Doctoral Researchers in Psychology (3 positions) – Turku, Finland

Åbo Akademi University invites applications for three fixed-term salaried positions as Doctoral Researcher in Psychology within the project Psychology at the Frontiers: Asylum Interviewing and Decision-Making (funded for the period 1.1.2024-31.12.2026).

The positions as doctoral researchers are full time for a period of maximum four years, starting from 1st January 2024 (or as per agreement).

ABOUT THE RESEARCH PROJECT
The project [Psych-AID] Psychology at the Frontiers: Asylum Interviewing and Decision-Making, situated within the field of legal psychology (See the project description in detail), is aimed at combining psychology and law to protect and improve the validity of asylum procedures. The objective of the project is to study, improve, and implement methods for best practice interviewing and decision-making in the asylum context, with the aim to maximize the accuracy of asylum decisions while guaranteeing the rights of individual asylum seekers. This international and interdisciplinary project is of high relevance to important contemporary societal issues and is expected to have both considerable scientific and societal impact, influencing asylum procedures across Europe and beyond.

The project consists of five work packages. The current recruitment of doctoral researchers is for the three first work packages (one doctoral researcher per work package). These work packages will include studies adapting, developing, and evaluating interviewing and decision-making methods from the criminal context to the asylum field, by, for example, conducting innovative and ambitious experimental cross-cultural data collections. Some of these data collections will be conducted on-line. This project includes excellent opportunities for international and national collaboration with researchers, asylum practitioners and societal stakeholders.

WORK TASKS
The doctoral researchers’ main task is to carry out independent scientific research and to pursue a doctoral dissertation.

More specifically, the tasks include

• planning and executing data collections and experiments, including international on-line experiments
• writing and publishing research reports
• writing and defending a PhD-thesis
• collaborating with other doctoral researchers and other research personnel

Teaching tasks and supervision of undergraduate and graduate researchers can comprise a maximum of 5% of the work time.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ASSESSMENT
We are looking for motivated doctoral researchers with a master’s degree in psychology or related field.

The required qualifications and merits for the position are outlined below and will be evaluated together with the application and presented research plan.

Basic eligibility criteria:

• Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in Psychology or a related field

Meriting qualifications:

• Demonstrated strong collaborative and organizational skills
• Capacity to work independently
• Strong communication skills, including strong written and spoken communication skills in English

 Desirable qualifications:

• Background in legal psychology (practical and/or theoretical)
• experience as a research assistant or equivalent research experience
• Other academic achievements in addition to the master’s degre
• Communication skills in Finnish and/or Swedish

The applicants are assessed based on the aforementioned criteria and qualifications, as well as the submitted reference letters. During the selection process the applicants can be invited to an interview.

Please note that, upon acceptance for the position,  there is a separate application process for the admission to a doctoral programme at ÅAU. Thus, applicants that have not yet been admitted to the ÅAU doctoral programme will also be considered for the positions. A shorter-term employment contract within the project might come into question between completion of the recruitment and admission to the PhD program.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
The work time is 1612 hours per year. A supervision and study plan for doctoral researchers will be evaluated annually.

The salary for a doctoral researcher will be based on levels 2-4 of the job demand level for teaching and researching personnel in the salary system. In addition, there is a salary component based on personal work performance, according to the general collective agreement for universities. Currently, the starting salary for a new doctoral researcher is about 2400 €/month. The salary will be adjusted as the thesis work progresses so that it is approximately 3200 €/month as the doctoral researcher approaches the doctoral degree.

The selected candidates will be employed for a maximum period of up to 48 months. The length of the employment is determined from the candidate’s possible ongoing and/or partly completed research studies.

The positions are placed at the Faculty of Arts, Psychology and Theology (FHPT) in Turku, Finland. Doctoral researchers employed by ÅAU must be an active part of the faculty’s research and education on campus in Turku.

A 6-month trial period applies to new employees.

APPLICATION
The application is submitted through the electronic application form below no later than 14.12.2023, at 3 p.m. (Finnish time). See Instructions on electronic applications and their appendices.

The following appendices are attached to the application in Swedish or English:

1. A free-form application letter (max. one A4 page)
2. Copies of diplomas including transcript of records (BA, MA, MSc, other)
3. A max. three-page research plan for a specific study in any of the three first work packages in the current project description. The research plan should include
   • a brief background
   • a clearly stated testable hypothesis
   • a detailed method section
   • a suggested statistical analysis that can be conducted to test the hypothesis
4. A curriculum vitae, composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
5. A list of possible scientific publications
6. A copy of the Master’s thesis
7. A list of max. three references letters and contact details to these references

FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, contact Professor Jan Antfolk, jan.antfolk@abo.fi or regarding the recruitment process HR specialist Jenni Kronqvist, jenni.kronqvist@abo.fi.

Åbo Akademi University works actively for an even gender distribution and increased diversity in all staff groups.

Åbo Akademi University is an internationally acknowledged research university with an extensive responsibility for providing education in Swedish in Finland. With our international research community and our strong Nordic ties, we have an acclaimed and recognized position within research and education both nationally and internationally. 

At Åbo Akademi University, we offer research and education in humanities, pedagogics and theology to social sciences, business, natural sciences and technology including systematic, high-level and supervised doctoral training. Our special research profile areas are Minority Studies, Solutions for Health, Technologies for a Sustainable Future and The Sea.   

Our activities are steered by the values of academic tradition in terms of freedom of research and education as well as ethical responsibility. We are a workplace that recognises and utilises the knowledge and competences of the staff and students. We value and endevour diversity, inclusion, equality, health and sustainability in all our activities as well as continuous wellbeing and career possibilities for staff.  

Established over 100 years ago, ÅAU operates at the historical campus in Turku and Vaasa. With our 5,500 graduate and postgraduate students and 1,100 employees, we are an international and unique university.  Join us and work for a better world!  

Come work with us: https://www.abo.fi/about-abo-akademi-university/come-work-with-us/ 
Do research with us: https://www.abo.fi/research-at-aau/

Application period starts: 2023-11-20 13:00

Application period ends: 2023-12-14 15:00