POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN CREATIVITY, DESIGN AND LEADERSHIP (3 + 1 years)

The Department of Management Studies invites applications for a

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN CREATIVITY, DESIGN AND LEADERSHIP (3 + 1 years)

We are looking to hire a junior academic to advance research in Creativity, Design, and Leadership. The Postdoctoral Researcher position is within the Organization and Management Group in the Department of Management Studies at Aalto University School of Business.

The department comprises several highly competitive research groups in organization and management theory, strategy, creativity leadership, human resource management, organizational behavior and sustainability management researchers, whose members publish in leading management journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, Journal of Business Ethics, Organization Studies, Human Relations among others. Moreover, the department has a lively, international research community with numerous doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members from several countries and multidisciplinary backgrounds.

Our expectations

The Postdoctoral Researcher position is intended to allow the chosen researcher to pursue their research agenda and develop their personal competencies. We expect the candidate to conduct high-quality research, both independently and collectively, with the potential to publish in the best international journals in the area of Creativity, Design, and Leadership. We value critical perspectives, both theoretical and methodological. The position is associated with limited teaching load; that is, one course per academic year. In addition, the position includes master’s thesis advisory roles and an opportunity to be involved in doctoral education.

Your experience and ambitions

We look for scholars who are completing, or have completed within the past four years, their doctoral studies in a relevant field. Applicants should have demonstrated the ability to conduct research independently, have potential to publish in high-quality scholarly journals, and to teach competently. The position requires fluency in English.

The Postdoctoral Researcher is required to be in residence for the duration of the appointment. The start date of the employment can be negotiated, ideally commencing in Autumn 2026.

What we offer

This Postdoctoral Researcher position is a fixed-term position for 3 years (with a possible extension of up to 4 years). The expected starting salary for a Postdoctoral Researcher is approximately 4500 €/month (income before deduction of taxes), depending on experience and qualifications. As an employer, Aalto University provides excellent learning and development opportunities as well as occupational health care services, versatile exercise services, and other employee benefits. Aalto University provides a great working environment:

• Meaningful and inspiring environment. We are proud of our purpose to shape a sustainable future. We spark the game changers of tomorrow, and renew society with research-based knowledge, creativity, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
• Culture that inspires and includes everyone. All our work is guided by the values of the university: responsibility, courage, and collaboration. It’s the people who create Aalto, now and in the future. We want to be an open community where equality and inclusion enable curiosity, innovation, collaboration and wellbeing.
• Responsible and meaningful role with true impact in our University’s/ School’s success, and in the end, in the wellbeing and development of our society.
• Support, coaching and sparring when you feel you need it.
• Great possibilities for competence development and learning. We constantly keep learning to find the most impactful ways to empower – and invest in – our people.

Our vast array of professional development opportunities means you will grow and learn, having the chance to participate actively in staff trainings and development projects based on your interests and needs.

We work in a hybrid format in Finland, and the primary workplace is Otaniemi, Espoo. The Otaniemi campus is a thriving and connected transdisciplinary community. Life at the campus is vibrant and filled with world-class architecture, calming nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, services and good connections to Helsinki and local communities with the metro and tram lines.

For more Information

For further information, please contact Professors Taija Turunen, taija.turunen@aalto.fi, or Astrid Huopalainen astrid.huopalainen@aalto.fi or for questions relating to the recruitment process, HR Partner Jenna Knuutinen, jenna.knuutinen@aalto.fi.

Join us!

If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our recruitment system Workday no later than Thursday May 7th, 2026 at 23:59 EET (Helsinki time). Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position by using their existing Workday user account. Please see how to do it here. Interviews will be held during the May-June.

Your application should include all of the following documents, in English:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• List of publications and working papers
• Names and contact information for two references
• Description of teaching experience
• A job market paper that demonstrates your skills and research programme (can be either solo or co-authored)

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open or to extend the application period.