The Doctoral Programme in Environmental Physics, Health and Biology (EPHB) combines the fields of environmental research from soil and water systems to the stratosphere, research into the health impacts of the environment, and biological research to form a multidisciplinary programme.
The purpose of the doctoral programme is to provide students with the competences required to create new knowledge, apply methods of scientific research critically and independently, and to work in demanding expert and research positions in academia and the business and public sector.
The director of the doctoral programme is Research director Jarkko Akkanen, and the coordinator is Timo Kumlin (contact information below).
Research areas in the doctoral programme
Research in environmental physics focuses on the study of aerosols (e.g. how atmospheric particulate matter affects the atmosphere). The key areas of aerosol studies also include the creation of aerosols in combustion and under laboratory conditions. Important research interests include the small-scale use of wood as solid fuel, including emissions, nanoparticle synthesis in biomedical and industrial applications, bio aerosols and aerosol measuring and analysis techniques.
Multidisciplinary research in environmental health covers the potential health risks and impacts of biological, physical and chemical factors in our environment. These studies apply the environmental health risk analysis. For example, the study of the health impacts of aerosols is a key area of research in atmospheric particulate matter. The toxicity of aerosols is studied using cell lines, animal testing and clinical sampling.
Biological research includes the analysis of biological processes related to changes in the state of the environment within the atmosphere and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Studies are conducted using a range of methods at the level of cell and molecule biology, physiology, ecology and evolutionary biology.
Please see the links below for more information about the research areas and the responsible professors.
How to apply?
The degrees of the doctoral programme are Doctor of Philosophy and Licentiate in Philosophy at the following disciplines:
- Applied physics
- Environmental science
- Biology
According to the Universities Act of Finland (558/2009, Chapter 5, Section 37), eligible for studies leading to a doctoral degree shall be a person who has completed an applicable higher university or polytechnic degree, a person who has completed an applicable education abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding higher education, or a person whom the university judges otherwise to have sufficient knowledge and skills for the studies.
There is no term fee for doctoral education in the University of Eastern Finland.
If you are applying for a doctoral study right in a field of research which has not been the main field of you Master's degree, the faculty may require you to complete supplementary studies to ensure that you are qualified to take part in doctoral studies. Possible supplementary studies are specified when the right to doctoral studies is granted and cannot be included in the doctoral degree.
The most important admission criterion for doctoral studies is consent from the supervisor. Other criteria may include performance in previous studies, a preliminary research plan (including financial plan), and a motivation letter.
In addition to the general eligibility criteria for pursuing doctoral studies, the previous studies required for the doctoral degree programme are as follows by discipline or field of research:
- Aerosol physics / Environmental physics: Relevant previous qualifications are physics, chemistry, technical sciences, environmental science or another relevant field.
- Environmental science: Relevant previous qualifications are environmental science, biology, biosciences, physics, chemistry or another relevant field.
- Biology: Relevant previous qualifications are biology, environmental science, forest science or another relevant field.
The leader group of the programme decides on the qualification of previous studies after consultation with the supervisors in the relevant field of research.
The right to pursue doctoral studies does not include funding or a contract of employment or teaching tasks at the University. However, full-time doctoral students need funding to cover their costs of living and potential research costs (travel costs, research material etc.). Funding options should be discussed with the supervisor already when planning to apply for a doctoral study right and creating a research plan.
Doctoral studies can be funded for example by a scholarship, by working as a researcher in a research project, by working as a doctoral candidate at the University of Eastern Finland (doctoral student position), or by studying part-time while at work. Doctoral students apply for funding themselves.
Read more about funding options of doctoral studies on Kamu Student handbook.
Application period
The EPHB doctoral programme is open for admissions throughout the year. The decisions will be made within two weeks.
What is Studyinfo.fi?
Studyinfo.fi is the official national admissions portal with all the up-to-date information about study programmes leading to a degree in Finland.
Apply via Studyinfo.fi
Fill in the online application for the programme at the Studyinfo portal
Studies
A doctoral dissertation can be described as a scientific presentation based on independent research that promotes knowledge in the discipline in question (monography). A dissertation may also be composed of several scientific publications or manuscripts concerning the same research problem that have been accepted for publication or are intended to be published, and a conclusion based on these (article-based dissertation). The university determines the sufficiency of the articles in the case of an article-based dissertation.
In the Faculty, an article-based dissertation is typically composed of 3 - 4 peer-reviewed scientific articles of which at least 50 % have been published or accepted for publication in international series using the peer-reviewing process.
In the doctoral dissertation, the doctoral candidate must write a clarification on her/his part in joint publications.
The degree (30 ECTS) consists of the following parts:
- Transferable skills studies, 8-10 ECTS credits
- Studies in the discipline and field of research, 20-22 ECTS credits, of which at least 15 ECTS credits must be of advanced level.
Transferable skills studies (8-10 ECTS): Transferable skills studies must include a Research Ethics course organized by the UEF Doctoral School. In addition, studies may include, for example, scientific communication and communications and intellectual property studies, or other studies offered by the UEF Doctoral School. The courses available each year are described in the UEF Doctoral School curriculum.
Studies in the discipline and field of research (20-22 ECTS): The degree must include science and research studies, mainly advanced studies, which support research work. Elective science and research studies must support the student's dissertation / licentiate research. The compulsory course is a research seminar (2 ECTS credits) consisting of a presentation of at least 30 minutes and five listened presentations. The seminar can be conducted either in separate series of seminars or in a seminar organized by the doctoral program.
Studies may also include courses from other departments, doctoral programs and universities, as well as summer schools, seminars, book exams or other courses, as long as they support research work. The doctoral program aims to organize research seminars and methodological studies. The supervisor assesses the suitability of the deliverables for the study unit.
You can find information for different phases in the doctoral education on Kamu Student handbook:
- Doctoral education at the University of Eastern Finland
- Starting doctoral education
- Doctoral curriculum and study requirements
- Internationalisation in doctoral education
- Guidance and support in doctoral education
- Support for doctoral research
- Funding of doctoral education
- Wellbeing of doctoral researcher
- Permission for public examination and pre-examination of doctoral dissertation
- Publishing of doctoral dissertation
News and events
Dissertation press releases
Upcoming examinations of doctoral dissertations
Further information on the doctoral programme
Management group of the doctoral programme
