University of Helsinki
1 week ago
Postdoctoral Researcher in Study of Religion and Responses to Suffering University of Helsinki in Finland
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Anthropology
Funding
Fixed-term postdoctoral employment for three years starting in January 2027 or earlier/later by agreement. Annual gross salary is €43,000-€50,000, with additional pay based on personal performance. The position includes standard University of Helsinki staff benefits and Finnish university working-time/holiday arrangements.
Deadline
Nov 1, 2026
Country
Finland
University
University of Helsinki
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About this position
Postdoctoral Researcher in Study of Religion at the University of Helsinki, Finland.
The Centre of Excellence in Meliorist Philosophy of Suffering (MePhiS), funded by the Research Council of Finland, invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to join the team Future, Futurelessness and Vernacular Responses to Suffering. The project explores vernacular religious and non-religious encounters with suffering, including explanations, justifications, and imaginations related to human and non-human death, climate change, and the loss of nature in an unpredictable future.
This opportunity is especially relevant for researchers in Study of Religion, Religious Studies, Anthropology of Religion, and Sociology of Religion, with interest in empirical and theoretical approaches to contemporary society, suffering, and meliorism. The postdoctoral researcher will publish independently and collaboratively, contribute to MePhiS research activities, and spend about 5–10% of working time on teaching and administrative duties.
Eligibility highlights: a doctoral degree in a relevant humanities or social sciences field; ability to conduct independent scholarly work; teaching skills; excellent English; and a strong record of international academic activity and peer-reviewed publications. Interest in the broader CoE theme is an advantage. The working language is English.
Funding and conditions: fixed-term employment for three years starting in January 2027 or earlier/later by agreement. Annual gross salary is €43,000–€50,000, plus a performance-based component. The appointee is expected to reside in Finland during employment. University benefits include occupational health care, health insurance, flexible hours, campus sports facilities, and professional development support.
How to apply: submit a CV (max 3 pages), publication list, motivation letter (max 1 page), and research proposal (max 3 pages) via the University of Helsinki recruitment system. The deadline is 1 November 2026 at 23:56 UTC+3. Contact project PI Professor Terhi Utriainen at [email protected] for position questions, or [email protected] for application-process questions.
Funding details
Fixed-term postdoctoral employment for three years starting in January 2027 or earlier/later by agreement. Annual gross salary is €43,000-€50,000, with additional pay based on personal performance. The position includes standard University of Helsinki staff benefits and Finnish university working-time/holiday arrangements.
What's required
Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field within the humanities or social sciences, such as Religious Studies, Anthropology of Religion, or Sociology of Religion. Candidates should have expertise in the empirical and theoretical Study of Religion in contemporary society, the ability to conduct independent scholarly work, teaching skills, excellent written and oral English, and a strong record of international academic activity and peer-reviewed publications. A pre-existing interest in the general theme of the Centre of Excellence is an advantage.
How to apply
Prepare the required PDF documents: CV, publication list, motivation letter, and a research proposal. Submit the application through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system; current employees must use SAP Fiori's Suffeli portal. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed later.
More information can be found here
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