Doc­toral Re­searcher, Law

The University of Helsinki is among the leading multidisciplinary research universities in the world. In addition to its 11 faculties, the University includes several independent institutes, some of which are jointly operated with other universities. More than 30,000 students are currently pursuing a degree at the University of Helsinki. Read more of the University of Helsinki as an employer (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers ) and on good life in Helsinki (https://welcome.helsinki/welcome-to-helsinki-living-in-helsinki/#62ad6d38 ). The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and minorities.

The Faculty of Law at the University of Helsinki is the leading Finnish institute of legal education. Some degrees granted by the Faculty are completed at the bilingual Vaasa Unit of Legal Studies. The Faculty’s mission is to train qualified, ethically responsible legal professionals for both the Finnish and international markets through high-quality international research and research-based teaching. The Faculty of Law offers undergraduate degrees in Finnish, Swedish and English as well as a bilingual degree in Finnish and Swedish. The Faculty has a teaching and research staff of around 120 people and 2,400 students pursuing a degree.

The appointee will be affiliated with the University of Helsinki Legal Tech Lab (https://www2.helsinki.fi/en/networks/legal-tech-lab ), a research hub located at the Faculty of Law. We are a growing vibrant international community of interdisciplinary-minded scholars. We examine the intersections of law, technology, and society. We believe that these areas of life develop hand-in-hand and co-produce each other. We study law and digitalization broadly, examining technology as object of research, but also as tools of analysis. Legal Tech Lab belongs to the global Network of Internet and Society Research Centers, other members of which include i.a. Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University and Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society in Berlin. In addition to in-depth academic research, we value societal awareness building and knowledge mobilization so that our understanding on law, society and technology contributes to a better society.

Further local collaborative frameworks include the interdisciplinary Helsinki Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSSH - https://www2.helsinki.fi/en/helsinki-institute-for-social-sciences-and-h... ) and Finnish Centre for Artificial Intelligence (FCAI - https://fcai.fi/ ). University of Helsinki’s Innovations Services (HIS - https://www.helsinki.fi/en/helsinki-innovation-services ) supports staff in commercializing their ideas.

The Faculty of Law invites applications for DOCTORAL RESEARCHER (Before the code: Digital administration redesigned for everyone (DARE)) for a fixed term of 48 months.

The appointee will be a research group member in a new interdisciplinary project (directed by Assistant Prof. Riikka Koulu). The DARE project (https://www2.helsinki.fi/en/networks/legal-tech-lab/dare-digital-adminis... ) examines the topical issues of AI ethics and interface design. One of its goals is to develop usability indicators and policy recommendations for digital administration.

Generally, the DARE project addresses the legal side of interface design. Descriptively it asks: What impact design has on legal rights and what impact law has on the design process? Moreover normatively: How should law inform technological design in administration? DARE builds on socio-legal studies, social sciences and computer science. It aims to establish legal interface design as an interdisciplinary research field. DARE draws theoretical inspiration from Science and Technology Studies and is supported by an interdisciplinary advisory board of experts representing technology, ethics, design experimentation and (HCI) methods.

Our expectations:

Applications are expected from candidates interested in interdisciplinary research in the area of law, technology and society. We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with a Master’s degree in Law or other applicable field of science, completed before the start of the appointment. The position requires the ability and motivation to both collaborate with a research group – specifically its non-legal scholar post-doctoral researcher – as well as conduct independent scientific research. The appointee will deliver the relevant legal doctrinal analyses for the project.

The tasks require understanding the Finnish legal system and Finnish language. Existing knowledge on the national legal framework concerning digital administration and relevant EU law will be considered an asset. Analytical thinking, accuracy and intellectual curiosity will be appreciated. Previous experience of publishing in scientific journals and working in groups will be considered an asset. The appointee must be able to carry out independent research work after initial induction, in addition to working well as a team member following the overarching project research plan. Good written and verbal communication skills are required and very good or excellent oral and written proficiency in English is expected as it will be the main working language. A good command of other European languages is considered an advantage.

What we offer:

The appointee’s duties will include conducting research within the frame of the DARE research plan and providing teaching in the field of law, technology and society (5-10% of working time) as well as other activities at the Faculty and the University of Helsinki Legal Tech Lab. The appointee will be offered an opportunity for mobility (for example to the Legal Design Lab at Stanford Law School).

The salary will be based on level 2-4 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system applied in Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. The salary range will be approx. €2350–3059 per month, depending on the merits and experience of the appointee. There will be a six-month trial period for the position.

How to apply:

The appointee must either already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment, or apply for the right and obtain it within the probationary period of six months of their appointment. If the candidate does not already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, that right does not come with the position but must be applied for separately (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions-and-education/apply-doctoral-progr... ). The appointee is expected to work full time on the LL.D./PhD thesis and to complete their thesis and the associated studies in four years. The appointee will become a member of the Doctoral Programme in Law (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions-and-education/apply-doctoral-progr... ), which will provide training, guidance and a community of LL.D./PhD students.

The application must be accompanied by the following enclosures (in English):

• An application written by the applicant, indicating the applicant’s interest in conducting research, as well as expertise and teaching experience related to the research field
• A curriculum vitae
• A list of publications
• A tentative research plan (max. 1 page) that relates to the theme of the project

Please also include contact details (incl. phone numbers) of at least two persons for references.

The application, together with the required attachments, must be submitted as one PDF file through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system by clicking on the link below. Applicants employed by the University of Helsinki must submit their application through SAP Fiori (https://msap.sap.helsinki.fi/flp#ZEREC-Postings ). The closing date for applications is 11 May 2022. The appointed doctoral researcher is scheduled to start working at latest on 1 July 2022.

Further information on the position may be obtained from Dean Johanna Niemi, [email protected] and University of Helsinki Legal Tech Lab Research Coordinator Suvi Sankari, [email protected] .

Further information on the recruitment system may be obtained from [email protected] .

Due date

11.05.2022 23:59 EEST