews, focus groups, document analysis and workshops.
• Contribute to publications, conference presentations and other dissemination activities.
• Engage in international research collaboration and research visits.

Skills

Discourse analysis

Qualitative research

Fieldwork

Interdisciplinary research

Education

Doctoral degree

Master's degree

Job description

How can we make the ongoing energy transition more just, and who gets to define what a just transition means? As societies pursue more sustainable energy and industrial systems, questions of justice are becoming increasingly central to public debate and decision‑making. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to research addressing these questions in the context of Finland’s emerging battery industry. This position requires excellent Finnish language skills and a strong command of English. LUT University is looking for a researcher or doctoral (junior) researcher to join the Academy Research Fellowship project Circuits of Justice: Exploring Normative and Spatial Dimensions of Justice Across Finland’s Battery Supply Chain. The four‑year project, led by Dr Alicja Dankowska in LUT University’s Energy and Society research group, examines how justice claims emerge, circulate, and evolve throughout the Finland’s battery supply chain. Taking a whole‑systems perspective, the project explores how stakeholders understand, negotiate, and contest different dimensions of justice across places, sectors, and scales.

What your work will be like

As a member of the project team, you will work closely with the principal investigator and contribute to all major stages of the research process. Your work will involve studying policy, media, and public debates on the development of Finland’s battery industry through discourse analysis. You will also conduct multi‑sited fieldwork, including interviews, focus groups, document analysis, and participant observation. You will help desing and facilitate stakeholder co‑creation workshops that explore pathways towards a more just transition and take part in analysing and interpreting research data with the project team. You will also contribute to scientific publications, conference presentations, and other dissemination activities and participate in international research collaboration, including research visits to Norway and Spain. We are looking for an independent, proactive, and collaborative researcher who enjoys working with colleagues, stakeholders, and international research partners.

Applicants for the researcher position must have a relevant doctoral degree and advanced research experience. Applicants for the doctoral (junior) researcher position must hold a relevant master’s degree. You should have a background in a relevant social science discipline, such as sociology, political science, human geography, anthropology, sustainability studies, environmental policy, or a related field. You also need to have experience in discourse analysis – particularly policy or media analysis – as well as strong qualitative research skills and interest in fieldwork. Knowledge of energy transitions, sustainability transitions, science and technology studies (STS), or just transitions and energy justice is highly desirable. Experience related to batteries, critical raw materials, mining, energy systems, or industrial transitions is considered an advantage.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to a novel and societally relevant research project in close collaboration with national and international research partners. You will be able to develop your qualitative and interdisciplinary research expertise while receiving support for scientific publishing and conference participation. The project also provides opportunities for international research mobility and a collegial, supportive research environment within LUT University’s Energy and Society research group.

We will fill the position at either of the following levels

Doctoral (junior) researcher The position is full‑time. It begins with a one‑year term (including a six‑month trial period) and may be extended by three years, depending on the progress of your studies and the quality of your research. The salary is set according to the Finnish university pay system’s scale for teaching and research staff (requirement level2). The starting salary is approximately EUR3,100 per month, depending on experience and qualifications. The selected candidate must apply for the right to pursue doctoral studies at the LUT Doctoral School within the first two months of employment.

The employment relationship is part‑time (70% of full‑time) with a fixed term running until31August2030 (including a six‑month trial period). The salary is set according to the Finnish university pay system’s scale for teaching and research staff (requirement levels5–6). The starting salary is approximately EUR4,300–5,000 per month, depending on qualifications and experience and based on the part‑time workload.

The work starts as soon as possible, and the start date is negotiable. The position is based at LUT’s Lappeenranta campus in Finland. LUT offers a hybrid work model that combines flexibility with regular on‑campus presence. The position follows a system of1,612 annual working hours under the collective agreement for Finnish universities. The hours are flexible and support work–life balance.