The Visiting Professor Program of the Helsinki Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities (HSSH) attracted exceptional interest this year. A record number of applications were received, including many high-quality and internationally distinguished proposals.
A total of nine new visiting professors have been selected for 2026:
Christopher Baker, Goldsmiths, University of London
Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Northwestern University
Sarah B. Snyder, American University
Leonard Seabrooke, Copenhagen Business School
Maike Schindler, University of Cologne
Maria Lucia Passador, Bocconi University
Eric Voss, Teachers College, Columbia University
Tuulia Ortner, University of Salzburg
D´Lane R. Compton, University of New Orleans
The Visiting Professor Program supports international collaboration and interdisciplinary research by bringing leading scholars to Helsinki. Its aim is to strengthen research networks on the University of Helsinki’s City Centre Campus, enhance methodological expertise, and foster new initiatives in the form of joint research projects.
“The HSSH Visiting Professor Program has established itself well, as evidenced by the ever-growing number of highly interesting visitor proposals. The program is an affordable and successful way to promote international multidisciplinarity in the SSH fields at the University of Helsinki. We hope to continue maintaining the program and even increase the number of visitors in future rounds,” says Pekka Mäkelä, Vice Director of HSSH.
This year, the selection process placed particular emphasis on research impact, the strengthening of networks, and the long-term potential of collaboration. As slightly less funding was available than in previous years, support was directed toward projects whose visits are expected to benefit a wide range of researchers and research groups across the City Centre Campus.
The HSSH Visiting Professor Program has established itself as an important channel for deepening international research cooperation and promoting interdisciplinary dialogue at the University of Helsinki.