14 PhD positions in ageing and digitalizing societies Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT)

Become a leading expert in ageing and digitalization! The “Future leaders in ageing and digitalizing societies (Digi4Age)” Network is hiring 14 PhD students across Europe. We offer fully funded PhD positions for 3-4 years, supervision by some of Europe’s leading researchers in this area, tailor-made career development plans, training in cutting edge techniques and methods, secondments, and collaborations with stakeholders.
 
This network trains doctoral researchers as future leaders with scientific expertise in both digitalising and ageing societies, who can creatively steer academia, the public sector, private sector, and civil society towards solutions benefitting older individuals, European societies, and businesses. To do this, it explores changes in health and long-term care, in work and the economy, and in society and social structures. The network is funded by the prestigious Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action programme of the European Commission. It is organized by six research institutes and 13 stakeholders from across Europe. 

The details of the job openings are:

• Locations: Karl-Landsteiner University of Health Sciences (Austria), LUT University (Finland), TU Dortmund University (Germany), Lithuanian Centre for Social Sciences (Lithuania), Open University of the Netherlands (Netherlands), University Rey Juan Carlos (Spain). 
• Research fields: Social sciences, humanities, business, health sciences, care research 
• Application deadline: March 30, 2026 
• Start date: October 01, 2026 

Please see the project homepage http://www.digi4age.net to learn more about the individual positions, the application procedure, and the fascinating opportunities they bring.  
 

Eligibility 

Digi4Age recruits talented researchers without regard to race, nationality, religion, age, gender identity, and disability. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have obtained a master-level degree or diploma in a relevant discipline (e.g., sociology, political science, social work, business, health sciences, or economics) before the beginning of the programme. 
• Comply with the MSCA mobility rule: Must not have resided or carried out main activity in the host country for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the beginning of the programme
• Neither hold a doctoral degree nor have successfully defended a doctoral thesis at the time of recruitment
• Fulfil possible additional requirements of the doctoral programme at the hosting institution (see the descriptions of the individual positions on the project homepage http://www.digi4age.net) 
• Have a strong interest in ageing and digitalization 
• Possess good written and spoken English skills

Benefits 

Digi4Age offers highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions:

• A fully funded PhD position: 36 months duration; except for positions 5, 6, and 14, which have a duration of 48 months 
• An employment contract that includes social security coverage
• Competitive monthly MSCA salary: The living allowance is 4010 EUR, adjusted with a country correction coefficient (subject to taxes and social insurance contributions). Additionally, a mobility allowance of 710 EUR is paid. If applicable, a family allowance of 660 EUR is paid. 
• Funding for research costs 
• Interdisciplinary supervision and training
• Participation in 3 spring schools and a seminar series
• Secondments with academic and non-academic partners
• Career development support and international networking

Application 

Submit your application documents to the centralized submission system by 30 March 2026 at 23:59 (UTC+2h). The application link is:
https://lut.rekrytointi.com/paikat/?o=A_A&jid=1448&rspvt=7jvsd42y9i80ow88w88wkowo8g84ggw#login_form . 

The documents to be submitted are: 

• A motivation letter: outline your reasons for applying and the fit of your previous experiences with the advertised positions. Specify which position(s) you are applying for. 
• A Curriculum Vitae, specifying your education, work history, publications (if applicable), project relevant skills, any further information you consider relevant, and the contact details of 2 referees. 
• A copy of your master’s degree certificate. If you did not yet complete your master’s degree, please state in your CV when you will obtain it and include a current transcript of the master’s courses you completed.
• One scientific text you wrote in English, e.g., the summary of your master’s thesis, or part of an essay. You can choose the topic. 
• An essay about your ideas for your doctoral thesis. Describe why this topic is relevant, what is already known about it, which research questions you want to answer, and which method and data you want to use (3 pages maximum).

Please see the descriptions of the individual projects on http://www.digi4age.net for possible additional attachments that are required.