Overview

Join the Institute of Design and Fine Arts at the LAB University of Applied Sciences to conduct research in the Design for Futures research group. We seek an experienced researcher to develop internationally acknowledged, applied research and publishing, focusing on sustainable business solutions and digitalisation in sustainability.

The LAB Institute of Design and Fine Arts offers BA and Master’s studies in design, visual communications, and fine arts to more than 1,300 students, aiming to connect work-life and academia. We also offer continuous studies and RDI services based on academic knowledge to help SMEs grow and internationalise. Our focus in design relies on a sustainable and human-centric design that impacts good growth, and we believe in solving some of the world’s biggest problems with design thinking.

We are now strengthening our research capabilities in the Design for Futures research group. The group conducts multidisciplinary, applied research as part of the LAB RDI entity, growing one of LAB’s three strategic themes: intangible value creation.

Key responsibilities:

– Consortium building, preparing project proposals and securing funding from national and international sources
– Research and writing of the scientific articles in the projects and dissemination of the research results
– Networking with prominent national and international research partners
– Fostering high scientific quality and competence in the research group

What do we expect from potential candidates:

– Expertise of theoretical frameworks and methodology within future studies and foresight
– Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience in design-driven innovations
– Understanding of design thinking and user-centred design processes
– Ability to build research and development projects with stakeholders and to apply funding
– Experience in the international field of research, including the RDI field and funding instruments
– Excellent skills in English and strong team play capabilities
– PhD in a relevant field

We expect you to have a future-oriented mindset, strong teamwork skills and the ability to build development projects with stakeholders, including financing. We offer purposeful work with highly skilled colleagues and a constantly growing network of companies and research entities. We support all our employees in maintaining and developing their capabilities.

The work will start on 1st February 2025; however, the starting date is negotiable. The employment relationship is permanent and full-time, beginning with a six-month trial period. The salary is based on the current general collective agreement for the private teaching sector: for a Researcher, it is between 3800€ and 4800€, and for a Chief Specialist, it is between 5200€ and 6200€, depending on the experience level.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact our RDI Director, Kristiina Soini-Salomaa, at kristiina.soini-salomaa@lab.fi or by phone on December 16th from 12 to 14 (Finnish time), tel. +358 44 708 1813.

Please submit your application and CV via our electronic recruitment system by 6th January 2025 at 23:59, Finnish local time (UTC +3 h).

Read more about the LAB University of Applied Sciences [here](https://www.lab.fi/en/info/about-us).

LAB University of Applied Sciences | The best of both worlds: studies and work. The LAB University of Applied Sciences is a higher education institution specialising in innovation, business and industry. It operates in Lahti and Lappeenranta, Finland, and also online. We offer education in five fields: health care and social services, technology, business, hospitality, design, fine arts and visual communication. Our strengths include the circular economy, design, innovations and health. We have 9400 students, 550 teachers, and RDI experts, making us Finland’s sixth-largest university of applied sciences. [lab.fi/en](https://www.lab.fi/en)

Technical support for using the recruitment system: recruitment@lab.fi

Source: Job Market Finland’s customer information system

Tagged as: English