We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join THL’s AI Evaluation of Committee Work project (INVEST Flagship) in the Welfare State Research Unit, Social Security and Services team.
This postdoc position is part of Postdoctoral Programme for Research Institutes in Finland. The Programme is funded from the Finnish long-term research and development (R&D) plan. The Programme recruits 85 new postdoctoral researchers to 12 Finnish government research institutes between 2025 and 2028. The aim of the Programme is to strengthen R&D competence in areas important to society and business. Postdoctoral researchers will drive impactful, high-level research bridging science, industry, and administration. The Programme supports postdoctoral researcher’s networking and mobility between sectors.
The postdoctoral researcher will be based in the Welfare State Research Unit, Social Security and Services team at THL. The unit conducts research on the social security system, social and health services, and social sustainability, providing knowledge for decision-making, the research community and the public. The Social Security and Services team studies social security, related benefits and services, and produces scientific evidence to support reforms, impact assessments and expert advice.
The researcher’s task is to study, develop and apply large language model (LLM) based tools for research, evaluation and policy analysis, as well as legislative preparation, within the framework of the AI Evaluation of Committee Work project under the INVEST Flagship.
The project evaluates, with AI-assisted methods, the impact of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Security (2019–2027) on politics and legislative preparation, analyses the role of parliamentary processes in welfare state reforms, and develops new AI-assisted tools for research and evaluation. The assessment draws on extensive text, statistical and microdata, analysed using the Model–Context–Protocol (MCP) architecture in both open and secure environments.
The researcher will be responsible for developing AI-based tools and evaluation methods tailored to policy and legislative data, in close collaboration with the project team. Tasks also include contributing to the design, implementation and assessment of ethical and methodological practices for AI-assisted research and evaluation, as well as identifying and assessing ethical and epistemic risks related to AI use.
The position involves independent planning and execution of a demanding and nationally significant research project, publishing results in scientific forums, communicating and disseminating findings to stakeholders, and participating in funding applications together with the research team. The researcher will also strengthen THL’s expertise in developing AI-based methods for research, administration and policy, and act as THL’s expert on the use of AI and language models.
Key tasks include:
· carrying out the research plan
· publishing research results
· applying for external funding
· engaging in research cooperation within THL and with national and international stakeholders
· disseminating research findings to wider audiences
· other tasks relevant to the research project
We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join THL’s AI Evaluation of Committee Work project (INVEST Flagship) in the Welfare State Research Unit, Social Security and Services team.
This postdoc position is part of Postdoctoral Programme for Research Institutes in Finland. The Programme is funded from the Finnish long-term research and development (R&D) plan.
The postdoctoral researcher will be based in the Welfare State Research Unit, Social Security and Services team at THL. The unit conducts research on the social security system, social and health services, and social sustainability, providing knowledge for decision-making, the research community and the public. The Social Security and Services team studies social security, related benefits and services, and produces scientific evidence to support reforms, impact assessments and expert advice.
The researcher’s task is to study, develop and apply large language model (LLM) based tools for research, evaluation and policy analysis, as well as legislative preparation, within the framework of the AI Evaluation of Committee Work project under the INVEST Flagship.
The project evaluates, with AI-assisted methods, the impact of the Parliamentary Committee on Social Security (2019–2027) on politics and legislative preparation, analyses the role of parliamentary processes in welfare state reforms, and develops new AI-assisted tools for research and evaluation. The assessment draws on extensive text, statistical and microdata, analysed using the Model–Context–Protocol (MCP) architecture in both open and secure environments.
The researcher will be responsible for developing AI-based tools and evaluation methods tailored to policy and legislative data, in close collaboration with the project team. Tasks also include contributing to the design, implementation and assessment of ethical and methodological practices for AI-assisted research and evaluation, as well as identifying and assessing ethical and epistemic risks related to AI use.
The position involves independent planning and execution of a demanding and nationally significant research project, publishing results in scientific forums, communicating and disseminating findings to stakeholders, and participating in funding applications together with the research team. The researcher will also strengthen THL’s expertise in developing AI-based methods for research, administration and policy, and act as THL’s expert on the use of AI and language models.
Key tasks include:
· carrying out the research plan
· publishing research results
· applying for external funding
· engaging in research cooperation within THL and with national and international stakeholders
· disseminating research findings to wider audiences
· other tasks relevant to the research project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wDY1fCtiu0
Doctoral degree in a relevant field (e.g. social sciences, data analytics, computer science, artificial intelligence, statistics, natural sciences or engineering). The degree must have been awarded no more than five (5) years ago. Longer periods may be accepted due to parental leave, military or non-military service, or other similar reasons.
· Strong oral and written English skills; Finnish language skills are considered an advantage.
· Solid expertise in computational social science, AI methods or large language models (LLMs).
· Proven experience in developing and applying AI-based analytical or evaluation tools.
· Motivation to develop AI-assisted tools for public administration, evaluation and legislative preparation.
· Previous experience with public administration, policy processes or legislative drafting, and co-creation with authorities, is considered an advantage.
• Flexible working hours that support balancing work, family and leisure time.
• A lunch benefit in our restaurants.
• Access to comprehensive occupational health services and low-threshold mental welfare services that help lighten your mental load through chat and remote reception options. For acute musculoskeletal problems, quick access to an appointment in our direct physiotherapist services.
• Access to sports, culture and welfare benefits andemployer-subsidised commuter ticket.
• Remote exercise sessions organised by our physical activity working group to energise your working days. Available activities include relaxation sessions, body maintenance exercises and yoga.
• Government holiday benefits.
Eeva Nykänen, Team Leader, Social Security and Services team, tel. +358 29 524 7901
· Pasi Moisio, Research Professor, Social Security and Services team, tel. +358 29 524 7228
Primarily, we request applicants to submit their applications electronically via the Valtiolle.fi service. However, you can also apply for this job by delivering your application to the Registry Office’s postal address. Both the application and the envelope must feature the ID number of the position applied for. The letter must be delivered by the end of the application period.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare registry
P.O.BOX 30
00271 Helsinki
kirjaamo(at)thl.fi
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) is a state-owned expert and research institute that affects the lives of all of us. In line with our vision, we are working to ensure that we can all have good welfare.
We are top specialists in health and welfare and our goal is to build a safe and crisis-resilient society where everyone can take care of their own health and the health of their loved ones, use services equally and obtain reliable information.
We promote the health of both people and the environment, as they are inseparably linked to each other. Our views based on research data support decision-making, the development of legislation and the improvement of healthcare and social welfare services.
We are a highly competent, human-oriented and conversational work community, and we all share a passion to influence people’s health and welfare. In fact, many choose to work here precisely because of the impact of our work.
Location
Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki
You can work at one of our following locations
Mannerheimintie 166
00300 Helsinki
Other information of the position
Read more about Tulanet postdoc programme here: https://tulanet.fi/postdoc
Read more about THL as an employer: https://thl.fi/en/about-us/for-jobseekers
