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Doctoral Researcher (MSCA), Exploiting Migration to Influence and Destabilise Societies University of Helsinki in Finland
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Sociology
Funding
Fully funded 36-month EU MSCA doctoral contract. Monthly living allowance of 3,639.85 EUR before taxes, plus 546.15 EUR monthly mobility allowance; if applicable, 507.69 EUR monthly family allowance before taxes.
Deadline
Dec 15, 2026
Country
Finland
University
University of Helsinki
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About this position
INFLUENCE is an MSCA Doctoral Network on Russian influence in Europe’s periphery, bringing together five universities across Europe and combining interdisciplinary expertise in political science, international relations, sociology, history, media studies, security studies, area studies, and political economy. The University of Helsinki project focuses on how migration is used as a tool of influence and destabilisation in Europe’s eastern periphery.
The doctoral researcher will investigate how Russian state-controlled media and social media platforms construct and circulate migration narratives to exploit societal divisions, fuel polarisation, weaken social cohesion, and erode trust in democratic institutions. The project uses discourse analysis and media monitoring, together with case studies of major migration-related events, to study how narratives are adjusted to different European contexts and how they intersect with domestic migration policies and societal vulnerabilities.
The position is embedded in an international doctoral programme with joint supervision, mandatory research stays and secondments, and training that bridges academic research and policy practice. The University of Helsinki hosts the position within a broader consortium designed to build advanced methodological capacity and connect doctoral research with policy stakeholders.
Funding details
Fully funded 36-month EU MSCA doctoral contract. Monthly living allowance of 3,639.85 EUR before taxes, plus 546.15 EUR monthly mobility allowance; if applicable, 507.69 EUR monthly family allowance before taxes.
What's required
Applicants must hold a relevant Master’s degree or equivalent that formally entitles them to start a doctorate at the time of application, and must not already hold a doctoral degree. Applicants must comply with the MSCA mobility rule, meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Finland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before recruitment. Excellent English-language skills are required; knowledge of Russian and/or Baltic States or Western Balkans languages may be beneficial. Candidates should be ready to work in a team, travel to conferences and training events, and take part in academic and non-academic secondments abroad. The appointee must obtain the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki and approval by a suitable doctoral programme by the end of the standard 6-month probationary period, unless already holding study right.
How to apply
Prepare a cover letter, prospective research proposal, CV, degree certificates, and academic transcripts. Submit the application through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now button or Employee login. Send it by 2026-12-15 at 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki time).
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.