Academy Research Fellow Position for all Research Fields (Finland)

The position of Academy Fellow is intended to support the young generation of researchers who have advanced rapidly in their careers. The funding supports the research work of an Academy Fellow so that he or she can qualify and progress significantly in his or her career towards the most demanding research positions and establish his or her position in the national and international research community. An Academy Fellow conducts scientifically high-quality, impactful research that renews science.

The position of Academy Research Fellow is intended for researchers who are not yet in a permanent and leading researcher position. Leading researcher positions include, for example, professor, associate professor, research director, or other equivalent positions.

An Academy Fellow is a promising young researcher. The position of Academy Fellow is intended to support young researchers who have made rapid progress in their careers. The funding supports their research work so that they can qualify and make significant progress in their careers towards the most demanding research positions, as well as establish their position in the national and international research community. An Academy Fellow conducts scientifically high-quality, impactful research that innovates science.

The position of Academy Research Fellow offers researchers broad and diverse opportunities for independent research and the development of their own research in their field. Academy Research Fellows are encouraged to engage in international research collaboration and international and inter-sectoral mobility, for example by working part of their time abroad. Foreign researchers who are already working in Finland or who will be working in the Finnish scientific community can also apply for the position of Academy Research Fellow.

Aim

• The aim of the funding is to support high-quality, innovative and impactful science and to support researchers in their careers. Experience in a wide range of research environments and work communities is very important for researchers to gain experience. Working in different research groups or in other research-related positions strengthens the researcher’s personal networking and increases their chances of being placed in competitive research positions or other demanding expert positions. It is also important for researchers to learn new methods and ways of communicating with people from different backgrounds.

Duration 

• The funding for the Academy Research Fellow position will be granted for four years. The funding period is 1 September 2025–31 August 2029.

Eligible Expenses

• Academy funding can be applied for to cover, for example, the following direct research costs:
  • Academy Research Fellow’s own salary (maximum 46 months/4 years)
  • research team salary
  • necessary costs incurred in carrying out the research
  • traveling expenses
  • domestic cooperation and mobility
  • international cooperation and mobility
  • preparation of international projects

Eligibility Criteria

• In this call, an applicant can be a researcher whose first doctoral degree certificate is dated between January 1, 2018 and January 31, 2023.

Evaluation Criteria

• The scientific quality, innovativeness and novelty value of the research described in the research plan, as well as its impact in the scientific community
• Feasibility of the research plan (including responsible science)
• The applicant’s/research team’s qualifications for implementing the project and any research training
• Quality of the research environment and collaboration networks (including researcher mobility)
• The suitability of the described research for the possible specific objectives of the funding method (including societal impact).

For more information, visit Academy of Finland.