Doctoral Researcher in health sciences

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.

We are now looking for a

Doctoral Researcher

to join the HealthEduCom Lab in the Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu.

The HealthEduCom Lab conducts multidisciplinary research on healthcare education, learning environments, mentoring and educator competence, predictive models of professional learning, and hybrid intelligence in extended reality (XR) contexts. The lab brings together expertise in health sciences, pedagogy, technology-enhanced learning and human-AI collaboration. You will work in an international research environment with access to the University of Oulu's Hybrid Intelligence research profile, the LEAF research infrastructure, and OuluHealth Labs in collaboration with the Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia.

About the project

The position is part of the Playful Entrepreneurial Minds: Playfulness and Hybrid Intelligence in Higher Education and Working Life (Playful Minds) project funded by the Research Council of Finland. The consortium brings together the University of Lapland, the University of Oulu and the University of Turku, together with national and international research and working-life partners.

At the University of Oulu, we focus on hybrid intelligence, multirealities and playful learning in healthcare and medical education. Its overarching aim is to develop, implement, and validate a multidimensional Hybrid Intelligence-Playful Learning (HI-PL) framework that integrates playfulness, an entrepreneurial mindset, and hybrid intelligence into XR-based healthcare learning. The research uses a design-based research approach and combines qualitative, quantitative, behavioural and physiological data.

About the job

As a Doctoral Researcher, you will:

1. Conduct doctoral research on hybrid intelligence-enabled playful learning in healthcare and medical education and complete a doctoral degree during the four-year employment period.
2. Contribute to the co-design, implementation and validation of the HI-PL framework in nursing, health sciences and healthcare practice contexts.
3. Plan and facilitate participatory workshops and pilot sessions with higher education students, academic professionals and healthcare professionals.
4. Design and conduct controlled XR-based simulation studies involving playful human-AI interaction, metacognitive reflection, clinical decision-making and adaptive performance in demanding clinical scenarios.
5. Collect and analyse multimodal research data, including questionnaires on playfulness, psychological safety, wellbeing, metacognition and engagement; behavioural and performance data from XR sessions and video recordings; and physiological indicators such as heart rate variability.
6. Conduct interviews, focus groups and analyses of reflective learning logs to evaluate learning experiences, psychological safety, meaningful engagement and the usability of the HI-PL framework.
7. Use design-based research and suitable qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches to iteratively refine the framework and develop implementation guidance for healthcare curricula.
8. Contribute to ethical review applications, research permissions, responsible data management, open science and GDPR-compliant research practices.
9. Collaborate across the Playful Minds consortium and with national and international partners, including researchers in health sciences, education, learning sciences, technology and entrepreneurship.
10. Complete doctoral studies at the University of Oulu Graduate School and publish the findings in high-quality international peer-reviewed journals and conferences.
11. You will receive regular supervision and multidisciplinary support while gradually taking responsibility for your research questions, methodological choices, publications and international research profile.

You will receive regular supervision and multidisciplinary support while gradually taking responsibility for your research questions, methodological choices, publications and international research profile.

What we offer?

• A four-year, full-time Doctoral Researcher position in an ambitious multidisciplinary project addressing learning, wellbeing and professional competence in the era of hybrid intelligence.
• The support of the experienced and enthusiastic HealthEduCom Lab and the wider Playful Minds consortium, where you can share your expertise and grow as an independent researcher.
• Access to expertise in healthcare education, playful learning, hybrid intelligence, XR-based simulation, learning analytics, physiological measurement and mixed-method research.
• Access to relevant research infrastructure and authentic learning environments, including LEAF and OuluHealth Labs, subject to the final research protocols and permissions.
• Opportunities for national and international collaboration, conference participation, co-authored publications and research mobility when relevant to your doctoral project. 
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits. 
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and 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. 
• 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 position, we expect from you:

• A relevant Master's degree or equivalent degree, for example in health sciences, nursing science, healthcare education, or another applicable discipline. The degree must be completed before the employment begins.
• Eligibility to pursue doctoral studies and willingness to apply for doctoral study rights at the University of Oulu Graduate School at the beginning of the employment, unless you already hold the relevant study right.
• A strong motivation to conduct long-term doctoral research at the intersection of healthcare education, human-AI collaboration, playful learning and XR-based simulation.
• Foundational competence in research methods and readiness to develop expertise in qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method research.
• Ability to plan and carry out research responsibly, systematically and independently while working constructively in a multidisciplinary and international team.
• Good communication, collaboration and academic writing skills.
• Fluent written and spoken English. 
• See also the requirements of the University of Oulu Graduate School (UniOGS)

Experience in one or more of the following areas will be considered an advantage:

• Healthcare education, nursing or medical education, clinical practice, simulation-based education, or professional competence development.
• Hybrid intelligence, artificial intelligence in education, human-AI interaction, XR or other multireality learning environments.
• Design-based research, co-design, participatory research, intervention studies or experimental research.
• Qualitative methods such as interviews, focus groups, observations, content analysis or thematic analysis.
• Quantitative and mixed-method research, including questionnaire studies, multilevel modelling, structural equation modelling or correlation analysis.
• Collection or analysis of behavioural, video or physiological data, including heart rate variability.
• Relevant research software, for example R, SPSS, Stata, Mplus, NVivo or comparable tools.
• Research publications, conference presentations, open-science activities or previous work in a research project.
• Finnish language skills, especially for collaboration and data collection in Finnish healthcare and higher education contexts. 

Salary

The position is fixed-term for four years as of 1.10.2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The salary will be based on the levels 2-4 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. 2500-3200 € per month (before taxes).  A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 13.9.2026 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. Cover letter
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. Research plan, maximum three pages plus references. Describe a feasible doctoral study aligned with the aims of a project. The final doctoral research plan will be refined together with the supervisors.
4. List of publications, if applicable. Use a clear and standard academic format.

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, such as people of different ages, genders, and lingual, cultural, or minority groups. 

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact

Docent Heli Kuivila

Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu

Email: [email protected] | Tel.: +358294485609

Professor Kristina Mikkonen

Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu

Email: [email protected] | Tel.:

+358 505754686