30 Fully Funded PhD Positions at the University of Helsinki Doctoral School, Finland

PhD position

8/14/2026

The University of Helsinki Doctoral School (UHDS) is inviting applications for 30 salaried doctoral researcher positions across interdisciplinary research themes. The positions are part of the RESDOC doctoral training project, co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND scheme and the University of Helsinki.

The call is designed for early-stage researchers who want to pursue a structured, internationally oriented PhD in areas related to infectious diseases, biodiversity, sustainable food and water systems, and socio-ecological transitions. Successful candidates will be employed full time for four years and will receive structured doctoral training through the University of Helsinki Doctoral School.

Position Details

Position: Doctoral Researchers – 30 positions in various disciplines
University: University of Helsinki
Unit: University of Helsinki Doctoral School
Programme: RESDOC interdisciplinary doctoral training project
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Research areas: Infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, biodiversity, nature’s resilience, food and water systems, sustainability, and socio-ecological transitions
Contract: Four-year fixed-term, full-time employment
Expected start: Between 1 January and 31 March 2027
Funding: Salaried doctoral researcher positions, co-funded by MSCA COFUND and the University of Helsinki
Salary: Approximately €2,900 gross per month
Application deadline: 31 August 2026 at 23:59 EET
Application route: University of Helsinki online recruitment system only

Research Themes

Applicants must propose a doctoral research topic that fits one of the four RESDOC themes and is supported by appropriate supervision at the University of Helsinki.

1. Infectious Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance in a Changing Environment

This theme covers the interactions between pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, environmental change, and human or animal health. Potential research may involve microbiology, epidemiology, environmental health, molecular biology, One Health, computational biology, or public-health modelling.

2. Biodiversity and Nature’s Resilience

This theme focuses on understanding biodiversity loss, ecosystem functioning, ecological resilience, conservation, and the effects of environmental change. Potential projects may involve ecology, evolution, environmental sciences, remote sensing, quantitative modelling, genomics, or conservation biology.

3. Secure and Sustainable Food and Water Systems

This theme addresses the resilience, sustainability, and safety of food and water systems. Possible research areas include food science, environmental engineering, hydrology, water quality, agricultural systems, microbiology, climate adaptation, circular economy, and resource management.

4. Just Socio-Ecological Transition

This theme examines how societies can transition toward more sustainable and equitable systems. Projects may integrate environmental science, economics, policy, social science, technology, governance, energy systems, and interdisciplinary sustainability research.

The applicant’s proposed project must fit one of these themes and be aligned with an appropriate supervisor or supervisory group at the University of Helsinki.

Programme Structure

The positions are part of a structured doctoral training project rather than isolated self-funded PhD admissions. Candidates will be employed as doctoral researchers and will pursue a doctoral degree through one of the University of Helsinki’s doctoral programmes.

The University of Helsinki Doctoral School currently coordinates 14 doctoral programmes covering the university’s disciplines. The structured training environment may include:

Research supervision and individual development planning.
Doctoral courses and transferable-skills training.
Interdisciplinary seminars and workshops.
Research-group and doctoral-programme activities.
Academic networking and international collaboration.
Progress monitoring and thesis preparation.
Training in research integrity, communication, and career development.

Successful candidates must obtain the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki no later than during the six-month trial period of employment.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the mandatory MSCA COFUND and University of Helsinki requirements by the application deadline. The main requirements include:

A master’s degree or equivalent qualification that gives eligibility for doctoral studies.
No previously completed PhD degree.
Early-stage researcher status, normally meaning fewer than four years of research experience.
Compliance with the MSCA mobility rule: applicants must not have lived or carried out their main activity in Finland for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the deadline.
A proposed research topic that fits one of the four RESDOC themes.
Appropriate supervision and research alignment at the University of Helsinki.
Compliance with the university’s English-language requirements.
Willingness to reside in Finland for the full four-year period.
Applicants must not be permanently employed by the University of Helsinki.

Candidates should carefully review the official vacancy announcement because MSCA eligibility rules can be strict, and failure to satisfy one mandatory condition may make an application ineligible.

Funding and Benefits

These are salaried doctoral researcher positions rather than unpaid or self-funded study places. The advertised gross salary is approximately €2,900 per month, with taxes deducted automatically. The net amount depends on the candidate’s personal tax rate and Finnish employment conditions.

The positions are fixed-term, full-time contracts lasting four years, including a six-month trial period. Funding is provided through the MSCA COFUND programme and the University of Helsinki.

The employment arrangement is designed to allow doctoral researchers to focus on research and structured training. Applicants should still account for living and accommodation costs in Finland and verify the final employment terms, social-security benefits, leave provisions, and pension arrangements in the official offer.

Why Apply?

This call is especially attractive to applicants seeking an interdisciplinary and structured doctoral programme rather than a narrowly defined laboratory vacancy. It may be suitable for candidates with backgrounds in:

Biomedical engineering and medical sciences.
Microbiology, infectious disease, or antimicrobial resistance.
Environmental engineering and water systems.
Ecology, biodiversity, conservation, and evolution.
Food science and agricultural systems.
Climate science and sustainability.
Data science, computational biology, and modelling.
Public health, policy, and socio-ecological systems.

For researchers working in ultrasound elastography, computational biomechanics, PINNs, or medical imaging, potential alignment may exist with projects involving biomedical research, infectious disease, environmental health, water systems, quantitative biology, or computational modelling. Applicants should identify a specific University of Helsinki supervisor and demonstrate a clear connection between their technical expertise and one of the RESDOC themes.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted through the University of Helsinki online recruitment system only. The application deadline is 31 August 2026 at 23:59 EET.

A complete application is likely to include:

Academic CV.
Master’s degree certificate or equivalent documentation.
Academic transcripts.
Research proposal aligned with one RESDOC theme.
Motivation letter.
Description of relevant research experience and methods.
Information about the proposed supervisor or supervisory arrangement.
Evidence of English-language eligibility where required.
Other documents requested by the online recruitment system.

The research proposal should be specific and feasible. It should explain the problem, research questions, expected contribution, proposed methods, and fit with both the selected RESDOC theme and the prospective supervisor’s research. Applicants should also demonstrate why the University of Helsinki offers the appropriate expertise and infrastructure.

Academic-alignment interviews are expected to take place online in October 2026 for shortlisted candidates. Applicants are expected to be notified of the results by the end of November 2026.

Application Link

Apply through the official University of Helsinki vacancy page:

Doctoral Researchers – 30 positions at the University of Helsinki

For general information about university-funded doctoral researcher positions, see:

University of Helsinki – University-funded doctoral researcher positions

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