Postdoctoral Researcher in computational social science

The Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki invites applications for the position of

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN COMPUTATIONAL SOCIAL SCIENCES

for a fixed-term appointment from 1 September, 2026 to 29 February, 2028, or as agreed.

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in computational social science, particularly text-as-data approaches, to contribute to the next phase of Seeing Like a Tech Firm: Advocacy in the Era of Platform Capitalism (SEE TECH) project led by Academy Research Fellow, Dr. Matti Ylönen.

About the project

SEE TECH examines how large technology firms (“Big Tech”) influence political processes, regulation, and public discourse, with a particular focus on Europe. The project combines political economy, international political sociology, and regulatory studies to analyze how firms shape policy agendas, knowledge production, and governance frameworks.

To date, the project has conducted over 100 elite interviews and produced early academic outputs on corporate influence and platform governance. The next phase of the project expands the empirical scope through computational and digital methods, enabling large-scale analysis of corporate advocacy, lobbying, and discourse.

More information: www.see-tech.fi

Position summary

The position offers substantial intellectual independence and the opportunity to shape a cutting-edge research agenda at the intersection of political economy and data science. While we do have some specific ideas, the exact research tasks could also be partly tailored based on the key expertise of the selected applicant.

The successful candidate will:
•    Work with large-scale text corpora (e.g. our interview data, submissions, policy documents, corporate publications, media content)
•    Possibly conduct network analysis
•    Integrate computational findings with qualitative and interview-based research already conducted in the project

Key responsibilities

•    Conduct original research using computational methods
•    Build and curate datasets relevant to corporate political activity
•    Collaborate with the PI and research team
•    Co-author academic publications and contribute to dissemination
•    Participate in project meetings, seminars, and workshops
•    Contribute to broader project outputs (policy briefs, events, etc.)

Qualifications

Required:
•    PhD in International Political Economy, World Politics, Data Science, or related field
•    Strong skills in computational methods, especially text analysis and possibly network analysis
•    Programming skills (e.g. Python or R)
•    Demonstrated ability to produce high-quality academic research
•    Excellent written and spoken English

Preferred:
•    Familiarity in research in political economy, corporate power, or digital governance
•    Familiarity with EU policy processes or global economic governance
•    Experience combining qualitative and computational approaches
•    Knowledge of Finnish, French, and/or German

What we offer

•    An interdisciplinary research environment at one of Europe’s leading universities
•    Opportunities to collaborate internationally and engage with policy audiences
•    Flexibility to develop your own research within the project’s themes
•    The annual gross salary range will be approx. €46,000 – €52,000, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. Standard Finnish pension benefits and occupational health care are provided for university employees. Further information can be obtained online.
•    Access to high-quality computational infrastructure and research support

The position is based in Helsinki (i.e. the candidate must live in Helsinki or be willing to move to Finland), with flexibility for short research stays abroad.

The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.

How to apply  
 
Please submit your application through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link "Apply now" (“Hae nyt”). Use your current email address to register to the Recruitment System. Only applicants who are currently employed by the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the link “Employee login”. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 27 May, 2026 at 23.59 local Helsinki time (EEST). 

Applicants are requested to submit the following documents in English:

•    Cover letter (max. 2 pages)
•    CV (including publication list)
•    Short research statement (1–2 pages), outlining: 
o    relevant expertise
o    methodological strengths
o    ideas for contributing to SEE TECH
•    One writing sample (article, paper, or chapter)

Optional: links to code repositories or data projects.

Further information

Further information about the position can be obtained from Academy Research Fellow Matti Ylönen, matti.v.ylonen@helsinki.fi.

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