University of Turku supports the postdoctoral researcher stage, which gives a basis for proceeding on research career and working in expert positions in various fields. The goal of the University is to offer postdoctoral researchers diverse opportunities for self-development.
University of Turku is committed to developing the postdoctoral phase in its strategy. The European Commission has granted the University the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo of an excellent employer, which confirms the commitment to the development of the position and working conditions of researchers. The goal of the University of Turku is to be an attractive and competitive environment also for top international researchers.
The University of Turku employs postdoctoral researchers either in employment relationship or as scholarship researchers. The aim is to improve the support of all postdoctoral researchers through a common e-mail list.
You can join the distribution group following these instructions:
- Go to https://mail.utu.fi and sign in.
- Click "Options" (right upper corner), and select Options.
- Click "General" and select "Distribution groups".
- "Join…" (two persons and a +).
- Select the group you want to join ("postdoc") and press "Join" (two persons and a +).
- If you want to leave the group, select it, and press "Leave" (two persons and a -).
ECPI (Early Career Principal Investigator) events
University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University organise joint training and networking events for early career principal investigators. Information about events is announced via email lists and on the UTU Intranet.
Network for Early-Career Researchers in Turku (NERT)
The aims of NERT are to act as mediators and communicators in varied issues; work in cooperation with different organisations in the the University of Turku and existing research communities in the Turku region; as well as create opportunities for networking, sharing information, peer support, socializing and promoting interests of its members.
Join to the emailing list of NERT
UNICOM - Uniting Companies and International University Talents
The Uniting Companies and International University Talents (UNICOM) initiative aims to facilitate the interactions between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Southwest Finland and the highly qualified international talents already living in the area. The UNICOM project is part of the Course towards Finland project (in Finnish: Kokka kohti Suomea), which aims to boost the growth of companies by promoting the placement of international talents on the Finnish labour market.
The actions of the UNICOM project will be piloted and developed in cooperation with partner companies, which have already committed themselves to the project during the application phase. The actions are divided into three distinct work packages:
- Internships at companies for doctoral candidates and post-docs,
- workplace coaching for international talents, and
- campaigns and support services for companies.
Guided Peer Groups - academic, social and professional well-being of researchers
The overall aim is to help researchers to find efficient and effective ways to settle their working life at the University and in the Finnish society for best outcome in their academic, social and professional careers and lives in general in Finland.
Have you lately been thinking about questions such as:
• How to allocate my work time efficiently and effectively to address all aspects of my work?
• How to attain peace of mind and tranquility to concentrate on my work that is scattered all around?
• What are the foundations of my competence? How can I build-up my competencies?
• What sparkles my enthusiasm? What gives me energy? How do I recover from work strain?
• What is stressful for me? How do I manage stress?
• What are my career plans? How can I promote my chances for reaching the goals I have set?
• How do I find my own place in Finnish society?
• Where can I find help if I feel alienated and lost, as I do not know Finnish, and I do not understand the culture in and outside the University?
In a Guided Peer Group you can:
• pause to think about your work situation, use of working time and career plans
• relieve strain resulting from uncertainties related to research work or career development
• look for and find solutions to current work-related questions, with support from peers and a trained Work Supervisor.
Target Group:
Doctoral candidates, post-doctoral fellows and researchers working at the University of Turku with/without an employment contract with the University. The groups are formed of 4-6 participants with similar goals.
Content:
The Guided Peer Group uses the method of Work Supervision.
Work Supervision is:
• a goal-oriented process based on an open, appreciative and respectful dialogue
• an opportunity and a method for developing one’s professional skills and work
• a confidential learning process lead by a qualified Work Supervisor (not to be confused with a scientific or an administrative supervisor)
• time and place (in-person or virtual depending on the circumstances) to reflect upon oneself at work, for example one’s thoughts, experiences and feelings related to the work situation, work community and work identity
Feedback and experiences of earlier participants in researchers' peer groups:
"During the (work) supervision I had the chance to talk for the 1st time about my everyday academic life and well being. This is something necessary in our university especially for international students who are lacking support and information. The discussions we had and the suggestions helped in the development of my work. Overall the trustworthy and friendly environment that we created was necessary to achieve it as well."
"I think it helped me a lot in my day work. It gave me freedom to express my doubts, ideas and problems with other people in the same position. Also, it provided me with tools and new skills to solve and prevent problems."
"I believe the goals we set were achieved in a very high level because I adapted the suggestions / recommendations that the coach and other group-mates said but also due to my reflections which emerged during our discussions."
Place:
Online (or following covid regulations)
Trainer:
The Work Supervisor for each group will be selected among the qualified work supervisors in the internal/external network of the University of Turku.
Schedule:
The deadline has been extended - the groups are likely to start in the autumn term!
The group will meet 5 times for a 90 min session, the sessions take place at an interval of 3 to 4 weeks. If needed, the number of meetings can be extended to another 5 sessions.
Before the group starts, the suitability of the Work supervisor and the group composition is checked from all participants individually. When the group composition has been confirmed the date, time, and venue of the meetings will be mutually agreed among the group participants for an active participation and attendance by the group members.
Assignment:
Reply the questionnaire below to share more about your personal goals.
The information is handled in confidence for the building of a group of peers with similar objectives. Thereafter the information is deleted.
Contact information:
Contact person for Work Supervision
Johanna Mäkinen, Study and Work Well-Being Services
(johanna.makinen@utu.fi, 050 5942866)
Please, click this link to tell about your goals and to register
Onboarding
Each new employee is given an introduction to future work tasks, the work environment, and the goals and operating principles of the unit and the university. Onboarding is the responsibility of the supervisor. It is supported by a wide range of staff training and information/events for new employees. However, being active and networking with other university staff is the responsibility of the employee.
Training
The University of Turku offers a wide range of training to strengthen the skills needed in working life. The key goal of the University's strategy is to be a pioneer in lifelong learning. The University of Turku organizes staff training (Training offered for staff, registration required) free of charge. Usually training is organised during working hours in which staff may attend with the permission of their supervisor. The Graduate School (UTUGS) also organises training that may be of interest to postdoctoral researchers. Doctoral students are given priority in graduate school training, but postdoctoral researchers are also admitted to the courses. The study guide contains information about the courses and instructions on how to participate in them.
All courses are also open to scholarship researchers.
Mentoring
The aim of mentoring for postdoctoral researchers is to provide support, for example, in career planning or reorientation, in expanding networks with actors in one's own field and in identifying one's own competence.
Mentoring programme for international professionals aiming at a career outside the university
I-Me-Pro is a new mentoring programme for international staff and scholarship researchers with an aim to a career outside academia. The goal of the I-Me-Pro programme is to network and integrate international experts into Finnish working life and the innovation environment.
Competence and welfare services
Members of the university community are provided with support and services that promote well-being at work. These include training and coaching for well-being at work, support for work communities in change, early support and mediation, coordination of occupational health support services, health and safety issues, data protection issues, equality and non-discrimination issues, CampusSport and accessibility services.
Funding opportunities at the University of Turku
The University of Turku hosts two multidisciplinary research collegia: Turku Institute for Advanced Studies (TIAS) and Turku Collegium for Science and Medicine (TCSMT). The collegia recruit postdoctoral researchers through international applications. You can find out more about application instructions and schedules on the collegia's' websites.
Open vacancies at the University of Turku
If you are applying for funding from the University of Turku through other means or are interested in funding opportunities, please contact: tutkimusrahoitus@utu.fi.
Other funding opportunities
Foundations' Post Doc Pool
Post Docs in Companies (PoDoCo)
Academy of Finland