Offer Description
The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 4000 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 19,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations. The University of Oulu is ranked in the top 3% of the…
world’s universities. All our research, education, and community activities are guided by our university’s values and ethical principles.
We are seeking a highly motivated
Postdoctoral Researcher in Propaganda Studies
to join the History, Culture and Communications Unit in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Oulu.
The successful candidate will develop and implement an independent research plan focusing on propaganda, understood as the deliberate dissemination of biased, selective, or misleading information intended to shape public opinion in support of, or opposition to, a particular cause, individual, group, institution, or movement. Applicants are encouraged to propose their own conceptual, theoretical, and methodological approaches to the study of propaganda. Research may examine political, social, cultural, technological, or informational dimensions of propaganda and may employ qualitative, quantitative, computational, historical, or mixed methods designs. The proposed research should be grounded in the social sciences and/or humanities and should address contemporary or recent (21st-century) forms of propaganda, focusing on Northern European societies.
The position is part of the SafeEarth research programme which integrates the University of Oulu’s specialised research areas in space security, cybersecurity, and human security. Within SafeEarth, the position is connected to the themes “Language use, information practices and security” and “Information warfare and cybersecurity”.
The researchers will work in collaboration with Professor Kari Alenius (History) and Professor Noora Hirvonen (Information Studies), and their respective research teams. Professor Alenius and his team focus on political propaganda, including strategic communication and information warfare conducted by state actors, parties, and ideological groups. Their research examines the objectives of propaganda and the reasons why particular methods are employed, with a particular emphasis on the present and recent history. Professor Hirvonen and her team build on sociocultural and sociotechnical information practice research and examine how contemporary propaganda is encountered, experienced, and interacted with in everyday life, particularly among young people. Their research aims to advance understanding of both the first-hand experiences of propaganda and of the situational and globally interconnected information environments and structures that shape the emergence of such experiences.
Beyond advancing understanding of propaganda, both research groups are motivated by the need to support the development of strategies to countering harmful information influence, particularly through strengthening media and information literacy. In today’s media and information environments, where information influence efforts have become increasingly complex, multimodal, and difficult to detect, research on propaganda offers important tools for understanding how information is used to shape perceptions, attitudes, and public opinion. By generating knowledge that can inform public debate, decision making, education, and media practices, such research has the potential to contribute to countering harmful influence activities, reducing polarization, fostering critical thinking, and strengthening societal security and resilience.
We expect the recruited researcher to align their planned activities with these broader objectives.
About the job
As a Postdoctoral Researcher your primary duties will include:
- Planning and conducting independent research on propaganda, from a selected viewpoint.
- Producing academic contributions in the form of articles and/or monographs.
- Actively participating and facilitating interdisciplinary work between the different subjects of the History, Culture, and Communication Studies Research Unit and within the SafeEarth programme.
- Participating in outreach initiatives that engage both academic and non-academic publics.
- Engaging in writing and submitting applications for further research funding.
- Contributing to teaching (max. 5% of your total working time).
- Other administrative and community activities linked to academic life at the University of Oulu.
What we offer
- The support of two subjects (History, Information Studies), with whom you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
- Development and career options of a big organization.
- Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits here.
- Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and your close ones in settling into Oulu.
- We have an HR Excellence in Research -quality label, which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers.
- Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
- Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.
Who are you?
In order to succeed and enjoy the Postdoctoral Researcher position, we require from you:
- Doctoral degree in a relevant field (history, information studies, communication studies, or equivalent). The doctoral degree must have been completed by the closing date for applications. The doctoral degree must be received no more than 10 years ago.
- Experience in relevant social scientific or humanities research evidenced by peer-reviewed publications.
- An interest in issues relevant to propaganda in the Northern European cultural sphere.
- Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills in English.
- Proven teamwork skills and commitment to academic collaboration.
- Ability to engage in independent scientific research
- Teaching competence required for the position
We also appreciate
- An interdisciplinary and/or transdisciplinary research orientation.
- Existing research and/or practitioner experience of issues related to propaganda.
- Conversational level of Finnish.
When assessing the candidate’s merits, attention will be paid to scientific excellence, such as research outputs, international scientific activities and collaboration, supervision of undergraduate students, pedagogical competence, societal relevance, impact and potential of scientific activities, and services for the academic community.
Salary
The position is fixed term for 3 years as of 1st January 2027.
The salary will be based on the levels 5-6 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (a maximum of 50% of the job-specific component). The starting gross salary will be approx. 3700-4300 € per month (before taxes).
A trial period of 6 months is applied to the position.
How to apply?
Interested? If yes, please apply by 1st October 2026 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.
The application should be written in Finnish or English and include the following:
- Letter of motivation (max. 1 page) summarizing your professional experience and expertise and describing why you are interested in the position
- CV (max. 4 pages), following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
- List of publications, following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland, with up to five key publications relevant to the position marked in bold
- Research concept paper (max. 2-3 pages; references do not count towards this limit) for a potential project in the topic of the position. The plan should include information about any potential empirical work linked to it and a section that discusses its engagement with the thematic areas mentioned above
- Contact information of two to three senior/experienced researchers who may be asked to give a personal statement about you (note that these will only be requested if you are shortlisted for this position)
The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified during the selection process.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people of different ages, genders, languages, cultures, and minority communities.
Contact Information
If you have any further questions, please contact Professor Kari Alenius (kari.alenius@oulu.fi) or Professor Noora Hirvonen (noora.hirvonen@oulu.fi)
Type of employment: Temporary position
Contract type: Full time
First day of employment: 1 January 2027
Salary: TES
Number of positions: 1
Full-time equivalent: 100%
City: Oulu
County: Pohjois-Pohjanmaa
Country: Finland
Reference number: 2026/432
Contact:
- Kari Petteri Alenius, kari.alenius@oulu.fi
- Noora Hirvonen, noora.hirvonen@oulu.fi
Published: 2026-09-11
Last application date: 2026-10-01
Work Location(s)
Number of offers available: 1
Company/Institute: University of Oulu
Country: Finland
City: Oulu
Postal Code: 90570
Street: Pentti Kaiteran katu 1
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