Two Postdoctoral Researchers or University Researchers

The University of the Arts Helsinki Research Institute is recruiting

Two Postdoctoral Researchers or University Researchers 

in the area of artistic thinking in artist pedagogy for a fixed-term employment (project) contract from 1 January 2027 (or as agreed) to 31 Dec 2028. The position is full-time. 

Working environment

University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki), a merger of three academies, Academy of Fine Arts, Sibelius Academy and Theatre Academy, constitutes an internationally esteemed multidisciplinary community of artists and researchers. This postdoctoral researcher position is situated within the University of the Arts Research Institute, which is a joint unit tasked with developing the university’s research and promoting cross-artistic and interdisciplinary research projects. As a researcher, you will work at the Research Institute as part of this collaborative and research-intensive environment.  The Institute serves the research conducted at the Institute and the University’s Academies. Uniarts Helsinki has established research of artist pedagogy and artistic thinking, educational research in the arts, artistic research and historical research of the arts and artistic life at the core of its research profile.  The Institute’s thematic research networks advance interdisciplinary research within these research focus areas.

Fields of research and tasks 

Research into the higher education of artists has been recognized internationally as a significant developing research field. Uniarts Helsinki has established university pedagogy in the arts and research into the higher education of artists as the core of its research profile and refers to this profile as artist pedagogy. We further understand artist pedagogies as the practices through which art practitioners teach future generations of artists as well as the critical conceptualization of these practices. To strengthen artist pedagogy, we have also developed research in artistic thinking, by which we mean the epistemic foundations of and diverse knowledge processes involved in artist pedagogy. Research into artist pedagogy and artistic thinking are ingrained in artist practices and their education in dialogue with higher arts education research.

With the Profi7 funding provided by the Research Council of Finland Uniarts Helsinki is recruiting two researchers to the Research Institute. Depending on the career phase of the applicants, the positions will be either at the level of Postdoctoral Researcher or University Researcher. As a Researcher you will collaborate with the academic staff of the Institute as well as with those of our three academies.

Your duties will include your own research in the thematic area of artistic thinking driven artist pedagogy in accordance with a research plan fine-tuned in liaison with the director of the Research Institute. As a Researcher you are expected to conduct research on artistic thinking and to advance research methodologies and theories related to the epistemic foundations and knowledge processes related to artist pedagogy. Your research is expected to produce peer-reviewed research publications. Furthermore, we expect you to articulate the capacities that artistic thinking has in re-envisioning and rebuilding the arts and society, that is, to reinforce the societal impact of artist pedagogy.

In addition to individual research and publication activities, your tasks also include research development activities within Uniarts Helsinki, such as project planning, applying for funding as well as other communal university activities. Your tasks may also include teaching that is agreed upon in negotiation with the other units of the university.  

Qualification requirements and selection criteria

We expect you to have the following: 

• a suitable doctoral degree from a recognized academic institution
• university level work experience in the above-mentioned thematic area 
• a potential or demonstrated record of independent research outcomes, such as peer-reviewed publications, membership of research groups, authored research funding applications, artistic responsibilities, positions of trust
• a demonstrated record of practice in artist pedagogy and/or an art practice in the fields represented by the university
• skills to carry out independent research
• excellent communication and interaction skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with practitioners in research projects and to actively engage in and develop local and international research networks
• the capacity and willingness to contribute to the research community of Research Institute and the Uniarts Helsinki

Language skills 

The languages of instruction at Uniarts Helsinki are Finnish, Swedish, and English. For this position, an excellent command of English is required. Uniarts Helsinki staff is committed to the university's language policy, which emphasises multilingualism.

Working time and salary 

The salary of the position is based on the salary system of the collective agreement for the Finnish universities. The job requirement level is 5–7, and the salary also includes a personal performance-based component. At the beginning of the employment, the gross monthly salary will be approximately €3,700 - €5,300, depending on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

The position requires working in Finland for the duration of the employment relationship. Thus, the assignment requires the researcher to reside in Finland for the duration of the employment relationship. 

How to apply 

The applications should be submitted through our electronic recruitment system no later than 31 August 2026 (23:59 UTC +3). Please save your application materials in English and in PDF form. 

The application consists of 

• A motivation letter (1–2 pages, a cover letter in the recruitment system) 
• Curriculum vitae (in accordance with Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK’s instructions)
• List of publications (in accordance with TENK’s instructions), in which ten research and artistic outputs most relevant for the position are highlighted.
• A research plan outlining core questions and methods in relation to the area of artist pedagogy and artistic thinking and a timeline for the research (maximum 5 pages) 
• A condensed teaching portfolio focusing on section 1 and 2 of the university’s portfolio guidelines (maximum 2 pages)

The written documents must be prepared using Times New Roman font, font size 12, and 1.5 line spacing.

The short-listed candidates’ interviews will be held online on 22 September 2026.

Further information 

For more information on the position please contact the Director of the Research Institute, Professor Leena Rouhiainen and on the recruitment system and process HR Planning Office Anne Kilpeläinen, Our e-mail addresses are in the form firstname.lastname@uniarts.fi.