Researcher in Computer Science

Institution: University of Helsinki
Faculty/Division: Faculty of Humanities
Department: Department of Languages
Unit: Multimodality Research Group
Location: Helsinki Metropolitan Area, Finland
Start Date: May 2026
Duration: Fixed-term, 36 months

Description

The Faculty of Humanities at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Researcher in computer science or digital humanities specializing in audiovisual data.

This position is funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant awarded to Professor Tuomo Hiippala. The project develops novel methods and resources for studying multimodality, or how humans communicate using combinations of multiple modes of expression. The data studied includes school textbooks, news broadcasts, and instruction manuals.

Responsibilities

• Participate in building a large multimodal corpus of news broadcasts in Finnish, Finland-Swedish, Sámi, and Finnish Sign Language.

• Develop approaches using automatic speech recognition, computer vision models, and other computational methods to annotate data.

• Verify annotation quality using human-in-the-loop approaches.

• Conduct research and report results in lead- and co-authored publications.

• Contribute to teaching (limited to 10% of annual working time).

Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in computer science, digital humanities, or a related field.

• Keen interest in multimodality and audiovisual media.

• Experience applying computational methods to large audiovisual datasets.

• Strong programming skills and experience with machine learning libraries.

• Experience managing large datasets and high-performance computing.

• Experience in collaborative development of research software and building annotated corpora is an advantage.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary research group.

• Strong teamwork skills and excellent written and spoken English.

• Knowledge of Finnish is considered an advantage.

What We Offer

• Join a vibrant research community at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Helsinki.

• Three-year position with generous funding for conference travel and networking.

• Access to state-of-the-art computing resources provided by CSC – the IT Center for Science.

• Starting gross salary: 3,820–3,952 EUR per month, depending on experience and qualifications.

• Excellent professional development, occupational health and fitness services, and a first-class research and teaching environment.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted via the University of Helsinki Recruitment System through the link “Apply now” (“Hae nyt”). Applicants currently employed at the University of Helsinki should apply via the SAP Fiori portal.

Closing Date: February 28, 2026 (23:59 Europe/Helsinki time)

Required Documents (in English):

• Statement of motivation for the position or contribution to the project (max. 750 words)

• Curriculum vitae with contact information for two references

• List of publications, highlighting key publications relevant to the position

Further Information:
Contact Professor Tuomo Hiippala: tuomo.hiippala@helsinki.fi

Additional Information

The University of Helsinki is an international research university with over 30,000 students and 8,000 employees. The university values truth, bildung, freedom, and inclusivity, and fosters multidisciplinary collaboration to find real-world solutions and contribute to a sustainable future.

For recruitment system FAQ and application guidelines, please visit the University of Helsinki portal.

In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com