Doctoral Researcher in health sciences

We are now looking for a Doctoral Researcher to join the HealthEduCom Lab in the Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology (HST), Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu. The HealthEduCom Lab conducts multidisciplinary research on healthcare education, learning environments, mentoring and educator competence, predictive models of professional learning, and hybrid intelligence in extended reality (XR) contexts. The lab brings together expertise in health sciences, pedagogy, technology-enhanced learning and human-AI collaboration. You will work in an international research environment with access to the University of Oulu's Hybrid Intelligence research profile, the LEAF research infrastructure, and OuluHealth Labs in collaboration with the Wellbeing Services County of North Ostrobothnia. About the project The position is part of the Playful Entrepreneurial Minds: Playfulness and Hybrid Intelligence in Higher Education and Working Life (Playful Minds) project funded by the Research Council of Finland. The consortium brings together the University of Lapland, the University of Oulu and the University of Turku, together with national and international research and working-life partners. At the University of Oulu, we focus on hybrid intelligence, multirealities and playful learning in healthcare and medical education. Its overarching aim is to develop, implement, and validate a multidimensional Hybrid Intelligence-Playful Learning (HI-PL) framework that integrates playfulness, an entrepreneurial mindset, and hybrid intelligence into XR-based healthcare learning. The research uses a design-based research approach and combines qualitative, quantitative, behavioural and physiological data. About the job As a Doctoral Researcher, you will: Conduct doctoral research on hybrid intelligence-enabled playful learning in healthcare and medical education and complete a doctoral degree during the four-year employment period. Contribute to the co-design, implementation and validation of the HI-PL framework in nursing, health sciences and healthcare practice contexts. Plan and facilitate participatory workshops and pilot sessions with higher education students, academic professionals and healthcare professionals. Design and conduct controlled XR-based simulation studies involving playful human-AI interaction, metacognitive reflection, clinical decision-making and adaptive performance in demanding clinical scenarios. Collect and analyse multimodal research data, including questionnaires on playfulness, psychological safety, wellbeing, metacognition and engagement; behavioural and performance data from XR sessions and video recordings; and physiological indicators such as heart rate variability. Conduct interviews, focus groups and analyses of reflective learning logs to evaluate learning experiences, psychological safety, meaningful engagement and the usability of the HI-PL framework. Use design-based research and suitable qualitative, quantitative and mixed-method approaches to iteratively refine the framework and develop implementation guidance for healthcare curricula. Contribute to ethical review applications, research permissions, responsible data management, open science and GDPR-compliant research practices. Collaborate across the Playful Minds consortium and with national and international partners, including researchers in health sciences, education, learning sciences, technology and entrepreneurship. Complete doctoral studies at the University of Oulu Graduate School and publish the findings in high-quality international peer-reviewed journals and conferences. You will receive regular supervision and multidisciplinary support while gradually taking responsibility for your research questions, methodological choices, publications and international research profile. You will receive regular supervision and multidisciplinary support while gradually taking responsibility for your research questions, methodological choices, publications and international research profile. What we offer? A four-year, full-time Doctoral Researcher position in an ambitious multidisciplinary project addressing learning, wellbeing and professional competence in the era of hybrid intelligence. The support of the experienced and enthusiastic HealthEduCom Lab and the wider Playful Minds consortium, where you can share your expertise and grow as an independent researcher. Access to expertise in healthcare education, playful learning, hybrid intelligence, XR-based simulation, learning analytics, physiological measurement and mixed-method research. Access to relevant research infrastructure and authentic learning environments, including LEAF and OuluHealth Labs, subject to the final research protocols and permissions. Opportunities for national and international collaboration, conference participation, co-authored publications and research mobility when relevant to your doctoral project. Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-b