We are inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position at the Karelian Institute, located on the Joensuu Campus of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). The position will begin on 1 July 2026. Read more below and submit your application no later than 31 March 2026.
Position and salary
We are looking for a highly motivated, communicative and skilled Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) to join the Co-Creating Sustainable and Competitive Pathways in Industrial Carbon Management for Finnish Society (CO²CREATION) project, which isfunded by the Strategic Research Council of Finland.
CO2CREATIONis a research consortium between the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) (lead partner), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, BIOS Research Unit, University of Oulu and UEF. CO2CREATION supports Finland’s transition to a future of industrial carbon management (ICM) by developing solutions for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) that are technically feasible, economically competitive and socially just. The project takes a systemic approach to industrial transformation, bridging climate, energy and regional policy goals. It applies foresight methods, spatial wellbeing analysis and a digital twin to simulate future scenarios and assess the impacts of policy choices across different regions.
The Doctoral Researcher will work with quantitative data for assessing the regional and local economic impacts of green investments (esp. CCUS). The work includes utilising secondary statistical sources but also case study analyses in collaboration with industry experts and local government officials. The position will provide a unique opportunity to be part of a large, interdisciplinary and active research project.
We welcome candidates with a background in (economic) geography, regional science, economics or a related field.
Key tasks include:
- Collecting quantitative regional data from secondary sources
- Collecting case study data in collaboration with industry experts and local government officials
- Analysing the collected data to determine the regional and local economic impacts of green investments (esp. CCUS) in Finland
- Collaborating and networking within a broad multidisciplinary consortium
The researcher position is full-time and will be filled starting from 1 July 2026 for a fixed term of three years. A trial period will be applied to new members of the university staff. The position is filled for a fixed term due to the requirements of the Doctoral School.
The salary of the position is based on the salary system for the teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. The salary consists of a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. In this position, the job-related salary element is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart (EUR 2,281.48-2,844.66), and the personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. In the position of a Doctoral Researcher, the salary is determined based on the stage of doctoral research and doctoral studies, as well as on personal performance.
Our requirements
You must be eligible for doctoral education, i.e., hold a suitable higher university degree or have suitable foreign education qualifying for equivalent university studies in the country concerned, and have excellent English language skills (written and spoken).
The position can be filled by someone who is either planning to pursue or is currently pursuing their first doctoral degree. After the hiring process, the selected Doctoral Researchers must separately apply for the right to pursue postgraduate studies in the Doctoral Programme of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies at the University of Eastern Finland. The person to be appointed must have a valid right to pursue postgraduate studies at the UEF Karelian Institute before starting the employment relationship.
When filling the position, consideration will be given to
- The applicant’s research ideas
- Earlier study and academic performance and research merits
- Experience with quantitative research methods and/or econometrics
- Experience in the field of research
We offer you
- An interesting position in an international, creative, participatory and engaging university community
- The opportunity for flexible multi-location work
- The opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration as part of a research team
- Staff benefits of the University of Eastern Finland, including comprehensive occupational health care, versatile staff training opportunities, affordable campus restaurant lunches and Sykettä sports services
Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.
Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.
How to apply
Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 31 March 2026 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2).
Please note that the application is required to have the following appendices:
- A CV (Template for CV, TENK website)
- A list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland, website).
- A motivation letter of 1-2 pages, including research ideas connected to the position.
- A copy of the degree certificate / diploma and a transcript of academic records proving the applicant’s eligibility to pursue postgraduate studies. The documents must be in Finnish or English. For translated documents, only a Diploma Supplement issued by the higher education institution in question and/or other official translations issued by the awarding higher education institution or an authorized translator are accepted
- Copies of certificates of language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas.
The application and attachments must be sent in English (the degree certificate can be in Finnish as instructed above).
Questions?
For more information on the position, please contact Professor Teemu Makkonen (teemu.makkonen@uef.fi)
For more information on employment at the Karelian Institute, please contact the Head of Department Petri Kahila (petri.kahila@uef.fi)
For further information relating to the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Airi Leppänen (airi.leppanen@uef.fi).
Väitöskirjatutkija
Haemme väitöskirjatutkijaa Karjalan tutkimuslaitokselle Joensuun kampukselle, Co-Creating Sustainable and Competitive Pathways in Industrial Carbon Management for Finnish Society (CO²CREATION). Tehtävä sijoittuu yhteiskuntatieteiden ja kauppatieteiden tiedekuntaan ja alkaa 1.7.2026 ja se täytetään kolmen vuoden määräajaksi (1.7.2026-30.6.2029). Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasolla 2–4 (2281,48 € - 2844,66 €). Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6–50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävässä edellytetään erinomaista englannin kielen taitoa.
Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 31.3.2026.