Junior Researcher in Corporate Activism and Social Media Communication

The LUT Business School is looking for a junior researcher (doctoral student) in corporate activism and social media communication to strengthen its expertise in sustainable business. We are looking for a curious mind who is interested in corporate social responsibility and corporate communication on social media.

The doctoral student will be jointly supervised by Associate Professor Laura Olkkonen (LUT University, Business School), Assistant Professor Tijs van den Broek (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and Professor Liisa-Maija Sainio (LUT University, Business School). The doctoral student is expected to spend time in the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam during the doctoral studies.

You must have a higher university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant field (e.g., sustainable business, corporate social responsibility, corporate communication, marketing or related fields) and the ability and motivation to complete the doctoral studies within their normative duration (i.e. four years). A fluent written and spoken proficiency in English is required.

You should

  • be interested in writing a dissertation on research areas such as:
    • corporate activism on social media
    • assessments of corporate activism by stakeholders
    • the influence of social media networks on corporate activism
    • dialogue with stakeholders on social media
  • have basic knowledge on corporate social responsibility/sustainability and quantitative research methods, and preferably an interest to develop skills in mixed methods
  • be ready to spend 4-6 months at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands, during the doctoral studies

Job description 

  • Completion of the doctoral degree within four years
  • Assisting in teaching
  • Participation in research projects

What we offer

  • An opportunity to launch a successful academic career and to become an expert in corporate activism and social media communication
  • A four-year (1+3 years) employment contract for completing the doctoral degree
    • An employment contract can be concluded only if the candidate obtains the right to pursue postgraduate studies at LUT University
    • The contract will be made initially for one year and can be extended by three years provided that the studies and research have progressed successfully
  • Encouraging and supportive supervision by and research collaboration with Associate Professor Laura Olkkonen (LUT University), Assistant Professor Tijs van den Broek (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), and Professor Liisa-Maija Sainio (LUT University).

Employment relationship and pay

The work will start in August–September 2023 (negotiable) with a six-month trial period. The job is based in Lappeenranta, Finland. The typical gross annual starting salary for a junior researcher is approximately 30 800 euros (plus a holiday bonus in accordance with the collective agreement).

How to apply

Please submit all the application materials in English:

  1. Your curriculum vitae
  2. A copy of your degree certificate; if the original documents are not in English, Finnish or Swedish, each document must be accompanied by an official certified translation into English or Finnish
  3. A motivation letter: an account of your merits and activities of significance to the vacancy (max. 2 pages)
  4. A research plan (3–5 pages) on the subject area presenting your preliminary dissertation research plan with a review of relevant literature, research gap and potential research questions as well as research methods and data.

The deadline for applications is 31 May 2023, at midnight Finnish local time (UTC +3h). Please submit your application together with the required attachments through the university’s online application system.

For more information, please contact Associate Professor Laura Olkkonen (laura.olkkonen@lut.fi)

Read more LUT as an employer and LUT Doctoral School 

LUT University | Clean energy, water and air are life-giving resources for which we at LUT Universityseek new solutions with our expertise in technology, business and social sciences. We help society and businesses in their sustainable renewal. Our international community consists of nearly 8 000 members. Our campuses are in Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland. We are the world’s ninth best university for climate action. lut.fi/en

Technical support for using the online recruitment system: recruitment@lut.fi.