Postdoctoral researcher in the field of LLM

Organisation/Company

University of Turku

Research Field

Computer science » Other
Engineering » Other

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)

Application Deadline

4 May 2026 - 13:00 (UTC)

Country

Finland

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Faculty of Technology, Department of Computing invites applications for a 2-year position as postdoctoral researcher in the field of LLM. The fixed-term position starts on mutual agreement, and the duration of the employment is 2 years (24 months).

Job description

This is a two-year, fully funded postdoctoral researcher position within a European defense project that brings together leading universities and industry partners across Europe. The selected candidate will join a dynamic, interdisciplinary team and contribute to cutting-edge research in LLM.

Responsibilities

• Develop high-efficiency, small-to-medium LLMs optimized for the edge through advanced compression, quantization, and distillation. These techniques empower resource-constrained devices with complex AI capabilities, including real-time context-aware sensing and local decision-making.
• Collaborate closely with top-tier European universities and industrial partners.
• Participate in project implementation and reporting activities.
• Contribute to academic life by supervising PhD, MSc and Bachelor students, and assisting in teaching activities.
• Engage in training opportunities including proposal writing, high-impact scientific publishing, and collaborative research with international teams.

Who we are looking for

Requirements

• PhD degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of machine learning.
• Strong publication record in a relevant field.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Interest in collaborative research with both academia and industry.
• Good communication skills in English (written and spoken).

Qualification requirements

The eligibility criteria for prospective applicants are defined in the University of Turku's Rules of Procedure: university-of-turku-rules-of-procedure.pdf

A person selected for the post of postdoctoral researcher is required to have a doctoral degree and the ability to conduct independent scientific work as well as having the necessary teaching skills.  

We primarily seek to recruit a Postdoctoral Researcher. However, in exceptional cases, applicants who have completed almost all doctoral studies required for a PhD in a relevant field may also be considered. In such cases, the job title at the start of the employment will be Project Researcher and salary will be in the beginning on average 3100–3300 euros/month, depending on previous experience and skills. A person selected for the post ofProject researcheris required to have a higher university degree. When assessing the merits of the applicants, special emphasis will be placed on competence and practical expertise in the field in question.

We value collegiality and promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We encourage all qualified applicants with different backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Benefits

We Offer:  

• A two-year fully funded position in an internationally recognized research environment. 
• Opportunities to publish in top-tier cybersecurity journals and flag-ship conferences. 
• Opportunities to collaborate with and visit outstanding European universities and industrial partners. 
• Training courses for academic researchers, e.g., proposal writing, scientific writing, project development, teaching qualification. 
• A vibrant, international, and supportive research community.

We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a versatile operating environment. You get a professional and inspiring team to support your work. We take care of your well-being at work and the functionality of your everyday life, e.g. with the help of flexible working hours and our well-being services.Please read more about University of Turku as an employer from our Come work with us!  pages.

The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research quality label . The label is a token of the University's commitment to continuous development of the position and working conditions of researchers according to the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers. 

The university offers good support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and relocation to Finland:

• City of Turku
• Welcome visitor
• International House of Turku
• Working culture: infoFinland.fi
• This is Finland
• Careers in Southwest Finland
• Finland - a superpower of education and innovations | University of Turku (utu.fi)

The University of Turku is among the top of the world’s universities in most rankings and among the best universities in the world in certain fields. Our high-quality basic research, a multidisciplinary research profile and close cooperation in research infrastructures creates the basis for international top research. Read more about University of Turku in international university rankings.

The University of Turku has several high-quality research infrastructures required for cutting-edge research. Learn more about the roadmap of research infrastructures and how the research infrastructure and expert teams offer tailored solutions for businesses and organizations .

Salary and trial period

The salary is determined in accordance with the university salary system for teaching and research personnel and will depend on the degree and qualifications of the applicant.   

For a postdoctoral researcher (OV5-OV6), the salary will be in the beginning of the employment on average 3600–4500 euros/month, depending on previous experience and skills.

The amount of the salary is defined when the employment contract is prepared.   

A six (6) month trial period applies to the position.

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 4 May 2026 at 16.00 (Europe/Helsinki).

Your application should include the following:

• A motivation letter
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A list of publications
• Copies of degree certificates with translation in English or in Finnish
• Other documents that may affect the decision-making (for example a research plan, awards)

Further information

Home page of the research group: http://www.utu.fi/cyber

For further information about the position, please contact: Associate Professor Kaitai Liang, kaitai.liang@utu.fi .

With questions about the application process, please contact: HR Specialist Nina Reini, nina.reini@utu.fi .

The Postdoctoral researcher / Project researcher position will be filled if the project is implemented. University of Turku reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, reopen the application process, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

Department of Computing

The Department of Computing educates professionals for the modern digitalised society. Central themes of teaching and research include Digitalisation, Machine Learning, Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, Cybersecurity and Health Technology. 

The Faculty of Technology is the newest faculty of the University of Turku, it was established in the beginning of 2021. The Faculty consists of the Department of Computing, Department of Biotechnology and the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering. We have more than 2,000 graduate and postgraduate students and circa 400 employees, 50 of whom are professors. Our faculty is an international, multicultural and diverse work community.

The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.

See our open vacancies

Information for the applicant

The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, after submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.

You have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout.

Instructions for submitting a job application

Website

https://academicpositions.com/ad/university-of-turku/2026/postdoctoral-research…

Research Field

Computer science

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Research Field

Engineering

Years of Research Experience

4 - 10

Website for additional job details

https://academicpositions.com

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

University of Turku

Country

Finland

City

Turku

Postal Code

20014

Street

Vesilinnantie 3

Geofield

City

Turku

Website

http://www.utu.fi/en/

Postal Code

FI-20014

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