Offer Description
MSCA Doctoral Network EMANAIRE, DC10: AI-Mediated Communication and Collaboration Norms at Work
Position details
- Recruiting institution: Hanken School of Economics, Department of Management and Organisation
- Work location: Helsinki, Finland · one position
- Contract: four-year, full-time doctoral scholarship · 48 months
- Expected start: 1 February 2027 or by agreement
- Application deadline: by 11:59 p.m. on 29 October 2026
- Doctoral programme: PhD in Management and Organisation
- Apply: https://hanken.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index.php?o=A_LOJ&list=1&lang=en&rspvt=bx32qk756igw8ww08c0k4sgg0w8w48c
Hanken School of Economics, Department of Management and Organisation invites applications for this four-year doctoral scholarship in the EMANAIRE project, PhD project: “AI-Mediated Communication and Collaboration Norms at Work”.
About EMANAIRE
EMANAIRE is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network bringing together 15 doctoral candidates at nine European universities to study how AI is changing work. Its projects examine what happens when generative and agentic AI enters leadership, everyday workflows, team communication, professional learning and career decisions. Across the network, human agency means the practical ability to understand AI-supported decisions, exercise judgement, question outputs and shape how work is organised. Each researcher joins an international cohort, receives supervision across institutions and takes part in three residential schools, methods workshops, monthly research seminars and joint work with organisations beyond academia. Every project includes extensive engagement with industrial partner (e.g. in terms of data collection and development of practice).
The doctoral project
As AI becomes embedded in everyday work, employees increasingly interact with AI agents, but also encounter AI-mediated contributions from colleagues. Messages may be written, filtered or delivered with AI, while autonomous agents increasingly participate in work processes and collaboration.
This doctoral project examines how these developments shape relational aspects of work, (which may include authenticity, trust, social connection, and experiences of loneliness), as people negotiate emerging norms around AI use, disclosure, and appropriate forms of interaction. Through ethnographic research in AI-intensive settings, you will follow relational practices as they evolve over time and identify the mechanisms behind change.
The project will develop evidence-based guidance that supports transparency, social connection and responsible AI use in organisational life. Practitioner outputs include AI-aware communication norms, guidance on disclosure and authenticity in AI-assisted exchanges, and leadership practices that protect social connection and prevent relational deterioration. In addition, the doctoral project is expected to advance scientific knowledge in relation to the doctoral topic.
Your work
- Examine how interactions among people, AI agents and AI-mediated communication shape workplace relationships and collaboration.
- Conduct ethnographic research on how employees make sense of and negotiate AI use in workplace interactions, including norms of disclosure and transparency, and how these processes shape relational aspects of work.
- Identify the mechanisms through which AI-mediated contributions and autonomous agents reshape relational dynamics, and develop evidence-based guidance for responsible and socially sustainable AI use.
- Develop AI-aware communication norms and leadership guidance that protect social connection at work.
- Refine the research questions and design with the supervision team and prepare ethics, data-management and open-science materials.
- Complete a doctoral thesis and related research outputs under the host doctoral programme and EMANAIRE plan.
- Take part in local and network-wide training, cohort activities, reviews, dissemination and practitioner engagement.
- Participate in teaching related activities at the Department of Management and Organisation.
- Undertake collaboration with the industry partner and a separate academic mobility visit.
- Contribute to research integrity, equality, responsible AI, open science and FAIR data practices.
Supervision, training and mobility
Project contact: Emma Nordbäck (emma.nordback@hanken.fi).
Main supervisor: Associate Professor Emma Nordbäck (Hanken School of Economics).
Current DoA plan: The Doctoral researcher is expected to spend a period of time at an industrial partner conducting the ethnographic research and contributing to practice.
Academic mobility visit: At least three months at another partner institution of the EMANAIRE network.
The researcher will complete at least 60 ECTS of doctoral coursework, including at least 10 ECTS through network-wide provision. EMANAIRE combines local doctoral courses with three residential schools, monthly paper-development seminars, work-package workshops and network reviews. A Personal Career Development Plan will be agreed within the first three months and reviewed every six months.
About Hanken School of Economics
Hanken School of Economics is one of the leading business schools in the Nordic countries. It is located in Finland, with campuses in Helsinki and Vaasa. Hanken offers a range of B.Sc., M.Sc., EMBA, PhD, and Executive Development programmes taught mainly in English and Swedish. The School has close ties to the business community and an active alumni network with over 13 800 alumni working in more than 70 countries. The School is accredited by AACSB, AMBA, and EQUIS. The Hanken Masters in Management programme was ranked #56 by the Financial Times in 2026. Hanken is recognized for its research quality, its international orientation, and its focus on sustainability.
Hanken is part of the European ENGAGE.EU European university alliance, that collaborates in the area of doctoral education by creating common practices and offering courses across member universities. The Department of Management and Organisation is recognized for its outstanding research in areas such as organisation studies, human resource management, business ethics and strategic entrepreneurship. The doctoral programme at Hanken is designed as a four-year full-time education, consisting of coursework, thesis work and teaching. Hanken provides comprehensive support throughout the doctoral journey, including supervision, study administration, performance monitoring, and assistance with funding. There is also support for applying for postdoctoral research funding.
Who we are looking for
Applicants should hold, or be close to completing by the start date, a relevant master's degree or equivalent and demonstrate the potential to undertake independent doctoral research. Research, policy or industry experience relevant to the project is advantageous.
In order to be accepted as a Doctoral Researcher at Hanken, applicants must fulfill the formal admission requirements for PhD studies: https://www.hanken.fi/en/apply/application/phd-programme/attachments . A Master’s degree is required. Please ensure that all required attachments are submitted, as they are essential for the academic evaluation of your application. Only applications and attachments sent in through the recruitment system LAURA will be considered.
Project-relevant experience and qualifications include:
- Interest in human side of AI-mediated work, including topics such as communication, collaboration, authenticity, trust, social connection and loneliness.
- Strong qualitative research skills, including training in ethnography, interviews, observation or longitudinal qualitative research.
- Ability to study emergent informal norms and relational dynamics in organisational settings, requiring close interaction with participants, strong interpersonal skills, and the capacity to build trust and maintain productive relationships over time.
- Excellent academic writing and communication skills in English.
Employment
The scholarship is currently EUR 3755 /month and will be adjusted according to applicable regulations. The salary is based on the university salary system in Finland, which includes free access to employee healthcare as well as pension and holiday bonus. The exact salary level depends on the recruited individual’s qualifications. The salary for the last year differs from the other years and will be according to Hanken’s regular PhD salary.
The full-time position has an annual workload of 1,612 hours. During the academic year, we expect you to be present at the department in Helsinki at least three working days per week to actively contribute to the research and teaching environment.
Supervision and integration at Hanken
The selected candidate will receive close supervision and follow-up from research faculty. The main supervisor is Associate Professor Emma Nordbäck (Hanken School of Economics). In addition, the selected candidate will receive one to two co-supervisors from the EMANAIRE network. The candidate will be integrated into the Department of Management and Organisation and the wider EMANAIRE network.
Further information about the doctoral programme and admission requirements is available from Hankens PhD Administration: admissions@hanken.fi
How to apply
The application should include:
- Curriculum vitae.
- Degree certificates and academic transcripts (including diploma supplement if applicable) or evidence that the qualifying degree will be completed before the start date. If your educational certificates are not issued in English submit an official translation to English including copies in the original language.
- At least two academic or professional references, following the host's stated submission procedure.
- A 2,000-word research proposal showing independent engagement with this doctoral project and outlining the proposed focus, methods and relevant literature.
- A declaration covering doctoral status and the MSCA mobility rule.
- Certificate of language proficiency (see Hanken’s English language requirements at https://www.hanken.fi/en/apply/application/language-requirement/english-language-requirements)
- Passport copy
- Academic text (max 7000 words)
- Aptitude test or sufficient GPA (see requirements at: https://www.hanken.fi/en/apply/application/phd-programme/gpa-or-gmatgre)
- Statement of Purpose written on Hankens template, see: https://www.hanken.fi/en/apply/application/phd-programme/attachments),
- Please submit all application materials in English.
Submit your application electronically via Hanken’s recruitment database Laura no later than by 11:59 p.m. on October 29th, 2026 (EET).
General instructions for applicants are provided here: https://www.hanken.fi/en/apply/application/phd-programme/attachments
MSCA eligibility
Applicants may be of any nationality. To be eligible for MSCA funding, the selected candidate must, on the first day of MSCA employment: (i) not hold a doctoral degree; candidates who have successfully defended a doctoral thesis but have not yet formally received the degree are not eligible; (ii) comply with the MSCA mobility rule, meaning they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Finland for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding that date, excluding compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent in a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention; and (iii) be enrolled in, or meet the conditions required for timely enrolment in, the doctoral programme leading to the degree specified in this notice. The appointment is conditional on documentary verification of these conditions and fulfilment of the host institution's doctoral admission requirements.
More information
Questions about the project can be addressed to Emma Nordbäck at emma.nordback@hanken.fi.
Questions about the application process can be sent to Hanken’s PhD Administration at admissions@hanken.fi
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