Noora Hirvonen

The University of Oulu is seeking a Doctoral Researcher in Information Studies for the Faculty of Humanities, focusing on the project 'Everyday Encounters with Propaganda.' The university is a large, multidisciplinary institution with a global outlook and a commitment to high-standard research and education. The Information Studies unit is part of the Information and Communication Studies Unit, which addresses complex societal issues such as sustainability, health, emerging technologies, and security through research on information literacy, knowledge management, and science communication. The advertised doctoral project investigates how young people perceive and experience propaganda in their daily lives, both online and offline, using qualitative and participatory research methods. Young participants will share their experiences through interviews and diaries, and some will act as co-researchers, contributing to data collection, analysis, and reporting. The project aims to understand how youth recognize, interpret, and respond to contemporary propaganda, and to develop new research approaches to studying propaganda through everyday information practices. The outcomes will inform strategies to counter harmful manipulation, with a particular focus on strengthening media and information literacy. As a doctoral researcher, you will be responsible for developing a theoretical framework, collecting and analyzing data, writing your dissertation, and completing doctoral studies. Additional duties include applying for research funding, engaging in outreach, and participating in unit activities, with teaching responsibilities limited to 5% of working time. The position is supervised by Professor Noora Hirvonen and is part of the INSPIRES research community, offering career development opportunities and staff benefits such as the ePassi wellness program. The position is full-time, fixed-term for three years starting January 2026, with a starting gross salary of €2600–3200 per month and a six-month trial period. Applicants must have a relevant Master's degree completed before employment, proficiency in English, good interpersonal skills, and meet the University of Oulu Graduate School requirements. Additional assets include language skills, experience with youth, and familiarity with the project's themes. Applications are welcome from diverse backgrounds. To apply, submit an application letter, CV, degree certificates, and referee contacts by 9th November 2025 via the university's recruitment system.

The University of Oulu is offering a fixed-term postdoctoral researcher position in Propaganda Studies within the History, Culture and Communications Unit in the Faculty of Humanities . The appointment is part of the university’s SafeEarth research programme , linking the project to themes such as Language use, information practices and security and Information warfare and cybersecurity . The role is designed for a highly motivated researcher who will develop and carry out an independent research plan on propaganda, with a focus on contemporary or recent 21st-century forms and an emphasis on Northern European societies . Applicants are encouraged to bring their own conceptual, theoretical, and methodological approach. The research may be historical, social-scientific, or humanities-based, and may use qualitative, quantitative, computational, historical, or mixed methods. The successful candidate will work in collaboration with Professor Kari Alenius and Professor Noora Hirvonen and their research teams. Their groups connect political propaganda, strategic communication, and information warfare with sociocultural and sociotechnical information practice research. The broader aim is to deepen understanding of how propaganda is produced, encountered, experienced, and circulated, and how harmful information influence can be countered through media and information literacy, critical thinking, and societal resilience. Main duties include conducting independent research, publishing articles and/or monographs, contributing to interdisciplinary collaboration across the research unit and SafeEarth, participating in outreach to academic and non-academic audiences, applying for further research funding, and providing limited teaching (up to 5% of working time). The position also includes administrative and community activities typical of academic life. Eligibility requirements include a doctoral degree in a relevant field (history, information studies, communication studies, or equivalent), completed by the closing date and awarded no more than 10 years ago. Candidates should have peer-reviewed publications, strong English communication skills, teamwork ability, and the capacity for independent scientific research. Teaching competence is required. Preferred qualifications include an interdisciplinary research orientation, experience with propaganda-related topics, and conversational Finnish. The appointment is full time and temporary for 3 years starting 1 January 2027 . The salary follows Finnish university teaching and research staff levels 5-6, with a personal performance component, and the starting gross salary is approximately €3,700-€4,300 per month before taxes. A six-month trial period applies. Applications must be submitted through the University of Oulu recruitment system by 1 October 2026 at 23:59 Finnish local time. The application should include a motivation letter, CV, publication list, a 2-3 page research concept paper, and contact information for 2-3 senior researchers who may provide statements if shortlisted.