University Researcher in Intellectual History

• The University of Helsinki (Centre of Excellence MePhiS) invites applications for a fixed-term University Researcher in Intellectual History at the Faculty of Theology for two years starting January 2027 or as agreed.
• The role involves researching the ethics of suffering and meliorism in intellectual history, analysing ethical, legal and theological responses to suffering, publishing scholarly work, collaborating across the Centre, and contributing roughly 5–10% of working time to teaching and administration.
• Applicants must hold a doctoral degree, typically have about five years of postdoctoral experience, be a senior researcher specialising in medieval or early modern intellectual history, and demonstrate international publications, leadership, funding success, and excellent English.
• The annual gross salary is €51,000–€59,000 (University Salary System levels 6–7 with a performance component), the appointment includes a six-month trial period, and the application deadline is 30 September 2026.

The Centre of Excellence in Meliorist Philosophy of Suffering (MePhiS), funded by the Research Council of Finland at the University of Helsinki and Tampere University, invites applications for a fixed-term University Researcher position in Intellectual History. University Researcher position is open within MePhiS’s research team History of Ethics and Law of Responding to Suffering hosted by the Faculty of Theology at the University of Helsinki City Centre Campus. The position is fixed-term (two years) starting in January 2027 or earlier/later as agreed.

MePhiS engages in philosophical and interdisciplinary scholarship that places the concept of suffering at the centre of philosophical reflection and offers conceptual and argumentative tools for a deeper understanding of human engagement with affliction, starting from the meliorist (Lat. melior, better) idea that the world can and should be made better through active human efforts. According to meliorism, a positive outcome is neither guaranteed (optimism) nor impossible (pessimism).

The team History of Ethics and Law of Responding to Suffering investigates how medieval and early modern thinkers conceptualised and responded to extreme human and non-human suffering in Western history, with particular attention to proposed ethical and practical means of alleviating it. The team further explores how these historical responses to extremes can reflect the meliorist stance to suffering.

The University Researcher will be responsible for

• researching the ethics of suffering and meliorism in intellectual history;
• analysing ethical, legal, moral-theological, and/or political responses to suffering;
• authoring scholarly publications on the research topic;
• collaborating with other members of the Centre of Excellence, including through joint publications and other research activities; and
• contributing to teaching and administrative duties, amounting to approximately 5–10 % of the working time.

Requirements for the position and assessment of qualifications

We seek candidates with expertise in intellectual history who are interested in advancing the research aims described above. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field within the humanities or social sciences and have demonstrated track record of high-quality research and international publications. We are looking for a senior researcher with a background in intellectual history, specializing in medieval or early modern period. A pre-existing interest in the general theme of the CoE is an advantage.

A University Researcher typically has at least ca. five years of postdoctoral experience. In addition, applicants should possess ability to lead a research group, a track record of securing external funding, and the teaching skills required to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

The selected candidate should be capable of conducting independent research at a high international level and able to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of the research team. The working language of MePhiS is English, and excellent written and oral communication skills in English are required.

Applicants should be prepared to provide proof of their qualifications upon request. Please do not submit AI-generated proposals.

What we offer

The position is fixed term for one or two years starting in January 2027 or earlier/later as agreed. A six-month trial period applies to new employees at University of Helsinki.

The salary will be based on the University Salary System. The salary of a University Researcher is at levels 6–7. In addition to the basic salary, a performance-based salary component is paid according to the appointee’s qualifications and experience. The appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance. The annual gross salary is €51,000 - €59,000.

The appointee is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The university is an internationally renowned research university offering a wide range of staff benefits, including occupational health care and health insurance, flexible working hours, excellent campus sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development. The University provides support for internationally recruited employees with their transition to work and life in Finland. More information here.

The Faculty of Theology is well-known for its internationally acknowledged research in the fields represented by MePhiS, and there are close ties with the Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Social Science, and the Faculty of Education, as well as other units on the City Centre Campus.

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and minorities. A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to us. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for our positions.

Click this link to read about accessibility and inclusivity at our University.

For more information about Helsinki, please see My Helsinki. For further information about Finland, please visit infoFinland and This is Finland.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted in English through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system (link below). Current employees of the University of Helsinki must submit their applications through SAP Fiori’s Suffeli recruitment portal. The closing date for applications is 30 September 2026 (at 23:56/UTC+3). The online interviews to shortlisted candidates will be announced later.

The following documents must be attached to your application:

1. CV (max. 3 pages, including contact details of two referees)
2. A list of publications
3. A letter of motivation (max. 1 page) outlining your motivation for applying, relevant expertise, and how you would contribute to the research aims and collaborative activities of the project.
4. A research proposal (max. 3 pages) consisting of

• • a description of how your previous research experience and current work align with the overarching aims of the team;
  • a research idea outlining why the project’s themes or approach interest you and how you position your own research within this context;
  • a preliminary publication plan.

Enquiries

For further information about the position please contact the project PI, Senior University Lecturer Virpi Mäkinen, virpi.makinen(at)helsinki.fi.  

For questions regarding the application process, please contact recruitment(at)helsinki.fi (please indicate in the heading which position you are inquiring about).  

JOIN US TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD – TOGETHER!
#HelsinkiUniCareers