Researcher-Professors

The aim of the election of Academy Research-Professor is to enable recognised researchers in their field working full-time in an Estonian research and development institution or university, leading research and supervising doctoral students, to commit themselves to scientific research during the term of Academy Professor.

The aim of the election of theme-based Academy Researcher-Professor is to enable recognised researchers in their field to carry out their field-specific research in an Estonian private or public sector organisation during the minimum one-year term of theme-based Academy Professor. The number of open positions, the field or theme, the term and the conditions for application are decided by the Board of the Academy in agreement with the institution financing theme-based Researcher-Professors.
The General Assembly of the Academy approved the new Statute of Researcher-Professor of the Academy of Sciences (in Estonian) on 20 April 2022.

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

The Estonian Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announces a competition for two research professorships focusing on Arctic studies. Working groups that received a targeted grant for research professorship in Arctic studies in 2022 may apply for a follow-up grant in 2023. The deadline for applications for a targeted grant of researcher professorship is 12 June 2023.

The aim of the targeted grant is to support the participation of Estonian researchers in Arctic studies, as well as to increase Estonian researchers’ knowledge of the Arctic and capability to take part in significant high-level international research. International cooperation of Estonian researchers in the Arctic, especially participation in research of high applied value will contribute to addressing the major challenges the Arctic is facing. The presence of Estonian researchers and their good reputation will support Estonia in achieving strategic foreign policy objectives in the Arctic.

Any person who holds a doctoral degree from Estonia or an equivalent foreign academic degree and who meets the qualification requirements for a theme-based academy professor (the requirements are available in Estonian here) may apply for a targeted grant of research professorship. The candidate is expected to be engaged in continued research at international level and to successfully complete research grants. Potential members of the research team supporting the researcher-professor may be doctoral candidates, junior researchers, researchers or senior researchers, and in duly justified cases also master students.

The grant of the research professorship in Arctic studies is 60 000 euros, which will also cover the costs related to setting up an Arctic research team.

The grant is awarded for one year. Preference will be given to researcher-professor candidates who already have good cooperative relations with international Arctic research institutions and research teams and who plan to prepare a joint project proposal for the continuation of the research under the targeted grant. A tripartite grant agreement will be concluded between the selected candidate, the Estonian university or research institution hosting the professorship and the Estonian Academy of Sciences.
Persons who wish to participate in the competition have to fill in an application form (in Estonian) at the latest by 12 June 2023 at https://ta-konkursid.ee

In addition to your contact details, the following information has to be entered on the form:

  • Plan of activities 2023–2023 (in Estonian, up to 5 pages), including the general theoretical background of the planned research, the research hypothesis and its relation to the developments in the research field, the main goals of the research and the significance of the expected outcome from the Estonian and global viewpoint, timetable, action plan, division of work.
  • List of the research team leader’s most important (up to 10) scientific publications and/or developments related to the planned research (add doi-numbers, if available).
  • List of the candidate’s most important (up to 10) scientific publications or research projects related to the planned theme.
  • In the case of a follow-up application, please add also a free-form report for the 1st year.
  • Approval from an Estonian university/research institution.
  • Materials on the research team: curriculum vitae of the research professorship leader (up to 2 pages), short curricula vitae of the other members of the research team (up to 2 pages in total).
  • If preferred, any other documents or materials that the candidate considers relevant.

Read also the news of the announcement of the competition.
Additional information: Siiri Jakobson, siiri.jakobson@akadeemia.ee

The Estonian Academy of Sciences, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announces a competition for two research professorships focusing on Russian studies. The deadline for applications for a targeted grant of research professorship is 12 June 2023.

The objective of establishing research professorships is to support and educate Estonian researchers in the knowledge of Russia and provide capability for participating in significant high-level international research. Russian studies are on the verge of vanishing due to under-funding. However, from the perspective of Estonian security, it is an essential field requiring experts and assurance in their succession.
The targeted grant of research professorship will enable a recognized researcher working in the field of Russian studies at a research and development institution or university to focus on research and set up a research team in Russian studies. Each professorship comprises one theme-based academy researcher-professor and, as a rule, a small supporting research team.

Any person who holds a doctoral degree from Estonia or an equivalent foreign academic degree and who meets the qualification requirements for a theme-based academy professor (the requirements are available in Estonian here) may apply for a targeted grant of researcher professorship. The candidate is expected to be engaged in continued research at international level and to successfully complete research grants. Potential members of the research team supporting the researcher-professor may be doctoral candidates, junior researchers, researchers or senior researchers, and in duly justified cases also master students.

The grant of research professorship in Russian studies is 45 000 euros, at least 50% of which will cover the costs related to setting up a research team in Russian studies. Preference will be given to candidates with previous experience in Russian studies.

The targeted grant of research professorship is awarded for one year. A tripartite grant agreement will be concluded between the selected candidate, the Estonian university or research institution hosting the professorship and the Estonian Academy of Sciences.

Persons who wish to participate in the competition have to fill in an application form (in Estonian) at the latest by 12 June 2023 at https://ta-konkursid.ee

In addition to your contact details, the following information has to be entered on the form:

  • Plan of activities 2023–2023 (in Estonian, up to 5 pages), including the general theoretical background of the planned research, the research hypothesis and its relation to the developments in the research field, the main goals of the research and the significance of the expected outcome from the Estonian and global viewpoint, timetable, action plan, division of work.
  • List of the research team leader’s most important (up to 10) scientific publications and/or developments related to the planned research (add doi-numbers, if available).
  • List of the candidate’s most important (up to 10) scientific publications or research projects related to the planned topic.
  • Approval from an Estonian university/research institution.
  • Materials on the research team: curriculum vitae of the research professorship leader (up to 2 pages), short curricula vitae of the other members of the research team (up to 2 pages in total).
  • If preferred, any other documents or materials that the candidate considers relevant.

Read also the news of the announcement of the competition.
Additional information: Siiri Jakobson, siiri.jakobson@akadeemia.ee

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.

Researcher-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.