Junior researcher (doctoral double degree student) in entrepreneurship – Lappeenranta, Finland

The LUT School of Business and Management and Jönköping International Business School are looking for a junior researcher (doctoral double degree student) in entrepreneurship.

More specifically, we are looking for a curious mind who is aiming for an academic career and is passionate about how entrepreneurship can contribute towards sustainable development, especially in rural areas.

The junior researcher will investigate the topic of “Rural entrepreneurship and sustainable transformation”. While the specific research questions of the thesis remain to be further specified in collaboration of the doctoral student and supervisors, the research questions could include some of the following: (1) What are the regional level trends, drivers, and sustainability impacts of rural entrepreneurship? (2) How are established and startup rural enterprises integrating sustainability in their operations? (3) What are the firm- and individual level drivers/obstacles for sustainable transformation in rural enterprises? (4) What are the linkages between the rural enterprises’ sustainability and performance?

Job description 

• The objective is to complete the double doctoral degree within four years, including 90 ECTS coursework on relevant theoretical approaches and research methods plus an article-based doctoral dissertation
• The job may also include participation in related research project or grant applications, and other tasks of the research group

What we offer

• An opportunity to launch a successful academic career and to become an international entrepreneurship expert
• A four-year (1+3 years) employment contract with LUT University for completing the double doctoral degree. The research work starts with a one-year term, which can be extended for three years provided that the studies have progressed successfully
• Encouraging and supportive supervision and research collaboration by Professor Kaisu Puumalainen (LUT University) and Professor Lucia Naldi (Jönköping University)

Job requirements

• Higher university degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant field (e.g. entrepreneurship) with excellent grades
• The ability and motivation to complete the doctoral studies within their normative duration (i.e. four years) and a postgraduate study and research plan
• Fluency in English (both written and oral), and preferably also Finnish and Swedish
• High motivation for academic research

An employment contract can be concluded only if the candidate obtains the right to pursue postgraduate studies at LUT University.

We may also consider applicants who are in the final stages of their M.Sc. studies while applying, but we require a completed degree when the employment starts.

Starting date: The work starts with a six-month trial period on 5 September 2022 (negotiable).

Location: First semester at LUT campus in Lappeenranta, second and third at Jönköping University. During the four years, about 50% in Lappeenranta, 40% in Jönköping and 10% in other international research exchange location.

Salary

The salary is based on the current collective agreement for Finnish universities. The typical gross starting annual salary for a junior researcher is around 30 420 euros (plus a holiday bonus).

How to apply 

Please submit all the application materials in English:

• A curriculum vitae
• A copy of your Master’s diploma and grades. If the original documents are not in English, Finnish or Swedish, each document must be accompanied by an official certified translation into English or Finnish
• A motivation letter: an account of your merits and activities of significance to the vacancy (max. 2 pages)
• A preliminary research proposal (max. 4 pages) on the topic ‘Rural entrepreneurship and sustainable development’. The proposal should convey the applicant’s understanding of the relevant literature, define an original purpose (or research questions) and outline the methodological approach to addressing it.
• Other documents you find appropriate in supporting your application. For example, your Master’s thesis or other evidence of research that you have already conducted.

The deadline for application is 12 June 2022 midnight, Finnish local time (UTC +2). Please submit your application together with the required attachments through the university’s online application system.

Additional information

• Professor Kaisu Puumalainen, kaisu.puumalainen@lut.fi, tel. +358 40 541 9831 (the content of work and the employment contract issues)
• Professor Lucia Naldi, lucia.naldi@ju.se, tel. +46 3610 1852 (the content of work)

LUT Doctoral School: https://www.lut.fi/web/en/admissions/apply-to-lut/doctoral-studies

The LUT School of Business and Management (LBM) is among the world’s top 200 business schools in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2020 for business and economics subjects. LUT University was ranked among the top 200 in the 2020 Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking.

Join our team of trailblazers. Clean energy, water and air are life-giving resources for which we at LUT University seek new solutions with our expertise in technology and business. We help society and businesses in their sustainable renewal. Our international community consists of 6 500 members. Our modern campuses are in Lappeenranta and Lahti. Video of our strategy: https://youtu.be/PpFawdT8CDE  

Jönköping International Business School (JIBS) is one of four schools at Jönköping University. Our mission is to advance the theory and practice of business, with specific focus on entrepreneurship, ownership and renewal. Our guiding principles are; international at heart, entrepreneurial in mind and responsible in action. JIBS is double-accredited, by EQUIS and AACSB. Recent independent assessments of research productivity and impact ranks JIBS first in Sweden in economics and business administration and first in Europe and second in the world in entrepreneurship. The research at JIBS is to a large extent conducted within one of, or across, its three research centres

• CeFEO – Centre for Family Entrepreneurship and Ownership
• CEnSE – Centre for Entrepreneurship and Spatial Economics
• MMTC – Media, Management and Transformation Centre

Technical support for recruitment system: recruitment@lut.fi

Application period starts: 2022-03-24 17:00. Application period ends: 2022-06-12 23:59