TIES2 Postdoctoral Researcher Fellowships

The Turku Intersectoral Excellence Scheme 2 (TIES2) is a three-year postdoctoral fellowship programme in Finland, co-funded by the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND scheme and the University of Turku. Hosted by the Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS), this initiative supports bottom-up, researcher-driven projects and is designed for outstanding early- and mid-career academics who wish to pursue ambitious, self-designed research in an international environment. Through secure three-year funding, TIES2 enables fellows to conduct internationally competitive postdoctoral and early-career research projects at one of Finland’s leading universities.

TIAS invites applications for up to ten (10) TIES2 Fellowship positions (Senior Researcher) for a fixed three-year term starting on 1 September 2026. These prestigious TIES2 postdoctoral researcher fellowships in Finland are filled through a global competition. Researchers from any discipline represented within TIAS’ five participating faculties—Economics, Education, Humanities, Law and Social Sciences—are welcome to apply. Final selections will be made strictly on the basis of academic excellence and the quality of the proposed research.

Job description

TIES2 has been created to strengthen the existing TIAS fellowship scheme by providing a unique opportunity for excellent researchers to implement a three-year project that they themselves design. Each TIES2 postdoctoral research project must have a clear link to at least one non-higher-education-sector organisation chosen by the applicant, highlighting the intersectoral focus of

this MSCA COFUND postdoctoral fellowship programme in Finland.

The primary responsibility of each TIES2 Fellow is to deliver an internationally excellent research project over the three-year fellowship period. The results of the project should be disseminated through multiple channels, including peer-reviewed high-impact publications, conference and workshop presentations, as well as public engagement and wider outreach activities. A key element of the TIES2 programme is the mandatory secondment: every Fellow must spend between three and twelve months working in an organisation outside the higher-education sector on a project that forms an integral part of the overall TIES2 research plan. Throughout this secondment, the University of Turku continues to pay the Fellow’s salary.

TIES2 Fellows are also expected to be active members of TIAS’ interdisciplinary scholarly community. They are required to attend regular TIAS meetings, seminars and other events, and to contribute to the academic and social life of the Institute. Through this participation, Fellows help build a vibrant international postdoctoral research community at the University of Turku.

All posts are based at one of the University of Turku campuses, and successful applicants must reside in Finland for the duration of the fellowship. Applicants must also satisfy

the MSCA mobility rule: they must not have lived in, or carried out their main activity (such as work or studies) in, Finland for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the call deadline.

Who we are looking for

Applicants must hold a completed doctoral degree by the call deadline. In addition, their PhD must have been awarded no more than eight (8) years before that deadline. Beyond the doctorate itself, candidates are expected to demonstrate additional academic achievements that indicate strong potential for research excellence in an international setting.

Successful candidates will be able to show solid engagement in international academic networks and provide evidence that they can operate effectively in a research environment of high international standard. Experience in collaborative research projects, cross-border cooperation, or intersectoral partnerships will be regarded as an advantage for these TIES2 postdoctoral researcher fellowships at the University of Turku.

In the motivation letter, applicants should clearly explain how their proposed project complements and strengthens existing research at the University of Turku. They must specify the department in which they wish to be hosted and identify the department’s research themes that connect directly with their own project. It is

not necessary to contact potential host departments or individual staff members in advance of the application.

Applicants should also describe why they are particularly keen to join the TIES2 programme and outline any non-research-oriented training needs they have (for example, in leadership, entrepreneurship, or transferable skills) and how they intend to address these during the fellowship. Furthermore, candidates should indicate how their project relates to one or more of the University of Turku’s multidisciplinary themes and areas of strength, thereby demonstrating the strategic alignment of their proposed postdoctoral research in Finland.

All TIES2 applicants are expected to follow the University of Turku’s policies on research ethics, equality and non-discrimination, as well as the principles of Open Science adopted by both the University of Turku and Horizon Europe.

Evaluation of applications

The academic quality of the project plan is the central criterion in the evaluation process. Reviewers will also consider the potential of the proposed work to generate groundbreaking findings within its field, the extent and quality of documented international collaboration, how effectively the project may support the applicant’s professional development, and the relevance of the planned secondment(s) for intersectoral impact.

The assessment of scientific quality focuses on three core criteria:

Excellence
Impact

data-start="5920" data-end="5964">Quality and efficiency of implementation

Reviewers are further asked to comment on any ethical issues associated with the proposed research. Based on the external reviews, the TIES2 Selection Committee makes the final decisions regarding appointments to this highly competitive postdoctoral fellowship programme in Finland.

Benefits

TIES Fellows have relatively limited duties outside their research, which makes these positions especially attractive for internationally oriented postdoctoral researchers seeking focused research time in Finland. All TIAS Fellows may contribute to teaching at the University of Turku; however, such teaching will account for at most 5% of a Fellow’s annual workload of 1612 hours. Fellows may allocate an additional 5% of their working time to other academic or administrative responsibilities.

Further details about employment conditions and staff benefits can be found on the University’s “Come work with us!” pages (a suitable internal anchor text could be “working at the University of Turku”).

The European Commission has granted the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research label. This distinction indicates the University’s ongoing commitment to developing the status and working conditions of researchers in accordance with the principles of the European Charter for Researchers.

The University provides comprehensive support and orientation services for international hires. If you are considering relocating for a TIES2 postdoctoral fellowship in Finland, you may find the following resources helpful:

The University of Turku

The University of Turku appears among the leading universities in most major global rankings and is recognised as one of the world’s best institutions in selected disciplines. Its strong basic research, broad multidisciplinary profile and close collaboration around research infrastructures form a solid basis for international top-level research (an effective internal link anchor here could be “University of Turku international rankings”).

The University hosts a range of advanced research infrastructures essential for high-quality, cutting-edge research. Prospective applicants can consult the roadmap of research infrastructures to learn how these facilities—and the associated expert teams—provide tailored solutions for businesses and organisations. This ecosystem offers an outstanding environment for TIES2 Fellows to design and implement impactful intersectoral postdoctoral research projects in Finland.

Salary and trial period

Salaries for TIES Fellows are set according to the University of Turku salary system for teaching and research staff. The TIES Fellow position corresponds to requirement level 6, combined with a pre-estimated personal performance component of 17%. The current gross monthly salary is €4,494 and is adjusted annually in line with the university salary system.

All Fellows also receive a mobility allowance of approximately €100 per month to support personal mobility costs. In addition, a family allowance of around €100 per month is available for Fellows who meet the eligibility criteria. Both the mobility and family allowances form part of the total salary and are taxable income in the same way as the base salary.

TIES Fellows are further eligible for dedicated funding to cover travel expenses, research-related costs, training activities and opportunities for innovation funding. This comprehensive support package enhances the attractiveness of these three-year postdoctoral fellowship positions at the University of Turku.

The position includes a trial period of six months.

How to apply

Before applying, candidates should carefully review the detailed application guidelines and instructions, including the list of required documents for the TIES2 postdoctoral researcher competition. These guidelines explain how to prepare a strong proposal for a TIES2 postdoctoral research fellowship in Finland.

Applications must be submitted through the University of Turku’s online recruitment system. The deadline for applications is 9 January 2026 at 16:00 Finnish time (GMT +2). Late or incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration, so prospective applicants are strongly advised to assemble and upload all materials well in advance of the deadline.

Apply now

Further information

More information about TIAS and the TIES programme is available on the TIAS website (an appropriate internal anchor text could be “Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS) TIES programme”).

An online information session for prospective applicants will be held on Tuesday 9 December 2025 between 14:00 and 16:00 EET (GMT +2). During this session, the TIAS Director will introduce the call, explain the application and evaluation process, and answer questions from researchers interested in the TIES2 fellowships. A recording or PowerPoint slides from the session will be made available online afterwards. Please register for the information session in order to receive the online meeting link.

Additional questions about the TIES programme can be sent to: [email protected].

Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS)

Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS) supports cutting-edge university research in the humanities and social sciences. It is a joint initiative between the faculties of Humanities, Education, Social Sciences, Law, and the Turku School of Economics, established in 2008. TIAS aims to build a community of interdisciplinary researchers committed to research excellence and to promote high-impact postdoctoral research in Finland and beyond.

The University of Turku is a dynamic and international academic community of around 25,000 students and staff located in Southwest Finland. The University is dedicated to building a sustainable future through multidisciplinary research, education and collaboration. As a TIES2 Fellow, your work will have real impact and relevance in a rapidly changing world, and you will have the opportunity to develop your international academic career through a fully funded, three-year postdoctoral research fellowship in Finland.

Feature	Details
Program Name	Turku Intersectoral Excellence Scheme 2 (TIES2) – Senior Researcher Fellowships
Host Institution	Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS), University of Turku
Host Country	Finland (Turku)
Fields of Study	Economics, Education, Humanities, Law, Social Sciences
Position Level	Senior Researcher / Postdoctoral Fellow
Number of Positions	Up to 10
Duration	36 months (three-year fixed-term fellowship)
Start Date	1 September 2026
Study Mode	Full-time, on-site research with mandatory intersectoral secondment
Funded By	European Union’s MSCA COFUND programme and the University of Turku
Financial Support	University salary (requirement level 6 + performance), mobility and family allowances, research and travel funds
Eligibility	PhD completed by call deadline, PhD awarded within 8 years, strong research track record
Mobility Rule	Must not have lived or had main activity in Finland for more than 12 months in the previous 36 months
Application Mode	Online submission via University of Turku recruitment system
Application Deadline	09/Jan/2026
Official Vacancies Page	Turku Institute for Advanced Studies – Open Vacancies (TIAS)