Doctoral education pilot / 6 Doctoral researchers, Sustainability Transformation

We are seeking to recruit six (6) Doctoral Researchers to the Doctoral Training Pilot in Sustainability Transformation for a fixed term of three years starting on 1.1.2025. The positions will be filled in different faculties and departments based on the candidate’s background and topic of the dissertation and doctorates will enjoy multidisciplinary supervision within JYU and the collaboration with other universities.

The interdisciplinary Sustainability Transformations Doctoral Programme produces knowledge and understanding about global, social, cultural, organizational and individual-level change processes for the aims to create a sustainable and just society that supports planetary well-being. Complex social-ecological challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and global social inequality require in-depth investigations on dynamics and potentialities of sustainability transformations, across all sectors, scales and actors.

Sustainability Transformations Doctoral School equips doctoral researchers with interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary competencies and transferable skills that can be used in many different jobs, career paths and sectors, enabling them to effectively and professionally contribute to and provide leadership in the evolving arenas of sustainability transformations. Interdisciplinarity integrates knowledge and methods from different disciplines to advance solutions which are beyond the scope of any single discipline. A transdisciplinary approach reaches also beyond the academy by considering non-academic stakeholder knowledge in the pursuit of a broadening understanding of sustainability transformation pathways and processes. The selected doctoral researchers are encouraged to link with industries as well as governmental, and non-governmental organizations from the beginning of their projects. 

Sustainability Transformations Doctoral School will comprehensively bring together perspectives related to a) education for sustainability, planetary wisdom and future competencies, b) sustainable business and working life, c) leadership and management in societal change, d) cultural transformation and social imagination, e) policies, legal systems and means of regulation, f) planetary health and well-being, and g) civil society and democratic development. The positions on offer will be linked to the following projects (one position per project):  

1. “Civil society strategies in the governance of just transition: Views from Africa”. This project produces knowledge on just transition strategies, practices, and frameworks of African civil society actors, to grasp the central issues and dilemmas, and to enable mutual learning with civil society organizations and policymakers in the global North, specifically in Finland. The principal supervisor will be Dr Tiina Kontinen from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences with Dr Irmeli Mustalahti from the University of Eastern Finland. More information: tiina.t.kontinen@jyu.fi. 
2. “Young people's future orientations and pro-environmental behaviour” This multidisciplinary project focuses on exploring what kind of future orientations and pro-environmental action profiles do Finnish young people have and how can these support the sustainability transformations. The principal supervisor will be Dr Katri Savolainen from the Faculty of Education and Psychology with Dr Marileena Mäkelä from the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics and Dr Sofia Laine from Finnish Youth Research Society. More information: katri.s.savolainen@jyu.fi. 
3. “Nordic eating for planetary well-being: identifying and fostering interfaces for socio-culturally accepted dietary transition”. This project will examine how drawing on and renewing ideas about the Nordic food culture could be harnessed for fostering socio-culturally accepted dietary transition towards planetary well-being supportive diets. The principal supervisor will be Dr Teea Kortetmäki from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences together with Dr Tiina Onkila from the Jyväskylä School of Business and Economics. More information: teea.t.kortetmaki@jyu.fi. 
4. “Biodiversity footprint of the Finnish traffic system”. This project focuses on assessing the carbon and biodiversity footprint of the Finnish traffic system including the building and maintenance of the infrastructures such as roads, rails, airways and sea lanes as well as the footprints of the annual traffic performance. The principal supervisor will be Dr Stefan Baumeister from the Jyväskylä School of Business and Economics with Dr Janne Kotiaho from the Faculty of Science and Mathematics and Sami El Geneidy from the Jyväskylä School of Business and Economics. More information: stefan.c.baumeister@jyu.fi. 
5. “Promoting planetary well-being: Using creative education methods to advocate sustainability transformations in non-governmental organizations”. This project will analyse what limits or helps non-governmental organizations in making their practises sustainable, and how to support their agency towards sustainability. The principal supervisor will be Dr Hannu Heikkinen from the Finnish Institute for Educational Research with Dr Mikko Hiljanen from the Faculty of Education and Psychology. More information: hannu.l.t.heikkinen@jyu.fi. 
6. “Sustainability transformations in the Era of Capitalocene: Formulating pedagogies for cultivation of desires”. This project aims to elucidate how education perpetuates unsustainable economic relations underlying our societal system, how labour is produced and governed through cultivation of desires in education, and what kind of cultivation of desires could open up possibilities for transcending the unsustainable social and economic relations in order to foster planetary well-being. The principal supervisor will be Dr Hannu Heikkinen from the Finnish Institute for Educational Research with Dr Tiina Nikkola from the Faculty of Education and Psychology. More information: hannu.l.t.heikkinen@jyu.fi. 

The doctoral education pilot is a programme funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture for the period 2024-2027 and implemented by Finnish universities, which will fund a total of up to 1,000 new fixed-term doctoral researcher positions and part of the associated supervision. The programme will develop new practices in doctoral training that will enable doctoral researchers to complete their dissertations in three years and support their employment in a wide range of sectors of the Finnish society. Read more about the doctoral education pilot programme at the University of Jyväskylä.

Who we are looking for 

We expect the applicant to have a Master’s level degree in the field relevant to the project. You can apply before you have the Master’s degree, but the degree must be completed by the start of the employment relationship. You should have background and interest in sustainable transitions from the above-mentioned perspectives and be prepared to participate in multidisciplinary research environment. 

Eligibility for the positions requires the right to doctoral studies at the University of Jyväskylä. Applications for postgraduate studies are made through a separate application procedure once you have been selected for the post.

The positions are intended for new doctoral researchers. You can apply if you do not already have a doctoral degree or doctoral study rights, or if your doctoral study rights have started no earlier than 1 November 2023. The duties, qualification requirements, and the language skills of Doctoral Researchers are stipulated by The University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines (Doctoral Students).

The place of employment is Finland. Permits and registrations are required for non-Finnish nationals to work in Finland. The University’s International Staff Services team will assist selected employees in applying for these. We expect applicants to be motivated to complete their dissertation within the three-year target period and to be employed in Finland after graduation.

What we offer

At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a recognized member of our community with an ample opportunity to be drawn into international research. You get to participate in our international and multidisciplinary community, where everybody’s welfare is essential. You will work in an inspiring and lively campus area and an environment that supports a healthy and active lifestyle. To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä, and living in Finland, see the University's Handbook for international staff and visitors.

The annual salary will be approximately 30,000 EUR (gross income, including holiday bonus). As the dissertation work progresses, the salary will be revised in accordance with the General Collective Agreement for Finnish Universities. There is a six-month trial period at the beginning of the employment.

Doctorates from our renewed doctoral programmes will give you the skills to work as an independent researcher or in challenging specialist roles in academia or other sectors of working life. To support your employment in Finland, we offer you the opportunity to study Finnish during your assignment as a Doctoral Researcher.

How to apply

Please attach the following documents in PDF format to your online application:

1. Curriculum vitae written in accordance with the responsible conduct of research and, if possible, using the template for researcher’s curriculum vitae from the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity, and including contact details of 1-2 referees.
2. Motivation letter of max. 2 pages justifying the interest in the selected project. You must prioritize your choice between the six positions as guided in the application form.
3. A numbered list of publications (if applicable)
4. Master’s degree certificate (or a certificate of studies equivalent to a Master's degree) and transcript of records in English, Finnish or Swedish. If you do not hold the degree yet, please add a statement about your progress from your Master’s thesis supervisor.
5. Note: A research plan is NOT required, please do not attach (although there is an option on the application form).

Eligible candidates will be evaluated based on the submitted documents following the national recommendations for responsible researcher evaluation in Finland and the principles of the DORA Declaration.

For further information, please contact the Director of the School of Resource Wisdom, Professor Janne Kotiaho, +358 50 5946881, janne.kotiaho@jyu.fi.

Apply between 24 April 2024 and 16 May 2024 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

University of Jyväskylä

JYU.Wisdom - School of Resource Wisdom is an open, scientific community actively promoting planetary well-being in society. Our activities include progressive research, education development, impactful societal interaction, and support for JYU’s sustainability work. JYU.Wisdom coordinates the Sustainability Transitions Doctoral Education Pilot in the University of Jyväskylä.

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is a strong contributor to human sciences. It has a central role in understanding and developing human activities and the structures of society. The faculty is a unique, strongly profiled unit that conducts internationally significant research with societal impact. Research and education at the faculty focus on culture, arts, traditions, languages and communication, social sciences and philosophy.

Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics (JSBE) conducts high-quality research and offers quality degree education and executive education in business and economics. JSBE mission supports Competitive, Digital, and Sustainable Transformation in Business and Economy.  We offer our expertise widely to business, economy and society and contribute our knowledge to promote university-based entrepreneurship and innovation activities.

The Faculty of Education and Psychology is a research and education unit that uses its strong traditions as a foundation for building a sustainable future. The mission of the faculty is Learning and wellbeing in building a sustainable future society. The faculty is among the top units in Finland in teacher education and psychotherapy training.

Ever since the Faculty of Mathematics and Science was founded in 1965, we have been looking for answers and striving to improve our understanding of the Universe and World around us. We want to share our expertise and be influential in shaping the future by solving problems which affect us all. We aim to provide solutions, for example in climate change, in fighting the decline in biodiversity, developing new technological innovations or in building more sustainable living habits.  In collaboration with the international scientific community, we search for the answers to the biggest questions in science, especially in the fields of evolution, sustainable use of natural resources, mathematical analysis, multidisciplinary nanoscience, resource wisdom and subatomic physics.

The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centered environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and well-being for all. JYU's naturally beautiful campus is located in the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.