Postdoctoral Researcher or University Researcher - Core research area Criminal Policy

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

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER or UNIVERSITY RESEARCHER - Core research area Criminal Policy 
    
for a fixed term period for the duration of 3 to 5 years, starting in September 2025 or as agreed, but no later than January 1, 2026.
 

The position is located within the Criminal Policy Unit of the Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy. The Criminal Policy Unit conducts wide-ranging, multidisciplinary, and multimethod research on the criminal justice system and related phenomena. The unit's research focuses on the evaluation and functioning of the criminal justice system and criminal policy measures as well as broader trends and transformations in criminal and control policy. 

RESPONSIBILITIES
 

The appointee is expected to develop and sustain long-term research activities, both by advancing their own research agenda and contributing to the Institute's statutory criminal policy research and Criminal Policy unit's collaborative academic work. The appointee will be working in close cooperation with the Institute’s Information Systems Specialist. Depending on the final job description, the position may require a security clearance. The applicant is expected to provide a research plan and indicate areas of own research interest. They do not have to be ones that already now are part of institute’s research profile. 

The appointee will also be involved in teaching activities, but due to the research orientation of the position in question the annual amount of working hours dedicated to teaching will be relatively low, only 5-10 % of the annual sum total.
 
QUALIFICATIONS  
 

The appointee must hold a doctoral degree in criminology, social sciences, law, computer sciences or another relevant field. Candidates in the final stages of completing their doctoral dissertation are also eligible to apply for the position but the doctoral degree must be completed by the beginning of the employment. The position requires the ability to conduct independent scientific research in a multidisciplinary environment, as well as demonstrate potential or experience in securing research funding and leading research projects. Applicants must have an excellent command of written and spoken Finnish and/or Swedish.  

A strong methodological foundation in empirical quantitative research is considered as the core requirement. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in utilizing register data and computational methods (e.g. machine learning, natural language processing) in research being highly valued. Candidates should also have a good track record (taking career stage into consideration) of scientific publications and other research outputs. Knowledge of the Finnish criminal policy system and theory will also be considered an advantage. In addition, expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods research will be considered an asset. 

In line with KRIMO's national mandate, applicants will be assessed based on their empirical research skills and expertise in conducting quantitative research. The ability to produce research relevant to criminal policy is also essential (taking career stage into consideration). Relevant research areas for the role include, but are not limited to, the analysis of criminal behavior and victimization, sentencing practices, offender reintegration and recidivism, evaluating of criminal policy interventions and national criminal justice reforms, and examining the functioning of the criminal justice system from a policy perspective.
 

WHAT WE OFFER  
 
University of Helsinki is an equal opportunity employer and offers an attractive and diverse workplace with a variety of development opportunities and benefits. The monthly gross salary range will be approx. €3,600 – €4,300, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. In addition, University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and opportunities for professional development. Further information can be obtained online. The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.
 
HOW TO APPLY  
 

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and minorities.
 
Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, 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 14 March, 2025.
 
Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications the following documents in English:
 
1) A curriculum vitae 
2) A complete list of publications
3) Description of expertise and research activities in relation to the given criteria, along with a selection of up to five (for university researcher applicants) or three (for postdoc applicants) key publications to be considered during the review (max 3 pages).  

4) A research plan on advancing their own research agenda and contributing to the fulfilment of the nationwide responsibility of the institute on core area (max 3 pages) 
 

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information about the positions may be obtained from associate professor Markus Kaakinen, markus.kaakinen@helsinki.fi, or from professor Kimmo Nuotio, kimmo.nuotio@helsinki.fi

Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy (KRIMO) is a research institute at the University of Helsinki, specialising in research and monitoring of crime and legal policy in Finland. As specified in the law on Institute of Criminology and Legal Policy (1139/2007), the tasks of the research institute are: 
- to practice independent research on legal policy, with regard to needs of the ministry of justice and society at large; 
- to monitor legal policy and crime, to analyze their trends; 
- to maintain research databases that are necessary for the research specified in the law.  
 

The Faculty of Social Sciences is Finland’s leading research and education institute in the social sciences, and the country’s most diverse social sciences faculty in terms of the range of its disciplines and fields of research. The Faculty has a strong international research profile and an international master’s programme, and several of its disciplinary units have been rated among the top 50 in the world.  The Faculty has approximately 500 research and teaching staff, and each year it awards some 350 bachelor’s degrees, 400 master’s degrees and more than 40 doctoral degrees.