Doctoral Researcher on Social Inequalities in Population Health

The Faculty of Social Sciences is Finland’s leading research and education institute in the social sciences, and the country’s most diverse social sciences faculty in terms of the range of its disciplines and fields of research. The Faculty has a strong international research profile and an international master’s programme, and several of its disciplinary units have been rated among the top 50 in the world. The faculty has approximately 500 research and teaching staff, and each year it awards some 350 bachelor’s degrees, 400 master’s degrees and more than 40 doctoral degrees. Applicants of any gender, linguistic and cultural background or from members of minority groups are particularly welcomed.

The Faculty of Social Sciences invites applications for the position of
DOCTORAL RESEARCHER
for a fixed term period of 4 years, starting as agreed.

The position is part of an ERC Advanced Grant to Pekka Martikainen and the newly established Max Planck – University of Helsinki Center on Social Inequalities in Population Health. The project aims to establish the root causes of social inequalities in health by (1) assessing the drivers of long-term changes in health inequalities and establishing the contribution of family factors and macro-level social and economic conditions to these changes; (2) estimating the causal effects of social position on health using natural experimental designs and by employing molecular genetic information; (3) evaluating the generalisability of explanations of social inequalities in health through international comparative research.    

The successful applicant should contribute to one or more of the research themes of the project. The project is associated with the Helsinki Institute for Demography and Population Health and the Max Planck – University of Helsinki Center on Social Inequalities in Population Health.

The main task of the appointed researcher is - jointly with the research team - to design and conduct quantitative research mostly on longitudinal register-based data and/or genetically informed health survey data. Additionally, the researcher is expected to actively contribute to teaching in the master’s program in demography, or thesis supervision (up to 5% annually) and other research activities of the Institute.

QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should hold a Master’s degree in a field that is relevant to the research topic (e.g. demography, public health, statistical sociology, data sciences, statistics, population genetics), and have strong quantitative methods skills and an excellent command of written English. The default assumption is that the degree requirement must be met by the beginning of employment.

The appointee should apply for and obtain the right for a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki within the probationary period of six months of their appointment. Furthermore, the appointee is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The Faculty of Social Sciences provides assistance in relocation.

WHAT WE OFFER
We are an equal opportunity employer and offer an attractive and diverse workplace in an inspiring environment with a variety of development opportunities and benefits. The annual gross salary range will be approx. €30,000 – €40,000, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. In addition, University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and opportunities for professional development. Further information can be obtained online . The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.

Finland is a member of the European Union, has high quality free schooling (also in English) and generous family benefits and healthcare. Finland was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families, and Helsinki in the world’s top ten most livable cities. Finland and the Helsinki region feature leading research and innovation facilities, clean environment, affordable accommodation, and excellent international, national, and local transport connections. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland , please see the website.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link Apply now. Applicants who are currently employed by the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the SAP Fiori portal at https://msap. sap.helsinki.fi. The closing date for applications is 22nd of April 2024.  

The following English-language documents must be enclosed with applications:
1) A curriculum vitae, 2) A statement (max 1 page) outlining applicants research experience and interests, and 3) A numbered list of publications.
Detailed information on the CV and list of publications can be obtained online .

FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information about the position and the research project may be obtained from Professor Pekka Martikainen, [email protected].

In case you need support with the recruitment system, please contact [email protected]