Research Professors

The purpose of electing a Research Professor of the Academy is to enable a researcher who is employed at an Estonian research and development institution or university with a workload of at least 50% to devote themselves, together with their research group, to the implementation of the submitted work plan.

A Research Professor of the Estonian Academy of Sciences is an internationally recognised top-level researcher in their field who, on the basis of their work plan and the contract concluded with the Academy, carries out research and scholarly studies.

The number of Research Professor positions, possible thematic focus areas, the period of appointment, and remuneration are decided by the Executive Board of the Academy.

The Academy concludes a tripartite contract with the researcher elected as Research Professor and the research and development institution that establishes the Research Professor position. In the case of theme-based Academy Professors, a quadripartite contract is concluded, involving the funder of the theme.

The Research Professor grant is generally EUR 70,000 per year. Institutions are not permitted to use this funding to cover overhead costs.

Each year, the Academy organises a Research Professors’ Conference, where Research Professors present the results of their research work.

The General Assembly of the Academy approved the new Statute of Research Professor of the Academy of Sciences (in Estonian) on December 3, 2025.

For the first time Research Professors were elected in 2002. Since then, the Estonian Academy of Sciences has announced a competition for the position of Research Professor every three years and each time has elected three Researcher Professors for a three-year term.

The Estonian Academy of Sciences announces a call for the selection of one Research Professor for the period 2026–2028.

A Research Professor of the Estonian Academy of Sciences (the Academy) is an internationally recognised, outstanding top-level scientist in their field who conducts research and studies on the basis of an approved work plan and a contract concluded with the Academy. The purpose of selecting a Research Professor is to enable a scientist employed at an Estonian research and development institution or university to dedicate themselves to the implementation of the proposed work plan.

During the implementation of the work, the selected Research Professor must be employed at their institution with a workload of at least 50%. The research topic is not fixed; however, the proposed research is expected to be of breakthrough significance and potential.

The funding amounts to €70,000 per year, €140,000 in total. Institutions are not permitted to use this funding to cover overhead costs. A contract will be concluded with the selected candidate and the host institution, specifying the start and end dates of the work so that the project period is up to two years. The expected start date should fall between March and May 2026.

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Applicants must submit a completed application form no later than 2 February 2026 at 17:00 (EET) via ta-konkursid.ee, attaching the following:

  • the application and curriculum vitae prepared in accordance with the guidelines;
  • the consent of the institution where the Research Professor position will be established (mandatory if this differs from the applicant’s current institution and sub-unit).

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING THE APPLICATION

The application must be submitted as one consolidated PDF file containing the application, the list of references, and the applicant’s short curriculum vitae.

The application includes two cover pages. These are identical in content, but the first is in Estonian and the second in English.
The cover page(s) must include the name of the Research Professor candidate and the host institution, the project title, acronym, research period, and an abstract of up to half a page.

All remaining parts of the application must be submitted in English. In addition to the cover pages, applicants may include a one-page visual abstract describing the application; this page is not counted towards the page limit.

Scope and Content of the Application
The length of the application is up to seven pages (A4, normal line spacing, minimum 11-point font, and sufficient margins), excluding the list of references.

The first two pages of the application must be presented in a manner that is understandable to an expert outside the specific field. The remaining five pages must provide a more field-specific overview, justification, and action plan that enable the assessment of the coherence and feasibility of the proposed activities.

The application must convincingly describe and justify the scientific background of the research, the novelty of the idea and its breakthrough potential, the research questions and selected methods, the rationale for how the project advances the frontiers of knowledge, and the significance of the expected results from both Estonian and global perspectives.

In a freely chosen order, the application must address the current state of knowledge, explain the scientific problem and project objectives, outline the general approach or research strategy for achieving the project objectives, and may include an overview of the applicant’s own role in generating each result as well as the project work plan.

Curriculum Vitae and Track Record
The Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Track Record must be submitted together and may not exceed four pages in total. This section must include a concise overview of the candidate’s most important scientific work, projects, results, and research group.

The CV must include personal data and a reference to the CV in ETIS, as well as compact information on education, main qualifications, current position(s), major recognitions, and previous relevant positions. The names of the PhD supervisor(s) and postdoctoral mentor(s) must also be provided.

In addition, applicants must submit a list of up to ten of their most significant scientific results, with justification demonstrating how these contributions have advanced knowledge in the field, with emphasis on more recent achievements.

EVALUATION

Applications will be evaluated by an evaluation committee approved by the Board of the Academy. Each application will be assessed by impartial leading scientists representing a broad range of scientific disciplines. Based on the submitted applications, the evaluation committee will compile a ranked shortlist, which will be approved by the Board of the Academy. The committee may involve external experts in the evaluation process.

The evaluation will take into account:

  • the work plan, including its general theoretical and methodological background, novelty and suitability of the approach, and potential for breakthrough results (0.5);
  • the effectiveness and impact of the applicant’s previous scientific activity and the applicant’s capability to carry out the project (0.25);
  • the expected impact of the project on science and on the supervision of early-career researchers from both Estonian and global perspectives (0.25).

Parts of the application that exceed the page limits will not be read or evaluated.

Contact and information: Silja Kala, silja.kala@akadeemia.ee

Reference to the Statute of the Research Professorship (in Estonian only) of the Estonian Academy of Sciences.

2025–2027

Senior Research Fellow at National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Gert Hütsi

Tenured Associate Professor, Head of Laboratory of Biopolymer Technology at Tallinn University of Technology Andres Krumme

Professor of Human Geography at Tallinn University Hannes Palang

2024–2026

Research Professorship in Artificial Intelligence in Artifical Intelligence

Research group of Meelis Kull, Associate Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Tartu

2024–2026

Research Professor of Estonian Language and its Teaching

Birute Klaas-Lang, Professor of Estonian as a Foreign Language at the University of Tartu

2023–2024

Research Professor in Arctic Studies

Professor of Environmental Physics at the University of Tartu Heikki Junninen

Professor Lauri Laanisto, Chair of Biodiversity and Nature Tourism, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agriculture and the Environment, Estonia

2023–2024

Research Professorship in Russian Studies

Andrey Makarychev, Professor of Regional Policy Studies, University of Tartu

2023–2024

Birute Klaas-Lang, Professor of Estonian as a Foreign Language, University of Tartu

2022–2023

Research Professorships in Arctic Studies

Professor Lauri Laanisto Research Group, Estonian University of Life Sciences

Associate Professor of Ethnology Aimar Ventsel's research group, University of Tartu

2022–2024

Professor of Taltech Tõnis Kanger.

Professor of Urban and Population Geography, University of Tartu Tiit Tammaru.

Professor in the technology of antimicrobial compounds, Universitu of Tartu Tanel Tenson.

2019–2021

Professor of Applied Virology, University of Tartu Institute of Technology Andres Merits.

Research Professor of Taltech, Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics Dmitri Vinnikov.

Research Professor of National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Toomas Rõõm.

2016–2018

Research Professor of the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Anne Kahru.

Professor of Ragnar Nurkse School of Innovation and Governance at Tallinn University of Technology Rainer Kattel.

Leading Researcher of the Institute of Physics at the University of Tartu Kaupo Kukli.

2013–2015

Professor of the University of Tartu Rein Ahas.

Senior Researcher of the University of Tartu Anu Realo.

Professor of Tallinn University of Technology Tõnis Timmusk.

2009–2011

Professor of the University of Tartu Pärt Peterson.

Senior Research Scientist of the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Martti Raidal.

Senior Research Scientist of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Tiina Nõges.

2006–2008

Extraordinary Professor of the University of Tartu, Member of Academy Ilmar Koppel.

Leading Research Scientist of Tallinn University of Technology Malle Krunks.

Professor of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Ülo Niinemets.

RESEARCH PROFESSORS 2003–2007

Professor of the University of Tartu, Member of Academy Agu Laisk.

Professor of Tallinn University of Technology, Member of Academy Raimund-Johannes Ubar.

Senior Research Scientist of the University of Tartu Asko Uri.