University Researcher

The Research Institute of the University of the Arts Helsinki is recruiting

University Researcher

in the area of Artistic Thinking driven Artist Pedagogy for a fixed-term employment (project) contract from 1 December 2024 (or as agreed) to 31 Dec 2028. The position is full-time.

Fields of research and tasks

Research into the higher education of artists has been recognized internationally as a growing research field. The University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki) has established university pedagogy in the arts and research into the higher education of artists as a core of its research profile. This focus has been recently interlinked to artistic thinking, by which we mean diverse kinds of knowledge processes involved in artistic creation that both draw on and move beyond previously created art in novel ways. 

With the Profi7 funding from the Research Council of Finland Uniarts Helsinki is recruiting a University Researcher to the university’s Research Institute. The University Researcher will collaborate with the academic staff of the Institute and the university’s three academies, the Sibelius Academy, the Theatre Academy, and the Academy of Fine Arts.  

The duties of the University Researcher will include their own research in the thematic area of Artistic Thinking driven Artist Pedagogy and in accordance with a research plan fine-tuned in liaison with the director of the Research Institute. As a University Researcher you are expected forward our Research Profiling in the mentioned thematic area and to conduct research on the epistemic qualities of Artistic Thinking and to advance research methodologies and theories related to Artist Pedagogy. Furthermore, your research is expected 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 and Artistic Thinking.

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. The successful candidate is expected to have art and/or art pedagogical practice in the art fields represented by the university.

Eligibility requirements

We expect you to have the following: 

• a suitable doctoral degree from a Finnish or an internationally recognized university
• international experience in university level research, teaching and administrative activities in the above thematic areas 
• a demonstrated record of extensive activities in research in art and/or art pedagogical practice including evidence of research outputs in the above thematic areas
• skills to carry out independent research
• excellent communication and interaction skills
• interest to work as part of a team of researchers and an international research network
• the capacity and willingness to contribute to the research community in artist thinking

Language skills 

The languages of instruction at Uniarts Helsinki are Finnish, Swedish, and English. For this position, excellent command of English is required. 

Working time and salary 

The salary for the position will be based on level 6 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. The monthly salary at the beginning of employment will be approximately €4000-4400, depending on the selected candidate’s qualifications and professional experience. The position requires working in Finland. Thus, the assignment requires the university 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 by 31 October 2024 (UTC +2). Please save your application materials in English and in PDF form. 

The application consists of 

• A motivation letter (1–2 pages)
• Curriculum vitae (in accordance with TENK’s instructions), including other relevant research outputs
• List of publications (in accordance with Research Council of Finland’s instructions) 
• A research idea 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 including references)
• A concise artistic portfolio in digital form (max. 10 pages and max. 15 minutes of audio-visual material)
• A teaching portfolio (5-10 pages)

The short-listed candidates’ interviews will be held online 15 November 2024. 

Further information

For more information on the position please contact Director of the Research Institute, Professor Leena Rouhiainen and on the recruitment process HR Specialist Leena-Kaisa Paananen, our e-mail addresses are in the form firstname.lastname@uniarts.fi.