University Researcher, Core Research Area Consumption in Society

The Faculty of Social Sciences invites applications for a position of UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER - Core research area Consumption in society for a permanent position starting September 1st, 2023 or as agreed to contribute to the research community and the  nationwide responsibility of the Centre for Consumer Society Research (CCSR) .

The research conducted at CCSR includes 1) studying interdisciplinary social phenomena and their impact on consumers' lives and the consumer society; 2) participating in the provision of basic education in the field and in national researcher training, and 3) participating in research and projects that increase the societal impact of the work done at CCSR and with its national and international collaborators.

Research at the CCSR  is multidisciplinary in its orientation and seeks to identify emerging themes and problems that concern the future of consumer society. The Centre makes critical use of qualitative and quantitative methods and engages in participatory means of research. The goal is to explore the broader impacts of social, economic and political phenomena on the consumer society and contribute to political debates on the future of consumer society in Finland and beyond.

QUALIFICATIONS  

The appointee:

• must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field of social science, be able to conduct independent scientific research in a highly multidisciplinary environment, and possess the teaching skills required for the position.
• good working skills in either of the two official languages in Finland (Finnish and Swedish) are required to achieve the expectations concerning the nationwide responsibility of the Centre.   
• will have substantial research experience, demonstrated by high-quality publications in the core research area; a solid background in social theory pertaining to consumption and consumer society; a strong theoretical and methodological background and performance of empirical research on consumption in society; and concrete ideas about how the  candidate’s work will contribute to the research agenda of the Centre for Consumer Society Research.

A track record of success in applying for research funding, an ability to lead research projects, attract younger scholars to the field, and communicate research results to academic and professional audiences are expected.  

We appreciate international research experience that deals with issues related to for instance the social impacts of technological change, the politics of consumption and the relationship between people’s roles as consumers and citizens. Expertise in quantitative approaches but also knowledge on qualitative methods and tools in researching issues affecting consumers and consumption is considered an asset.   

EXPECTATIONS  
The appointee is expected to contribute to joint projects at the Centre, develop her/his/their own and our common research agenda, and contribute to collective academic tasks such as teaching a core course in the Social Sciences Master’s program, conducting seminars and participating in co-authoring academic papers. To fulfil the research requirements of the position, the chosen applicant is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki, and actively participate in the research and teaching activities of the Centre. The Faculty of Social Sciences provides assistance in relocation.

CONSUMPTION IN SOCIETY AS A FOCUS

The nationwide responsibility of the CCSR is to produce knowledge on phenomena related to consumption and the consumer society. We are looking for a university researcher to work permanently in our unit and contribute to strengthening and building a research programme that focuses on issues related to consumption in society. Research on consumption is a multidisciplinary field, having its roots in a variety of disciplines, including sociology, economics, anthropology, political science and social policy, and covering the study of broad economic, political and social changes in consumer society as well as in consumers’ daily lives.

The research area of Consumption in society covers a wide span. The appointee’s research should cover at least one of the following domains. 1) Key trends of change in the consumer society such as (but not exhaustively) energy transition, sustainable and responsible consumption, services needed by an ageing population, and the effects of income and wealth trends on consumption. 2) The data economy such as for instance digital products, artificial intelligence and algorithms and tools for measuring consumer behaviour that radically affect the position of the consumer as a party to contracts and as a producer of information about her/himself. The research data on new technologies and the data research produced are critical to decisions that safeguard consumer information security and the ownership rights of information collected from many sources in Finland and internationally. 3) Consumer citizenship such as for instance participatory governance and budgeting, as well as forms of consumer cooperation and organisation, through the development of which consumer research serves democracy and active consumer citizenship and helps to deliver public services that meet citizen needs.

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 monthly gross salary range will be approximately € 4100 – 5000 depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. In addition, the University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and opportunities for professional development . The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link "Apply now" below. Applicants who are currently employed by the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the SAP HR portal at https://msap.sap.helsinki.fi . The closing date for applications is 9 June 2023.

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications the following documents:

Detailed information on the CV and list of publications can be obtained online .

Further information about the position may be obtained from Director Niilo Kauppi, [email protected] .

ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI AND THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

The University of Helsinki  is the oldest and largest institution of academic education in Finland, an international scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers. In international university rankings, the University of Helsinki typically ranks among the top 100. The University of Helsinki seeks solutions for global challenges and creates new ways of thinking for the best of humanity.  

The Faculty of Social Sciences  is Finland’s leading research and education institution in the social sciences and the most diverse in terms of its disciplines. In several research fields the Faculty belongs to the top 50 in the international rankings. The Faculty has a strong international profile both in research and teaching programmes. The number of academic staff stands at 500. Each year the faculty awards some 350 Bachelor’s degrees, 400 Master’s degrees, and more than 40 doctoral degrees.