Postdoctoral Researcher in History of Ethics / Legal History

We are recruiting 8-10 early-career researchers at different career stages (doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers for fixed-term employment) to the four UH-based research groups within the Centre of Excellence, Meliorist Philosophy of Suffering (MePhiS), funded by the Research Council of Finland. At a later stage, we will also recruite university researchers.

MePhiS will engage in philosophical and interdisciplinary scholarship that places the concept of suffering at the center 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). MePhiS aims at (1) reinterpreting ethical and other philosophical issues by emphasizing their entanglement with suffering; (2) integrating philosophical inquiries into suffering and meliorism with research emerging from key disciplines in the humanities, especially the history of ideas, literary studies, and theology and religious studies; and (3) critically renewing relevant philosophical and interdisciplinary methodology.

As a research group within MePhiS, the group History of Ethics and Law of Responding to Suffering focuses on extreme human and non-human suffering caused, for example by unbearable pain, famine, war, and natural disasters in Western history. We will analyze how medieval and early modern jurists and moral theologians/philosophers have responded to extreme suffering in their texts and what kind of active means they recommended to alleviate suffering. We will also consider how to employ these responses to extremes in reflecting on meliorist stance to suffering.

Towards these ends, we invite applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in history of ethics and/or legal history for a three-year employment contract starting in February 2026 or as agreed. We are looking for a researcher with a background in history of ethics/moral theology or legal history (or relevant neighbouring fields within history of ideas).

The researcher will be responsible for

• Conducting research on the topics described above;
• Authoring academic publications on these topics;
• Collaborating with the other CoE members in theoretical work, including joint publications, as well as the activities of the research group and the CoE;
• Providing research-based teaching and supervising dissertations.

Requirements for the position and assessment of qualifications

According to the Regulations of the University of Helsinki, an appointee to the position of postdoctoral researcher shall hold a doctoral degree and have the ability to conduct independent scholarly work as well as the teaching skills necessary for the position.

Other requirements shall include knowledge of history of ethics/moral theology or legal history. A track record in international publishing and other academic activities in these research fields is expected. Candidates need to be able to write and publish independently and collaboratively. A pre-existing interest in the general theme of the CoE is an advantage.

When assessing applicants’ qualifications, attention will be paid to international academic activities, including high-quality peer-reviewed publications.

The position is filled with a six-month trial period.

What we offer

The salary for the position will be based on level 5 of the job requirement scheme for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance. The annual gross salary is €42,000 - €49,000.

In Finnish universities, the teaching and research staff (app. 65% of total staff) have a special system regarding the free time equivalent to holiday. They belong to the 1,612 annual working hour system, in which the annual amount of paid holiday is app. 5-6 weeks on average per year.

The University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, 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: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/welcome-finland-information-arriving-staff 

Four research groups within MePhiS are based at the Faculty of Theology, University of Helsinki, on the City Centre Campus, while one group is based at Tampere University. The Faculty of Theology is well-known for its internationally acknowledged research in all the fields represented by MePhiS, and there are close ties with the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Social Science and the Faculty of Education, as well as other units on the City Centre Campus.

How to apply

The application must be accompanied by the following documents in PDF format:

• A curriculum vitae
• A list of publications.
• A free form report (max. 3 pages) describing the applicant’s research activities, such as activities in the scholarly community, success in obtaining research funding and international research experience (e.g., a university portfolio), including a description of how the applicant’s research would contribute to realizing the research plan of MePhiS and its research group History of Ethics and Law of Responding to Suffering.
• Names and contact information of two referees.

Further information about academic portfolios is available on our website.

Other attachments, including letters of recommendation or certificates, are not required at this point. We expect that you will send us a self-written application that reflects your own voice and thoughts. Applications generated by artificial intelligence do not meet our expectations.

Applications must be submitted through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system by clicking on the link below. Current employees of the University of Helsinki must submit their applications through SAP Fiori’s Suffeli recruitment portal. 

Further information about the position can be obtained from Senior University Lecturer Virpi Mäkinen (virpi.makinen(at)helsinki,fi) or MePhiS CoE Director, Professor Sami Pihlström (sami.pihlstrom(at)helsinki.fi). Further information about the recruitment process can be obtained from HR Specialist Reeta Korhonen (hr-teoltdk(at)helsinki.fi).

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. 

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