Doctoral Researcher – Social Sciences (PhD)

About the role

The Swedish School of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki is seeking a doctoral researcher to join the MAPS project, which investigates how digital platforms reshape service labour from a migration perspective. The appointment is for a fixed‑term period of three and a half years, starting 1 October 2026, and leads to an article‑based PhD.

Key responsibilities

• Design and conduct independent ethnographic research on platformised service work among migrant workers in Finland.
• Develop novel ethnographic methods that capture both workers’ lived experiences and the finance‑technology dynamics of platform companies.
• Contribute to the overall MAPS project implementation, including data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
• Write and publish articles based on the empirical material, culminating in a PhD thesis.
• Participate in project communications, organise events, and support outreach activities.
• Teach up to 5 % of the annual workload, such as seminars or supervision.

Required profile

• Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., sociology, human geography, cultural studies, social anthropology).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, strong motivation for critical migration and labour studies.
• Excellent academic writing skills in English.
• Interest in platform labour, digital economies, and ethnographic research.

Required skills

• Qualitative research methods, especially ethnography.
• Critical analysis of migration and labour market dynamics.

What we offer

• Fixed‑term contract for 3.5 years with a clear pathway to a PhD.
• Access to interdisciplinary research community and international funding.
• Opportunities to present findings at conferences and publish in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Support for teaching experience and professional development.