The University of Helsinki – among the best in the world
Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is one of the best multidisciplinary research universities in the world. The high-quality research carried out by the university creates new knowledge for educating diverse specialists in various fields, and for utilisation in social decision-making and the business sector.
The Centre of Excellence in “Ancient Near Eastern Empires” (ANEE) (www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/ancient-near-eastern-empires) at the University of Helsinki will run from 2018–2025 and is directed by Dr. Saana Svärd. ANEE asks: How do changing imperial dynamics impact social group identities and lifeways over a millennium? ANEE covers the Neo-Assyrian, Neo-Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic, and early Roman / Parthian Empires. ANEE engages with methodologically varied yet integrated research on the long-term processes by which social group identities and lifeways were negotiated. Taken together, the innovations of ANEE are the integrated longue durée approach; and the methodological innovativeness of each team (both separately and in collaboration). There will be several recruitment calls for fixed term positions during ANEE’s lifespan (doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and university researchers).

University of Helsinki invites applications for the position of

DOCTORAL CANDIDATES (2)

to ANEE for a fixed term of up to 4 years, starting on or before January 2019.

ANEE is recruiting members for teams 1 and 2, and the applicant should indicate to which team she or he is applying. Each team has a methodologically specific approach yet collaborates on four work packages. The successful candidates’ research projects will focus on the goals of a team or teams.
The duties of a doctoral candidate are to work on his or her own doctoral thesis and to complete his or her doctoral studies. Teaching tasks can account for up to 5 % of the annual working time.

Team 1 “Digital Humanities Approaches” develops digital humanities approaches (especially social network analysis and language technology), using these to supplement the more traditional Assyriological approaches. Team 1 is looking for applicants with a solid background in Assyriology or a related field (preferably within the chronological scope of ANEE) and/or skills in Digital Humanities that can be put to use in relation to ANEE’s goals. Team 1 is led by Saana Svärd who is currently substituted by vice leader Krister Lindén (krister.linden(@)helsinki.fi).

Team 2 “Social Scientific Theory & Applications” tests and refines theoretical models from the social sciences for ancient evidence, integrating anthropological approaches to archaeology with sociological readings of textual and archaeological evidence. Team 2 seeks students with backgrounds in history of the Levant and/or the social sciences, and especially with an interest in migration, forced labor, and/or elite identities, and/or ancient historians of the Persian Empire with similar profiles. Willingness to collaborate with other teams and multiple work packages is desirable. Team 2 is led by Dr. Jason Silverman (jason.silverman(@)helsinki.fi).

The appointee must either have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment, or apply for the right and obtain it within the six months probationary period. If the candidate does not already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, it must be applied for separately in September 2018. (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/the-application-process-in-a-nutshell)

The applicants must hold a master’s degree in a relevant field and have the ability to conduct independent scientific research. The candidate should have excellent analytical and methodological skills, and be able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary scientific community. As ANEE is deeply multidisciplinary, competence in more than one field and/or proof of successful scientific collaboration will be considered an advantage. The successful candidates are expected to have excellent skills in written and oral English. Relocation costs can be negotiated and ANEE’s coordinator will offer help and information for the practicalities, if needed.

The University of Helsinki offers a salary dependent on qualifications and work experience. The salary will be based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement scheme for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee shall be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. The salary will be EUR 2065–3022 per month, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and work experience. The appointment starts with a probationary period of six months.

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications the following English-language documents as one pdf file:
(1) CV including a possible list of publications (max. 3 pages)
(2) Contact information for two referees
(3) A research statement (max. 2000 words) consisting of
i) a brief description of previous experience, such as MA thesis
ii) a proposal for the PhD project that the applicant wants to conduct in ANEE (including suggested dates for the project)
iii) a brief description of the plans for scientific cooperation within ANEE, preferably specifying relevant team and work packages.

Please name the pdf file with your last name and the initial(s) of your first name(s).

Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link Apply for job. Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to send their application via the SAP HR portal. Deadline for applications is June 3, 2018

Further information on the position may be obtained from the team leaders (see above).

For information on the University of Helsinki as an employer please see www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university.

If you need assistance with the recruitment portal, please contact recruitment(@)helsinki.fi.

Due date: 03.06.2018 23:59 EEST