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.
The rules of the Foundation (in Finnish) can be found here.
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 researchers. The Foundation’s designated doctoral researcher 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 School 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, 2019, 2021 and 2023.
At its meeting on 29 November 2023, the Board of the University of Helsinki Research Foundation granted funding for the employment of ten doctoral researchers in designated doctoral programme positions.
The total amount of funding granted is €1,720,000 (480 FTE months).
Heikkonen, Sofia, Doctoral Programme in Law, 48 months
Kuitunen, Satu, Doctoral Programme in Economics, 48 months
Pekonen, Pihla, Doctoral Programme in History and Cultural Heritage, 48 months
Bakhia, Alexander, Doctoral Programme in Geosciences, 48 months
Brokemper, Jan, Doctoral Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, 48 months
Dreilinger, Olivia, Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Sciences, 48 months
Forstén, Sofia, Doctoral Programme in Clinical Research, 48 months
Malinen, Satu, Doctoral Programme in Brain & Mind, 48 months
Olkkonen, Emmi, Doctoral Programme in Wildlife Biology, 48 months
Poovaragavalu, Adhiguru, Doctoral Programme in Food Chain and Health, 48 months
At its meeting on 9 December 2021, 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).
Lehikoinen, Mikko, Doctoral Programme for Language Studies, 48 months
Lönnblad, Riikka, Doctoral Programme in Law, 48 months
Wahlsten, Johan, Doctoral Programme in Political, Societal and Regional Changes, 48 months
Harviainen, Juha, Doctoral Programme in Computer Science, 48 months
Neimane, Santa, Doctoral Programme in Atmospheric Sciences, 36 months
Rawlings, Alexander, Doctoral Programme in Particle Physics and Universe Sciences, 48 months
Eick, Lisa, Doctoral Programme in Population Health, 48 months
Malmberg, Anni, Doctoral Programme in Population Health, 48 months
Zheng, Shuyu, Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine, 36 months
Thiruvaiyaru, Aditya, Doctoral Programme in Microbiology and Biotechnology, 48 months
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).
Biri, Ylva, Doctoral programme in Language Studies, 36 months
Moine, Aleksi, Doctoral programme in History and Cultural Heritage, 48 months
Ghizoni dos Santos, Erone, Doctoral programme in Geosciences, 48 months
Zosa, Elaine, Doctoral programme in Computer Science, 36 months
Hamdan, Firas, Doctoral programme in Drug Research, 36 months
Landoni, Juan, Doctoral programme in Integrative Life Science, 48 months
Partanen, Jenni, Doctoral programme in Population Health, 36 months
Sultan, Ibrahim, Doctoral programme in Biomedicine, 36 months
Valo, Erkka Doctoral programme in Clinical Research, 24 months
Saine, Sonja, Doctoral programme in Wildlife Biology, 48 months
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).
Kekkonen, Arto, Doctoral programme in Social Sciences, 48 months
Thiede, Anja, Doctoral programme in Psychology, Learning and Communication, 16 months
Wrigley, John, Doctoral programme in Law, 48 months
Chrbolková, Katerina, Doctoral programme in Geosciences, 48 months
Säppi, Matias, Doctoral programme in Particle Physics and Universe Sciences, 36 months
Didio, Giuliano, Doctoral programme in Brain & Mind and Doctoral programme in Integrative Life Science, 36 months
Hee, Lee Moon, Doctoral programme in Clinical Research, 48 months
Kaarela, Tiina, Doctoral programme in Clinical Veterinary Medicine, 48 months
Moreno, Eva Domeneć, Doctoral programme in Integrative Life Science, 48 months
Pulkkinen, Lauri, Doctoral programme in Microbiology and Biotechnology, 48 months
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).
Hedlund, Laura, Doctoral programme in Psychology, Learning and Communication PsyCo, 48 months
Kormacheva, Daria, Doctoral programme in Language Studies, 24 months
Roikonen, Petri, Doctoral programme in Political, Societal and Regional Changes, 48 months
Norppa, Antto, Doctoral programme in Integrative Life Science, 48 months
Pradhan, Barun, Doctoral programme in Biomedicine, 48 months
Smeds, Lina, Doctoral programme in Brain & Mind, 48 months
Groundstroem, Fanny, Doctoral programme in Interdisciplinary Environmental Sciences, 48 months
Rissanen, Kaisa, Doctoral programme in Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources, 48 months
Sathyanarayanan, Gowtham, Doctoral programme in Materials Research and Nanoscience, 48 months
Talvitie, Topi, Doctoral programme in Computer Science, 48 months
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).
Hakoköngäs, Eemeli, Doctoral programme in Social Sciences, 48 months
Kortekallio, Kaisa J., Doctoral programme in Philosophy, Arts and Society, 48 months
Kumpulainen, Satu, Doctoral programme in Psychology, Learning and Communication, 48 months
Kutkina, Anna, Doctoral programme in Political, Societal and Regional changes, 32 months
Lehtonen, Lasse, Doctoral programme in Philosophy, Arts and Society, 48 months
Hirvonen, Jonni, Doctoral programme Brain & Mind, 48 months
Kolsi, Laura, Doctoral programme in Drug Research, 48 months
Sammallahti, Sara, Doctoral programme in Clinical Research, 48 months
Wang, Zhijia, Doctoral programme in Biomedicine, 48 months
Norberg, Anna, Doctoral programme in Wildlife Biology, 48 months
Parviainen, Tuure, Doctoral programme in Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources, 48 months
Soikkeli,Maiju-Lotta, Doctoral programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, 48 months
Tenkanen, Tommi, Doctoral programme in Particle Physics and Universe Sciences, 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
Mikko Mäntyniemi
Tel. 02941 23802
Email: hy-tiedesaatio(at)helsinki.fi
Board
Rector Sari Lindblom (chair)
Professor Johanna Björkroth
Professor Mika Kivimäki
CEO Gunvor Kronman
Entrepreneur Tuuli Kousa
Professor Juhana Aunesluoma
CEO Ulla Tuomarla
Advisory Board (as of 1 May 2025)
CEO Alexander Bargum, chair of the Advisory Board
Director Antti Aarnio
EVP, Corporate Affairs & Brand Minna Aila
Professor Maija Aksela
LL.D. Heidi Andersson
Secratary General Pekka Aula
Professor Tom Böhling
CEO Minna Helle
Professor Seppo Honkapohja
CEO Liisa Hurme
DVM Jaana Husu-Kallio, vice-chair of the Advisory Board
Chancellor Kaarle Hämeri
CEO Jaakko Kiander
Deputy Mayor Johanna Laisaari
Chair of the Board Jorma Ollila
CEO Susanna Pettersson
Director of Development Juho Rantala
ESG lead Kaarina Saramäki
Director General Leif Schulman
Chair of the Board Tiina Tallberg
Associate Professor Hanna Wass