Project planner to The Digital Geography Lab
PROJECT PLANNER
The Digital Geography Lab (DGL) in the Faculty of Science invites applications for a highly motivated and proactive full-time PROJECT PLANNER to coordinate cutting-edge applied research into the use of Virtual Reality in urban planning in Nordic cities. The role is part of our new UrbanISE VR Proof of Concept project (2026). This is a fixed term, one year employment starting 1st February 2026.
Description of the role
DGL is an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Helsinki, focused on spatial big data analytics on a human scale to support the planning of fair and sustainable societies. The Lab’s research uses large spatial datasets to study mobility and accessibility of people, and to understand the interactions between people, and between people and their environment through the lens of mobility. The group offers an inspiring, inclusive, and collaborative working environment. Our academic success is built on ambition and creativity without compromising well-being at work, high community spirit and clear everyday practices. Learn more about our research culture and how we work here: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/digital-geography-lab/our-culture.
GREENTRAVEL (Greener Travel Environments for Everyone – from measured wellbeing impacts to Big Data analytics) is a European Research Council (ERC) funded project at DGL. The Project aims to produce novel understandings on the importance, availability and wellbeing impacts of urban travel greenery experienced by people in their everyday active travel environments. It is working to produce new knowledge on how equitably green exposure during travel and related wellbeing impacts are available to urban populations. It shall leverage this knowledge to develop new analyses and approaches to add greenery in urban travel environments to advance equity in European cities.
UrbanISE VR (Urban Immersive Street Environment Intervention Virtual Reality) is an innovative ERC Proof of Concept project affiliated with GREENTRAVEL. It aims to:
- convert the existing virtual reality environment and set-up developed through the GREENTRAVEL project into a highly portable and easily deployable VR-in-a-suitcase solution; and,
- test the ‘VR-in-a-suitcase' with urban planners and research groups in Helsinki, Espoo, Tallinn and Copenhagen.
The Project Planner will coordinate the UrbanISE VR project. They will be responsible for planning and executing the stakeholder workshops, research validation activities and project reporting. The planner will work collaboratively and proactively with the larger UrbanISE and GREENTRAVEL team to ensure smooth communication across the consortium, support stakeholder engagement, and contribute to evaluation, reporting, and research dissemination and exploitation activities. The role combines organizational, research and communication responsibilities.
Duties include
- Research, Evaluation and Documentation
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- Design and implement the stakeholder workshops and their evaluation protocols, ensuring ethical research practice.
- Evaluate the user usability and immersion experience of the VR-in-a-suitcase solution with stakeholders.
- Lead the writing of the exploitation plan (business pathways, licensing vs consulting).
- Review user documents and incorporate user feedback
- Stakeholder Workshop Coordination
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- Liaise with partner cities / organisations (Helsinki, Espoo, Tallinn, SYKE, etc.) for workshops and pilots.
- Organize and facilitate workshops with city partners.
- Coordinate travel, scheduling, and logistics for workshops in multiple Nordic cities (Helsinki, Espoo, Tallinn, Copenhagen).
- Collect stakeholder feedback during validation sessions.
- Communication
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- Prepare stakeholder communication materials (presentations, briefs).
- Draft project updates, summaries, and dissemination outputs.
- Administration & Support
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- Track project progress and endure timely reporting to ERC.
- Assist the PI and Manager with documentation of risks, deliverables, and milestones.
- Maintain project records, workshop minutes, and data collection.
Requirements and eligibility criteria
We welcome motivated, proactive and self-guided candidates holding a MSc or a PhD degree, preferably in a field related to urban studies, computer science, management, geography or environmental and social sciences. The ideal candidate would have strong organisational and multitasking skills, collaborative working styles, attention to detail, excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate technical concepts to non-expert audiences in Finnish and English. The appointee is expected to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and international working community and in close collaboration with external stakeholders. We welcome applicants with a variety of gender identities, and linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
Applicants with experience or strong interest in the application of Virtual Reality in urban planning contexts will be highly valued.
Essential Skills
- Project coordination and stakeholder engagement: Experience organising stakeholder workshops and managing research project logistics and timelines.
- Ability to work independently
- Excellent communication skills for liaising with city partners, planners, and researchers.
- Familiarity with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods (evaluation frameworks, surveys, focus groups).
- Adept at preparing project reports, workshop summaries, and science communication materials.
- Fluency in spoken and written English and Finnish
Desirable attributes
- Event organisation experience (seminars, stakeholder workshops, public engagement).
- Knowledge of VR/XR usability studies and participatory design methods.
- Experience with data collection and analysis tools.
- Familiarity with IPR, commercialization, or innovation projects in research contexts.
- Experience in academic writing and academic practices.
What we offer
The salary will be based on the job requirement scheme for specialist and support. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. The gross salary is between 3500 – 3900 €/month, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience.
On top of the salary, the University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care, supported access to high quality sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development.
Due to the nature of work, the position offers excellent collaboration and networking opportunities with urban planners and other practitioners across a number of Nordic cities. We offer the flexibility to work partially remotely with willingness to travel. In-person presence is encouraged for about three days a week, as it is essential for fostering our work culture and collaboration.
A diverse and equal study and work culture is important to us. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all competent and diverse applicants to apply for our positions.
How to apply
Please submit your application as a single pdf file, which includes the following documents:
- A motivation letter explaining your interest towards the position (max. 1 page)
- Curriculum Vitae, highlighting your relevant experience (max. 3 pages)
- Other relevant documentation, such as scientific portfolio or examples of coordination and/or virtual reality experience
External applicants, please submit your application to the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now button.
Applicants who have a helsinki.fi username and a valid employment/grant/visitor contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the Employee login button.
Please send your application by Monday 24th November 2025.
More information?
Further information on the project and our Lab activities more broadly, please see
- the Digital Geography Lab pages (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/digital-geography-lab).
- the GREENTRAVEL project page (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/digital-geography-lab/greentravel)
- The Digital Geography Lab Handbook https://blogs.helsinki.fi/digital-geography/2024/02/18/sharing-our-lab-handbook/
For project and position related questions, please contact Professor Tuuli Toivonen (tuuli.toivonen@helsinki.fi).
For experiences on the Digital Geography Lab as a work place, feel free to contact any of the lab members: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/digital-geography-lab/people-contact.