Doctoral Researcher in the MSCA Cofund DP-FOBI Doctoral Programme, Linguistics / Language Studies University of Eastern Finland in Finland

The University of Eastern Finland invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher position in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND Doctoral Programme for Advancing Forest-Based Bioeconomy (DP-FOBI). This four-year position is based at the Joensuu campus and focuses on the research theme: Environmental Discourses and the Spread of Multilingual (Dis)information in Social Networks. The project aims to investigate how discourses and (dis)information about climate, the environment, and climate-smart solutions circulate within digital social media networks, incorporating multilingual perspectives and tracing how concepts travel across linguistic communities and borders.

The selected candidate will work with large-scale datasets of user-generated social media content enriched with metadata, totaling approximately 40 billion words from hundreds of thousands of accounts worldwide. The research will utilize computational tools such as R or Python to analyze time-stamped data and social network information, enabling the tracing of concept emergence, evolution, and circulation across communities over time. The analytical focus will be defined during the planning phase in alignment with the doctoral school’s core themes.

DP-FOBI offers supportive supervision by experienced researchers, access to comprehensive doctoral training, workshops, summer schools, research visits, and secondments. The candidate will become part of the FOBI research community, with opportunities to collaborate closely with industry and societal partners, enhancing the real-world impact of their research. UEF provides extensive occupational health care, staff training, campus restaurant discounts, access to the national healthcare system, and high-quality, affordable childcare and school services.

The position is full-time for four years, with a total working time of 1,612 hours per year and a four-month probationary period. The salary follows the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions system, including a living allowance (EUR 3,200/month), mobility allowance (EUR 87/month), family allowance (EUR 300/month for eligible researchers), paid leave, holiday bonus, travel allowance (EUR 1,500/year), additional travel allowance (EUR 10,500 total), research costs (EUR 6,000 total), and special needs allowance and support if required.

Applicants must have a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in linguistics, computational linguistics, translation studies, or a closely related field relevant to language studies. Candidates must not have a doctoral degree at the time of the call deadline and must meet the MSCA mobility rule (less than 12 months in Finland during the past 3 years). Language skills requirements of the Doctoral Programme of the Philosophical Faculty at UEF must be fulfilled. Applicants should demonstrate strong expertise in language use, comfort with large-scale datasets and computational tools, excellent written and oral communication skills in English, ability to work in more than one language (advantage), and prior experience with high-performance computing (advantage, not required). Official English translations are required for non-English degree certificates.

The main tasks include conducting dissertation research, completing required doctoral studies, participating in DP-FOBI training, preparing an individual study and career development plan, and engaging in secondments, research visits, collaborative projects, and dissemination activities. Admission to the doctoral programme requires a research plan, which will be prepared with supervisors after acceptance to DP-FOBI.

Applications must be submitted in English via the UEF electronic recruitment system by 10 August 2026. Required appendices include a certified copy of the Master’s degree diploma and transcript, CV, electronic copy and summary of Master’s thesis, Ethics Self-Assessment form, motivational letter, and proof of English proficiency if needed. Application templates are available at the DP-FOBI website. Applications not adhering to the specified format or language requirements will not be considered. The selection process includes eligibility and ethics check, external review, interviews, final selection decision, and appointment. For further information, contact Project Manager Paula Inkeroinen ([email protected]) or [email protected].

The University of Eastern Finland is a multidisciplinary institution with campuses in Joensuu and Kuopio, employing approximately 3,200 staff and serving around 17,000 degree students. The Philosophical Faculty trains professionals in humanities, education, psychology, and theology, and its research activities are multidisciplinary and closely linked to the university’s strategy. Finland offers a clean, safe, and modern environment with excellent welfare and education systems. Learn more about the university and living in Finland at the UEF website.