University Lecturer in Humanities Data Science / Computational Humanities

The Department of Digital Humanities, Faculty of Arts, University of Helsinki, invites applications for the position of 

UNIVERSITY LECTURER IN HUMANITIES DATA SCIENCE / COMPUTATIONAL HUMANITIES

for a permanent appointment starting 1st of September 2024.

The position relates to the application of computational and/or statistical methods in the humanities. The application areas are to be interpreted broadly, from area studies to cognitive science, linguistics to history, phonetics to literature. Application, on the other hand, is to be understood primarily from the viewpoint of end-use across this plethora of humanistic research, e.g. through matching approaches to research questions and data, and not as a focus on methodological development itself.

The lecturer will be attached to the Liberal Arts and Sciences bachelor’s programme currently under preparation at the university. This programme, led by the Faculty of Arts, will join together the faculties of Arts, Social Sciences, Science, Agriculture and Forestry, and Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki for its first broadly interdisciplinary international bachelor’s.

The recruit will have the unique opportunity to take part in designing and delivering a programme first of its kind in the University and in Finland. The pedagogical idea behind the programme is that through being exposed to, and needing to integrate diverse disciplinary outlooks, students will learn (alongside disciplinary skills) broadly useful meta-skills of interdisciplinary contextualisation, analysis, problem-solving and critical thinking. 

Overall, the programme will be coordinated by lecturers to be hired into each of the five faculties, but as the Faculty of Arts leads the whole programme, the lecturer hired here will have a central position in refining and co-ordinating the planning of the whole programme. The tentative track name for the Faculty of Arts in the programme is either humanities data science or computational humanities, and will involve heavy collaboration with the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Science. In this role, the recruit will benefit significantly from prior experience of operating in complex, inter-unit and inter-disciplinary environments, as well as from strong interpersonal and organisation skills. 

The recruit will also have a significant role in designing core courses for the programme, which they will then own and teach. The interdisciplinary nature of the programme will also require plenty of student mentoring, which the recruit will also partake in.

Requirements for the position and assessment of qualifications

According to the Regulations of the University of Helsinki, appointees to university lectureships must hold an applicable doctoral degree and have the ability to provide high-quality research-based teaching and supervise theses. 

When assessing the qualifications of applicants, attention will be paid to scholarly publications and other research results of scholarly value, teaching experience and pedagogical training, the ability to produce learning materials, other teaching merits and, if necessary, a teaching demonstration.

Additional evaluation criteria for this position are:

• Experience in applied data science within the scope of the humanities and/or social sciences
• Experience of working in highly interdisciplinary environments
• Experience in designing and enacting (interdisciplinary) teaching (on any level, e.g. course/module/programme)
• Experience in co-ordinating and organising (interdisciplinary) teaching and/or research
• Experience in mentoring and guiding students

Pursuant to the Government Decree on Universities (770/2009), appointees to teaching and research positions at the University must be proficient in the language in which they provide instruction, i.e., English for this position. Further information on language skills and the demonstration of language proficiency is available on the University website.

What we offer

The University of Helsinki offers the appointee a first-class research and teaching environment as well as the conditions required for international cooperation (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-university-helsinki ).

The salary for the position will be based on levels 5–7 of the job requirement scheme for teaching and research staff in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance. The appointee’s gross annual salary will range from €42,000 to €56,000, depending on their previous experience and qualifications. The position includes a six-month trial period.

The University of Helsinki provides its staff with occupational health and fitness services as well as professional development opportunities (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-university-helsinki/staff-benefits ). International staff are supported in relocating to Finland (https://www.helsinki.fi/fi/node/350 ).

Application instructions

Applications must be accompanied by a single PDF file containing the following documents:

• A curriculum vitae and doctoral degree certificate
• A free-form statement of a maximum of three (3) pages on why the applicant thinks they are a good match for the position, referring to the description and evaluation criteria outlined above
• A free-form statement of a maximum of five (5) pages (for example, a university portfolio) on the applicant's teaching qualifications
• A free-form statement of a maximum of three (3) pages (for example, a university portfolio) on the applicant's scientific activities, including acquired research funding
• List of publications

Further information about academic portfolios is available on our website.

Other attachments, such as letters of recommendation or certificates, are not required at this point.

Candidates from outside the University must apply through the University’s recruitment system by clicking on ‘Apply now‘. Candidates with a helsinki.fi user account and a valid employment contract or a contract for grant-funded researchers, visiting researchers or visiting professors at the University of Helsinki must apply by clicking on ‘Employee login‘.

The closing date for applications is 25th of April 2024 at 23.59 (local Helsinki time).

The University of Helsinki is committed to promoting equality and preventing discrimination in all its operations. We welcome applicants from a variety of gender identities, linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Further information about the position is available from Associate Professor Eetu Mäkelä, ([email protected]), and about the recruitment process, from HR Specialist Reeta Korhonen, (hr-humtdk(at)helsinki.fi).

The Faculty of Arts at the University of Helsinki is the oldest and the largest humanities teaching and research unit in Finland in terms of its disciplinary structure and range of subjects. It is also a major international research, education and cultural community.