The University of Helsinki Research Foundation promotes and supports the research work of the University’s young scholars by funding their employment in designated doctoral student positions.
The Research Foundation was established in 1990 on the occasion of the University of Helsinki’s 350th anniversary, and its assets are largely based on donations from more than 200 companies and public sector organisations.
As of 2014, the University of Helsinki Research Foundation has supported junior scholars by granting funding for one to four years for the employment of doctoral students. The Foundation’s designated doctoral student positions are intended for junior scholars at the early stage of their doctoral studies. The funding process is coordinated with the University of Helsinki doctoral schools and programmes.
The Foundation makes funding decisions biennially, around 10 positions are funded each round. Thus far the Foundation has funded 13 designated positions on March 2014, further 10 positions on December 2015, 2017 and 2019. The next round of decisions takes place in autumn 2021.
Sara Sammallahti / Miten keskosilla menee? (“How do premature babies fare as they grow up?”), 30 Sept 2016
Eemeli Hakoköngäs / Kuvat muokkaavat historiaa (“Images shape history”), 29 Mar 2016
Anna Kutkina / Ulkopuolisena ja paikallisena Ukrainassa (“Outsiders and locals in Ukraine”), 22 Apr 2015
Kaisa Kortekallio / Kokemus ihmisen jälkeen (“Posthuman experience”), Aug 2014
University of Helsinki Research Foundation funding 2019
At its meeting on 3 December 2019, the Board of the University of Helsinki Research Foundation granted funding for the employment of ten doctoral students in designated doctoral programme positions.
The total amount of funding granted is €1,320,000 (396 FTE months).
Doctoral school in humanities and social sciences
Ylva Biri, Doctoral programme in language studies, 36 months
Aleksi Moine, Doctoral programme in history and cultural heritage, 48 months
Doctoral school in natural sciences
Erone Ghizoni dos Santos, Doctoral programme in geosciences, 48 months
Elaine Zosa, Doctoral programme in computer science, 36 months
Doctoral school in health sciences
Firas Hamdan, Doctoral programme in drug research, 36 months
Juan Landoni, Doctoral programme in integrative life science, 48 months
Jenni Partanen, Doctoral programme in population health, 36 months
Ibrahim Sultan, Doctoral programme in biomedicine, 36 months
Erkka Valo, Doctoral programme in clinical research, 24 months
Doctoral school in environmental, food and biological sciences
Sonja Saine, Doctoral programme in wildlife biology, 48 months
University of Helsinki Research Foundation funding 2017
At its meeting on 5 December 2017, the Board of the University of Helsinki Research Foundation granted funding for the employment of ten doctoral students in designated doctoral programme positions.
The total amount of funding granted is €1,413,332 (424 FTE months).
Doctoral school in humanities and social sciences
John Wrigley, Doctoral programme in law, 48 months
Anja Thiede, Doctoral programme in psychology, learning and communication, 16 months
Arto Kekkonen, Doctoral programme in social sciences, 48 months
Doctoral school in natural sciences
Matias Säppi, Doctoral programme in particle physics and universe sciences, 36 months
Katerina Chrbolková, Doctoral programme in geosciences, 48 months
Doctoral school of health
Lee Moon Hee, Doctoral programme in clinical research, 48 months
Eva Domeneć Moreno, Doctoral programme in integrative life science, 48 months
Tiina Kaarela, Doctoral programme in clinical veterinary medicine, 48 months
Giuliano Didio, Doctoral programme in brain & mind and Doctoral programme in integrative life science, 36 months
Doctoral school in environmental, food and biological sciences
Lauri Pulkkinen, Doctoral programme in microbiology and biotechnology, 48 months
University of Helsinki Research Foundation funding 2015
At its meeting on 8 December 2015, the Board of the University of Helsinki Research Foundation granted funding for the employment of ten doctoral students in designated doctoral programme positions.
The total amount of funding granted is €1,520,000 (456 FTE months).
Doctoral school in the humanities and social sciences
Daria Kormacheva, Doctoral programme in language studies, €80,000 (24 months)
Petri Roikonen, Doctoral programme in political, societal and regional changes, €160,000 (48 months)
Laura Hedlund, Doctoral programme in psychology, learning and communication PsyCo, €160,000 (48 months)
Doctoral school of health
Lina Smeds, Doctoral programme brain & mind B&M, €160,000 (48 months)
Barun Pradhan, Doctoral programme in biomedicine, €160,000 (48 months)
Antto Norppa, Doctoral programme in integrative life science, €160,000 (48 months)
Doctoral school in environmental, food and biological sciences
Kaisa Rissanen, Doctoral programme in sustainable use of renewable natural resources AGFOREE, €160,000 (48 months)
Fanny Groundstroem, Doctoral programme in interdisciplinary environmental sciences, €160,000 (48 months)
Doctoral school in natural sciences
Gowtham Sathyanarayanan, Doctoral programme in materials research and nanoscience, €160,000 (48 months)
Topi Talvitie, Doctoral programme in computer science, €160,000 (48 months)
University of Helsinki Research Foundation funding 2014
At its meeting on 18 March 2014, the Board of the University of Helsinki Research Foundation granted funding for the employment of 13 doctoral students in designated doctoral programme positions.
The total amount of funding granted is €2,026,700 (608 FTE months).
Doctoral school in the humanities and social sciences
Lasse Lehtonen, MA, Doctoral programme in philosophy, arts and society, €160,000 (48 months)
Eemeli Hakoköngäs, MSSc, Doctoral programme in social sciences, €160,000 (48 months)
Satu Kumpulainen, MA, Doctoral programme in psychology, learning and communication, €160,000 (48 months)
Anna Kutkina, MA, Doctoral programme in political, societal and regional changes, €106,700 (32 months)
Kaisa J. Kortekallio, MA, Doctoral programme in philosophy, arts and society, €160,000 (48 months)
Doctoral school of health
Jonni Hirvonen, MSc, Doctoral programme brain & mind, €160,000 (48 months)
Laura Kolsi, MSc (Tech.), Doctoral programme in drug research, €160,000 (48 months)
Sara Sammallahti, MA (Psych.), Doctoral programme in clinical research, €160,000 (48 months)
Zhijia Wang, Master of Bioengineering, Doctoral programme in biomedicine, €160,000 (48 months)
Doctoral school in environmental, food and biological sciences
Anna Norberg, MSc, Doctoral programme in wildlife biology, €160,000 (48 months)
Tuure Parviainen, MSc (Agr. & For.), Doctoral programme in sustainable use of renewable natural resources, €160,000 (48 months)
Doctoral school in natural sciences
Maiju-Lotta Soikkeli, MSc, Doctoral programme in chemistry and molecular sciences, €160,000 (48 months)
Tommi Tenkanen, MSc, Doctoral programme in particle physics and universe sciences, €160,000 (48 months)
Postal address
University of Helsinki Research Foundation
PO Box 53
00014 University of Helsinki
Contact details
Foundation representative
Minna Kontro
Tel. 02941 23979
Board secretary
Marko Peura
Tel. 02941 24296
Email: hy-tiedesaatio(at)helsinki.fi
Board
Rector Jari Niemelä (chair)
Professor Johanna Björkroth
Professor Mika Kivimäki
Chief Executive Officer Gunvor Kronman
Director Tuuli Kousa
Professor Henrik Meinander
Executive Director Anna Talasniemi
Advisory Board (as of 1 May 2020)
Executive Director Leena Mörttinen, chair of the Advisory Board
Professor Maija Aksela
LL.D. Heidi Andersson
CEO Alexander Bargum
Managing Director Elli Dahl
Executive Director Riikka Heikinheimo
Board Member Anna Herlin
Professor Seppo Honkapohja
Permanent Secretary Jaana Husu-Kallio
Chancellor Kaarle Hämeri
PhD Maria Lival-Juusela
Professor Anna Mauranen
Director Riitta Mustonen
Chairman of the Board Jorma Ollila
CEO Mikael Pentikäinen
Vice President Sirpa Poitsalo
Director Ralf Sunell, vice-chair of the Advisory Board
Minister Antti Tanskanen
Director Teija Tiilikainen
Professor Hannu Vartiainen
MP Juhana Vartiainen
Rector Mari Walls
Chief Clinical Director Tom Wiklund
Chancellor Thomas Wilhelmsson
Rules of the University of Helsinki Research Foundation (in Finnish, PDF)
Financial statement 2019 (in Finnish, PDF)
Financial statement 2018 (in Finnish, PDF)
Financial statement 2017 (in Finnish, PDF)
Financial statement 2016 (in Finnish, PDF)
Financial statement 2015 (in Finnish, PDF)
Financial statement 2014 (in Finnish, PDF)
Guidelines for the management of the University of Helsinki Research Foundation:
Corporate governance (available only in Finnish)
Related party guidelines (available only in Finnish)
Guidelines for decisions on designated doctoral programme positions (available only in Finnish)