University of Turku

Kone Foundation Scholars at Risk Fellowship Programme

Tieteellinen tutkimus / siihen pohjautuva työ | Nelivuotinen

This project is about securing academic freedom, something which is increasingly under threat. The Kone Foundation Scholars at Risk Fellowship Programme will create two new fellowship positions in Finland for excellent scholars whose work crosses disciplinary boundaries, but who are not free to pursue this in their home countries. The fellowships will be located at the Turku Institute for Advanced Studies within the University of Turku. TIAS is the locus for high-level interdisciplinary research within UTU, and for the career development of researchers who aspire to be the academic leaders of tomorrow. The Programme will appoint one Postdoctoral and one Collegium Fellow to pursue three-year research projects of their own choosing, based within a relevant UTU department. During this time, these scholars will be treated in exactly the same way as other TIAS Fellows: they will be assigned departmental supervisors and personal mentors and contribute to TIAS research seminars and training workshops. A key issue facing Scholars at Risk researchers in Finland is the question of finding work after their role ends. To help address this, a special package of training and mentoring support will be provided to facilitate the scholars’ integration into Finnish academia and society, and to help them prepare for a successful post-TIAS exit.