"Postdoc and Doctoral Positions in Mental Health and Polarization at Aalto University"

We are hiring for postdoc and doctoral positions in the Department of Computer Science at Aalto University, Finland, to work on projects related to the interaction of mental health and polarization. The positions are part of two 4-year projects, with flexible start dates. Doctoral positions last 4 years, while postdoc positions are negotiable.

You will join a research group led by PIs Talayeh Aledavood, Juhi Kulshrestha, and Mikko Kivelä, collaborating with experts in digital health, network science, computational social science, and machine learning.

Project 1 (POLEMIC): Investigates the link between political polarization and mental well-being using social media analysis, smartphone sensing, and agent-based modeling to develop methods for detecting and mitigating online harms.

Project 2 (PolWell): Examines how polarizing online content affects mental health, using web-browsing data, psychological scales, experiments, and interviews to identify causal links and test interventions.

What we offer: A supportive research environment, access to data and expertise, career development opportunities, competitive salary (Postdoc: 4100-4300 EUR/month; Doctoral: 2800-3500 EUR/month), funding for conferences, occupational health benefits, and a high quality of life in Finland. The main campus is in Espoo, near Helsinki.

Who we are looking for:

• Doctoral researchers: Background in computational social science, data science, or related fields; programming skills in Python; interest in interdisciplinary topics.
• Postdoctoral researchers: Excellent track record in relevant fields; expertise in statistical methods, network science, or AI/ML; strong writing skills.

Submit your application through Workday by October 15, 2025, including a motivation letter, CV, and transcripts (for doctoral applicants). For questions, contact the PIs or HR Advisor Susanna Holma at hr-cs@aalto.fi.

Aalto University is a leading institution in computer science, committed to diversity and innovation.