Doctoral positions at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Economics

Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU) is an internationally acknowledged research university with an extensive responsibility for providing education in Swedish in Finland, as well as top-level research, including the four strategic research profiles Minority Research, Technologies for a Sustainable Future, Solutions for Health, The Sea.  

The Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Economics offers 4 new, funded positions for doctoral students (max. 48 months/position) including one within the Finland Fellowship programme for non-EU/EEA doctoral students. 

The Faculty joins together the central scientific fields of business, jurisprudence and social sciences, and the funded positions are available within the following doctoral programmes:  

  • Business Administration (main subjects: Accounting, Business Administration, Information Systems, International Marketing, Organization and Management) 
  • Social Sciences (main subjects: Economics, Information Studies, Political Science, Political Science with Media and Communication, Public Administration, Public International Law, Public Law, Private Law, Sociology) 

In addition, there are 2 funded doctoral positions/research profile (max. 48 months/position) available in the University’s cross-faculty research profiles Minority ResearchTechnologies for a Sustainable FutureSolutions for Health and The Sea. If you apply for one of these positions, you should mention the research profile in your application. The affiliation to a specific research subject and a cross-disciplinary research approach between the subject areas should be expressed clearly in the research plan. The positions within the research profiles belong to the existing doctoral programmes at ÅAU.  

An employment as doctoral student may start August 1, 2022 at the earliest or as per agreed.  

QUALIFICATIONS AND EVALUATION
This announcement is open for those who have a Master’s Degree AND a supervisor or a potential supervisor from Åbo Akademi University (who has agreed to supervise the applicant) within any of the subjects represented at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Economics.  Applicants must receive their Master’s degree (or equivalent) on June 30th 2022, at the latest (a copy of degree certificate achieved after the application has closed should be sent to graduateschool@abo.fi no later than on July 31, 2022).  

An applicant, who is not yet accepted as a doctoral student at the Faculty, needs to fulfil the requirements for doctoral studies according to the principles for admission to the doctoral programmes within the faculty. Please note, that there is a separate application process for the admission to a doctoral programme at ÅAU. When the employment commences, the doctoral student needs to be accepted to the relevant doctoral programme. 

The applicant should present a research plan (max total 10.000 characters incl. spaces, excl. references), written in English or Swedish. The research plan should be structured accordingly: 

  • Abstract (max ½ A4) 
  • Background (theoretical and empirical relevance) 
  • Aim and objectives of the research 
  • Research methods and material; risks and ethical issues 
  • Implementation (timetable, preliminary plan of financing), research environment and list of references

In the recruitment, the applicants are assessed on the basis of their study achievements, research plan, and possible results of previous research in the relevant field or related subjects.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT  
Doctoral students employed by Åbo Akademi University should actively take part in the research and education within the faculty, in Turku or Vaasa, according to where the main subject is located 

Åbo Akademi University applies the salary system of Finnish universities. The salary for a doctoral position will be based on levels 2-4 of the job demand level for teaching and researching staff in the salary system including. Currently, the starting salary for doctoral students is slightly above 2300€ per month and is increased with the progress towards the doctoral degree to over 3100€ per month.   

Doctoral students will have total working time, which means 1,612 hours per academic year. The employment is fulltime.  The individual study plan for doctoral students will be evaluated annually.   

A trial period applies to new employees.

APPLICATION  
Submit an electronic application below (Leave an application) including the following attachments:  

  1. A free-form application letter including (main subject and the applied period of funding should be mentioned)  
  2. Research plan (please note the instructions above).  
  3. Recommendation letter from the ÅAU supervisor or the ÅAU supervisor-to-be  
  4. curriculum vitae, composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity            
  5. Copies of diplomas including transcript of records (BA, MA, MSc, other)  
  6. Doctoral students already registered at ÅAU: Account of all previous funding received for the doctoral studies (funding organization + time period + sum received), and other funding that has been applied for (in addition to this application).  

Deadline for submission of application is on April 14, 2022 at 3.00 p.m. (Finnish time). Complete documents are required.  

INFORMATION  
For further information about the positions and application process, please contact Åbo Akademi University Graduate School Coordinators, e-mail: graduateschool@abo.fi.   


At Åbo Akademi University, we offer research and education in humanities, pedagogics and theology to social sciences, business, natural sciences and technology including systematic, high-level and supervised doctoral training. Our special research profile areas are Minority Studies, Solutions for Health, Technologies for a Sustainable Future and The Sea.   

Our activities are steered by the values of academic tradition in terms of freedom of research and education as well as ethical responsibility.  We are a workplace that recognises and utilises the knowledge and competences of the staff and students. We value and endevour diversity, inclusion, equality, health and sustainability in all our activities as well as continuos wellbeing and career possibilities for staff.  

Established over 100 years ago, ÅAU operates at the historical campus in Turku and Vaasa. With our 5,500 graduate and postgraduate students and 1,100 employees, we are an international and unique university.  Join us and work for a better world!  
 
Come work with us: 
https://www.abo.fi/about-abo-akademi-university/come-work-with-us/  
Do research with us: 
https://www.abo.fi/research-at-aau/