Doctoral Researcher in the Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki 2026: Fully Funded PhD Opportunity on Migration, Platform Work and Digital Labor in Finland

Are you passionate about migration studies, sociology, digital platforms, labor research, or social sciences? The University of Helsinki is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher in the Social Sciences position under the prestigious MAPS (Mapping Fragmented Labor in the Platformised Service Sector through Migrant Epistemologies) research project. This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring researchers to pursue a fully funded doctoral project while contributing to cutting-edge research on platform work, migration, and the transformation of labor in Finland.

The position is hosted by the Swedish School of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki and is funded by the Research Council of Finland. Successful applicants will receive funding for 3.5 years, beginning 1 October 2026, while working alongside leading researchers and completing an article-based PhD.

About the University of Helsinki Doctoral Research Position

The University of Helsinki is one of Europe’s leading research universities, known for excellence in teaching, innovation, and interdisciplinary research. This doctoral position forms part of the MAPS research project, led by Dr. Olivia Maury, which investigates how digital platforms are transforming service-sector labor through the experiences of migrant workers.

The project seeks to understand the growing influence of platform technologies on work, employment, and migration while producing new knowledge that informs policy, academia, and society.

The doctoral researcher will become part of a collaborative research environment while conducting independent doctoral research aligned with the project’s objectives.

About the MAPS Research Project

Understanding Platformized Labor Through Migration

Digital platforms have fundamentally transformed labor markets around the world. Increasingly, employment is characterized by:

• Temporary work
• Gig-based employment
• Multiple job holding
• Short-term task-based work
• Platform-mediated employment
• Blurred boundaries between paid and unpaid labor

The MAPS project investigates these changes by focusing specifically on migrant workers operating within Finland’s platform economy.

Rather than studying labor solely from traditional employment perspectives, the project explores how migration, digitalization, and platform technologies interact to reshape working life.

Research Focus

The project aims to understand:

• How digital platforms reshape everyday working life.
• How migrants experience platform-based work.
• The relationship between migration and labor exploitation.
• The impact of data-driven technologies on employment.
• The influence of financial technologies on labor markets.
• New forms of labor extraction created through digital platforms.
• Power structures operating within platform ecosystems.

Researchers will use ethnographic methods to investigate both migrant workers’ lived experiences and the broader platform economy in Finland.

Main Responsibilities of the Doctoral Researcher

The successful candidate will undertake an independent doctoral research project while contributing to the broader MAPS research agenda.

Primary responsibilities include:

Conduct Independent Doctoral Research

The researcher will develop and complete a doctoral dissertation focused on topics including:

• Critical migration studies
• Sociology of work
• Platform labor
• Digital labor
• Migration and employment
• Platformization in Finland

Develop Innovative Research Methods

The researcher will participate in developing ethnographic approaches to studying:

• Migrant workers
• Platform companies
• Digital labor ecosystems
• Data-driven employment systems

Produce Academic Publications

The successful applicant will complete an article-based PhD, producing high-quality scholarly publications based on empirical research.

Participate in Project Activities

Additional responsibilities include:

• Organizing seminars and project events
• Participating in research communication
• Collaborating with project members
• Supporting dissemination of findings

Teaching Duties

The appointment includes limited teaching responsibilities, accounting for up to 5% of annual working time.

Research Areas of Interest

Applicants are encouraged to propose research that aligns with the overall project while incorporating their own academic interests and expertise.

Relevant research themes include:

• Platform economy
• Digital labor
• Sociology of work
• Migration studies
• Ethnographic research
• Critical migration theory
• Platform capitalism
• Gig economy
• Labor precarity
• Data-driven employment
• Digital transformation
• Platform governance

Who Should Apply?

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants with strong academic backgrounds who are interested in interdisciplinary social science research.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Strong research motivation
• Independent thinking
• Excellent analytical ability
• Academic writing skills
• Interest in migration and labor research
• Commitment to completing a doctoral degree

The university encourages applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds and promotes an inclusive academic environment.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Educational Qualifications

Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in a field relevant to the project, such as:

• Sociology
• Human Geography
• Cultural Studies
• Social and Cultural Anthropology
• Or another closely related discipline

Doctoral Admission

Applicants must:

• Already have the right to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki before employment begins, or
• Obtain doctoral study rights within the six-month probationary period.

Preferred Academic Expertise

The selection committee particularly values applicants with knowledge in one or more of the following areas:

• Tech-finance
• Platformization
• Digitalization
• Critical migration studies
• Decolonial theory
• Migration and labor
• Legal theory
• Labor law

Skills Required

Successful applicants should possess:

• Excellent written English
• Strong communication skills
• Outstanding analytical abilities
• Independent research capability
• Motivation to conduct ethnographic research

Employment Conditions

The appointment offers a comprehensive employment package.

Key details include:

• Fixed-term contract of 3.5 years
• Start date: 1 October 2026
• Six-month probation period
• Standard Finnish pension benefits
• Occupational healthcare
• University employee benefits

Residence Requirement

The successful candidate is expected to reside in Finland during the employment period.

Required Application Documents

Applicants must submit the following PDF documents:

1. Motivation Letter

Maximum one page describing:

• Interest in the project
• Relevant background
• Suitability for the position

2. Research Plan

Maximum two pages (including bibliography), outlining:

• Proposed doctoral research
• Methodology
• Relevance to the MAPS project

3. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

A detailed academic CV highlighting:

• Education
• Research experience
• Publications
• Skills
• Academic achievements

Click HERE to read more.

Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated based on:

• Academic qualifications
• Motivation
• Research proposal
• Previous academic performance
• Relevant expertise
• Interview performance

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed during August 2026.

Important Dates

Why Apply?

This doctoral opportunity offers numerous advantages for aspiring researchers, including:

• Fully funded doctoral employment
• Research at one of Europe’s leading universities
• Work within a prestigious Research Council of Finland project
• Supervision by internationally recognized researchers
• Opportunity to conduct impactful migration and labor research
• Participation in innovative ethnographic research
• Teaching experience
• Access to Finland’s world-class academic environment
• University employment benefits
• Strong interdisciplinary research network

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About the University of Helsinki

The University of Helsinki is internationally recognized for excellence in research and education. It actively promotes diversity, equality, accessibility, and inclusion while fostering innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship addressing today’s global challenges.

Researchers benefit from an intellectually stimulating environment, international collaborations, and excellent research infrastructure.

Conclusion

The Doctoral Researcher in the Social Sciences position at the University of Helsinki represents an exceptional opportunity for aspiring scholars interested in migration, sociology, digital labor, and platform studies. Through the MAPS project, successful candidates will contribute to groundbreaking research examining how digital platforms reshape labor markets and migrant experiences while earning a doctoral degree from one of Europe’s most respected universities.

With a fully funded 3.5-year appointment, strong academic mentorship, opportunities for independent research, teaching experience, and access to Finland’s outstanding research environment, this doctoral position is ideal for motivated social science graduates seeking to make meaningful contributions to the future of work, migration, and digital society.

Applicants interested in this opportunity should prepare their application materials carefully and submit them before the official deadline.

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