ELLIS Institute Finland, a newly established world-class research hub in AI and machine learning, invites applications for Principal Investigator (PI) positions.
As part of the renowned ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) network, we are building a leading center for groundbreaking AI research with global impact. This is a unique opportunity to:
- Conduct pioneering AI research in an independent PI role,
- Establish and lead your own research group,
- Hold a professor position with an affiliation at a Finnish university, and
- Collaborate with top international experts in a dynamic and cutting-edge environment.
We are seeking independent, visionary researchers ready to push the boundaries of AI and machine learning. If you are an ambitious scientist looking to make a lasting impact, apply now to join this exciting new institute and help shape the future of intelligent systems!
What we offer
We aim to recruit outstanding researchers to Principal Investigator positions at ELLIS Institute Finland, and encourage applications in all areas of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and related disciplines. Our particular focus is on complementing and further strengthening the Finnish ELLIS community’s existing strengths in machine learning, including data-efficient probabilistic machine learning, interactive and cooperative machine learning, and transformative multidisciplinary collaboration.
Our PI positions include:
- Appointment as a Fellow or Scholar of the ELLIS Society,
- Professor position at a Finnish university, determined based on mutual interests and your research focus,
- A competitive salary and substantial starting package to build your research group,
- Research and travel funding,
- Occupational healthcare benefits,
- Easy access to top-tier computing facilities, including EuroHPC LUMI, one of the world’s fastest and greenest supercomputers, and
- A collaborative and diverse research environment, with strong ties to industry, startups, and academic institutions.
Research environment
ELLIS Institute Finland provides a collaborative environment for AI research:
- Close collaborations with other top machine learning researchers in Europe and globally,
- Well-functioning connections to Finnish universities; PIs can supervise students through their co-affiliations and get further opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration,
- Broad range of possibilities to work with companies and startups, fostering innovation and real-world applications of AI,
- Cutting-edge computational resources, including an upcoming pan-European AI-optimized supercomputer (available by 2027), and
- An inclusive and international workplace, with English as the working language.
We are strongly committed to offering everyone an inclusive and non-discriminating working environment and warmly welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds to join our academic community.
Who we are
ELLIS (European Laboratory for Learning and Intelligent Systems) is a major European initiative in AI with a mission to strengthen Europe’s AI landscape by connecting top researchers, attracting talent, and fostering strategic collaborations. ELLIS unites leading machine learning researchers in Europe and operates as a multi-centric, pan-European AI Lab, currently spanning 43 research sites.
ELLIS Institute Finland is the second institute in the ELLIS network, partnering with Finnish universities to offer applicants co-affiliated tenure track professor positions. This enables researchers to engage with students and collaborate across disciplines, leveraging the strengths of their affiliated universities.
Finland is renowned for its high quality of life, world-class research infrastructure, and strong governmental and industrial support for AI and technology. Learn more about life in Finland: https://finland.fi/.
Requirements and evaluation
Candidates applying to this call will be considered for ELLIS Institute PI positions and simultaneously for professor positions at a Finnish university. The universities may offer positions at different tenure track stages, most at the Assistant Professor level.
Applicants must have:
- A doctoral degree,
- A publication track record that typically includes publications in top-tier machine learning conferences and/or journals, demonstrating the candidate’s contributions and expertise in the field,
- Ability to conduct excellent research, lead a high-impact research group, and contribute to the ELLIS network and international scientific community, and
- Ability to teach, advise and support both graduate and undergraduate students (teaching in English, Finnish, or Swedish is required for the professorship component).
Applicants will be reviewed based on their research achievements relative to their career stage, teaching merits, and activity in the scientific community. Recommendation letters will also be considered. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview and to present and discuss their research with faculty.
Evaluation for the professor position will follow the processes and criteria of the respective universities. Evaluation for the ELLIS Institute PI position will be based on research excellence and alignment with the institute’s mission. Only candidates who pass both evaluations will be considered for ELLIS Institute PI positions in this call. The whole selection process will emphasize the candidate’s potential to lead a high-impact research group and contribute to the broader ELLIS network.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted electronically. The call will close on March 9, 2025 at 23:59 EET (UTC+2).
Required documents (in English and in PDF format):
- Cover letter (summary of merits and key achievements)
- Curriculum vitae (example template)
- Research statement (recommended length: max. four pages)
- Teaching statement (recommended length: max. four pages)
- List of publications, highlighting up to five key papers with links
Note: When applying for a co-affiliated professor positions at the University of Jyväskylä or Hanken School of Economics, also include a description of societal impact and international collaboration (recommended length: max. 2 pages).
Additionally, please provide 4–5 referees (name, position, affiliation, email) in the application system who are available to submit recommendation letters. We will contact the referees of the shortlisted candidates directly at a later stage to request recommendation letters.
Please do not add other attachments than what is required above.
The professor positions will be located at one of the Finnish universities partnering with ELLIS Institute Finland. In the application form, you can indicate which universities you are interested in or leave this open, in which case we will assist in finding suitable matches during the selection process.
Read more and apply on our website at https://www.ellisinstitute.fi/PI-recruit.
