Career models of the UEF
Four-Stage Career Model and Tenure Track Model are used in the University of Eastern Finland (as well as many other Finnish universities).
Four-Stage Career Model
The model seeks to promote academic career advancement and goal-oriented transition from one stage to another. The first stage for both researchers and teachers is the post of an Early-stage Researcher, followed by the research posts of Postdoctoral Researcher, Senior Researcher, and Professor. The teaching posts in the model are University Teacher, University Lecturer (Clinical Lecturer) and Senior University Lecturer. Other titles relating to the career model are Research Assistant, Project Researcher and Research Director. Proceeding is based on the development of qualifications.
More information about four-stage career model as well as the qualification requirements defined in the University Regulations (section 31) can be found in Heimo (requires UEF login).
Tenure Track
The University of Eastern Finland’s Tenure Track offers the best researchers an accelerated and personalised path for moving forward in their academic career. In practice, the Tenure Track is only intended for a limited group of deserving researchers who are given the opportunity to achieve the position of permanent professor. Tenure Track positions are always filled through strategic recruitment, meaning that the recruitment is based on the strategic planning of the university’s faculties and units.
More information about Tenure Track can be found in Heimo (requires UEF login).
Postdoctoral positions and funding
If you aim at an academic career, the postdoctoral phase is its first step after graduation as a PhD. You can apply for open postdoc positions, or postdoctoral funding for your own research.
The open postdoc positions of Finnish universities can be usually found by using the search engine of the Public Employment Services (TE-palvelut) with keywords “tutkijatohtori” or “postdoc”. In addition, you can browse the open positions of the universities on their webpages. Links to those can be found on the page Avoimia paikkoja yliopistosektorilla by the Acatiimi journal.
International postdoc positions can be found for example on the pages Academicpositions, Euraxess and TheUniJobs. You can also make use of the supervisors’ contacts in locating potential postdoc positions. In addition, it is a good idea to be proactive and network with interesting research groups in your field already during your doctoral studies.
More information about funding opportunities in different career stages can be found in Heimo (requires UEF login).
Academic qualifications
In order to obtains academic positions or research funding, you must be able to demonstrate your academic qualifications. Those can be achieved by publishing scientific articles, applying for (and receiving) research funding, giving scientific presentations, networking and gaining international experience, teaching, supervising, as well as by acting in academic (e.g. referee) and societal positions of expertise. In the later career phases, it is important to take leading roles and establish your own research line, research group, and scientific position within the international scholarly academic community.