PhD Opportunity: Doctoral Researcher in AI-Mediated Communication and Collaboration Norms at Work – Hanken School of Economics

PhD Opportunity: Doctoral Researcher in AI-Mediated Communication and Collaboration Norms at Work – Hanken School of Economics

• Institution: Hanken School of Economics

• Department: Management and Organisation

• Project: MSCA Doctoral Network EMANAIRE

• Doctoral Project: DC10 – AI-Mediated Communication and Collaboration Norms at Work

• Position: Doctoral Researcher

• Number of Positions: 1

• Appointment: Full-Time Doctoral Scholarship

• Duration: 48 Months / 4 Years

• Location: Helsinki, Finland

• Doctoral Programme: PhD in Management and Organisation

• Expected Start Date: February 1, 2027, or by agreement

• Current Salary: EUR 3,755 per month, approximately INR 4.00 lakh per month

• Application Deadline: October 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM EET

The position is a four-year doctoral scholarship within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network EMANAIRE.

Overview of the Opportunity

Hanken School of Economics invites applications for a doctoral researcher to join the EMANAIRE Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network, which brings together 15 doctoral candidates across nine European universities.

The project investigates how generative and agentic AI are reshaping work, leadership, collaboration, communication, learning, and career decisions.

The Hanken doctoral project focuses specifically on AI-mediated communication and collaboration norms at work.

Research Focus

The doctoral project examines how employees interact with:

• AI agents

• AI-assisted communication

• AI-mediated contributions from colleagues

• Autonomous agents in workplace processes

• Emerging communication and collaboration norms

The project may explore relational dimensions such as:

• Authenticity

• Trust

• Social connection

• Loneliness

• Transparency

• Disclosure

• Workplace relationships

The research will use ethnographic approaches in AI-intensive organisational environments to understand how workplace norms and relational practices evolve over time.

Key Responsibilities

The selected doctoral researcher will:

• Study interactions among people, AI agents, and AI-mediated workplace communication.

• Conduct ethnographic research on workplace AI use.

• Examine disclosure and transparency norms.

• Analyse how AI affects workplace relationships and collaboration.

• Identify mechanisms shaping relational dynamics.

• Develop evidence-based guidance for responsible and socially sustainable AI use.

• Develop AI-aware communication norms and leadership guidance.

• Refine research questions and research design with supervisors.

• Prepare ethics, data-management, and open-science documentation.

• Complete a doctoral thesis.

• Produce related research publications and outputs.

• Participate in EMANAIRE training and research activities.

• Take part in practitioner engagement and dissemination.

• Participate in teaching activities within the Department of Management and Organisation.

• Undertake industry collaboration and academic mobility.

Training & Mobility

The doctoral researcher will participate in:

• EMANAIRE residential schools

• Monthly paper-development seminars

• Methods workshops

• Network reviews

• Doctoral coursework

• Industry collaboration

• Academic mobility

At least 60 ECTS of doctoral coursework must be completed, including at least 10 ECTS through network-wide training.

The candidate will also undertake an academic mobility visit of at least three months at another EMANAIRE partner institution.

Eligibility & Candidate Profile

Applicants should:

• Hold, or be close to completing by the start date, a relevant Master’s degree or equivalent.

• Demonstrate potential for independent doctoral research.

• Meet Hanken’s formal admission requirements for doctoral studies.

• Have strong academic writing and communication skills in English.

Relevant experience may include:

• AI-mediated work

• Workplace communication

• Collaboration

• Authenticity

• Trust

• Social connection

• Qualitative research

• Ethnography

• Interviews

• Observation

• Longitudinal qualitative research

• Organisational research

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build trust with research participants are particularly valuable.

MSCA Eligibility Requirements

Applicants may be of any nationality.

To qualify for MSCA funding, the selected candidate must:

• Not hold a doctoral degree on the first day of MSCA employment.

• Meet the MSCA mobility rule.

• Not have lived or carried out their main activity in Finland for more than 12 months during the previous 36 months before the employment start date, subject to specified MSCA exclusions.

• Be enrolled in, or eligible for timely enrolment in, the relevant doctoral programme.

Candidates who have already successfully defended a doctoral thesis are not eligible, even if the degree has not yet formally been awarded.

Salary & Employment Conditions

The current scholarship salary is:

EUR 3,755 per month

Approximately:

INR 4.00 lakh per month

The salary is governed by the Finnish university salary system and may be adjusted according to applicable regulations.

The final-year salary differs and will follow Hanken’s regular PhD salary system.

Employment benefits include access to:

• Employee healthcare

• Pension benefits

• Holiday bonus

The full-time annual workload is 1,612 hours.

During the academic year, the researcher is expected to be present at the Helsinki department for at least 3 working days per week.

Application Checklist

Applicants must submit:

1. Curriculum Vitae

2. Degree Certificates and Academic Transcripts

3. Diploma Supplement, where applicable

4. Official English Translations, where needed

5. At least 2 Academic or Professional References

6. 2,000-Word Research Proposal

7. Declaration of Doctoral Status and MSCA Mobility Compliance

8. English Language Proficiency Certificate

9. Passport Copy

10. Academic Text of at least 7,000 words

11. Aptitude Test or Sufficient GPA Evidence

12. Statement of Purpose using Hanken’s Template

All materials must be submitted in English.

Important Dates

• Application Period Opened: September 15, 2026

• Application Deadline: October 29, 2026 at 11:59 PM EET

• Expected Start Date: February 1, 2027, or by agreement

• Duration: 48 months

The official vacancy confirms that the application period closes on October 29, 2026.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically through Hanken School of Economics’ recruitment system.

Official Vacancy:
https://hanken.rekrytointi.com/paikat/index.php?jid=398&lang=en

For project-related questions:

Associate Professor Emma Nordbäck
Email: emma.nordback@hanken.fi

For doctoral admission questions:

Hanken PhD Administration
Email: admissions@hanken.fi

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