HIP NEWS, 12 January 2026
NEW HIP BLOG
In the latest HIP Blog Deanna Hooper muses on generative AI and its impact and use in scientific research:
Should we use generative AI in scientific research?
COSMOLOGY SEMINAR
Wednesday 14 January 2026 at 14.15 in A315 and using Zoom
José Correia (University of Oslo), (Onsite)
“Gravitational waves from strong first order phase transitions”
Abstract: https://www.hip.fi/cosmoseminars/
HIP SEMINAR
Tuesday 20 January 2025 at 10:15 in A315 and using Zoom
Michal Heller (Ghent)
TBA
Abstract: https://www.hip.fi/seminars/
HIP SEMINAR
Thursday 22 January 2025 at 10:15 in A315 and using Zoom
René Meyer (Würzburg)
TBA
Abstract: https://www.hip.fi/seminars/
QUANTUM SOFTWARE DAY 2026 IN AALTO UNIVERSITY ON FRIDAY 23.1.2026
The Quantum Software Day 2026 is an event connecting industry, researchers, students, and others curious of quantum computing to discuss emerging topics in quantum computing software and its applications.
The day consists of talks, a poster session, networking opportunities, and refreshments. Lunch will be provided.
Attendees are welcome to bring posters for the poster session and display in the hallway. Please indicate if you wish to bring a poster in the registration form below.
When: Friday 23.1.2026 9:00-17:00
Where: Aalto University, Undergraduate Centre, second floor, Classroom C, Otakaari 1, Espoo
Cost: This event is free to attend, but you must register ahead of time via the link below
Registration: Webropol form
Tentative agenda can be read on https://instituteq.fi/quantum-software-day-2026/
Organizers: Ilkka Tittonen, Aalto University; Matti Palomäki, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland & InnoQ; Jukka Nurminen, University of Helsinki.
FINNISH PHYSICAL SOCIETY’S MASTER’S THESIS PRIZE
The Finnish Physical Society awards an annual prize for an excellent Master’s thesis in the field of physical sciences. The purpose of this prize is to support early career researchers and acknowledge them for their exceptional work.
The deadline for submitting the nominations is 15.01.2026 at 23:59.
More information here: https://www.fyysikkoseura.fi/language/en/grants-prizes/master-thesis-prize/
REGISTRATION IS OPEN: PHYSICS DAYS 2026
Physics Days 2026 takes place March 4-6, 2026, at Aalto University’s campus in Otaniemi, Espoo. The theme of the 2026 edition is “fostering resonance“.
Early-bird registration is now open! Early-bird pricing runs until January 16, 2026.
More information here: https://events.aalto.fi/en/3X3IKxA7/physics-days-2026-4a3bQtWcmv/overview
DOCTORAL DEFENCE
Xin Li, PhD will defend the doctoral dissertation entitled “Holographic Studies of Inhomogeneities in Superfluids and Phase Transitions” in the Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, on 23 January 2026 at 13:00. The public examination will take place at the following address: Exactum, CK112, Pietari Kalmin katu 5.
Senior Researcher René Meyer, University of Würzburg, will serve as the opponent, and Niko Jokela as the custos.
The dissertation will be published in the series HIP-Internal Report Series.
The dissertation is also available in electronic form in Helda https://helda.helsinki.fi/items/5d8b33a6-1690-41ce-977b-bdfb114bbc8a
THE UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI FUNDS
University of Helsinki Funds grant a total of approximately 400,000 euros in various scholarships and grants to students and researchers each year. Mainly only students, researchers and staff at the University of Helsinki can apply for scholarships from the University of Helsinki’s funds. All grant and scholarship recipients are invited to the celebration of grant recipients and donors in the spring, where they can also meet the donors who gave them the scholarship.
The funds’ application round for 2026 is from January, 14 to February, 6, 2026. Read the descriptions for the grants you can apply for this year, and apply by logging into the University of Helsinki Grant Portal.
If you have questions regarding the grants and scholarships, please contact us via HelsinkiUni Help.
More details on https://studies.helsinki.fi/instructions/article/scholarships-and-grants
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation
The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation accepts grant applications every day of the year. There are no separate application times.
https://jaes.fi/en/applying-for-donation-2/
Finnish Academy of Science and Letters: Mathematics Fund
There are no fixed dates for applying to the Mathematics Fund. There are no fixed dates for applying to the Mathematics Fund. Applications should be sent to the chairman of the trustees, Tuomo Kuusi (tuomo.kuusi [at] helsinki.fi).
https://www.acadsci.fi/en/scholarships-and-prizes/scholarships/mathematics-fund.html
(In Finnish) Marjatta ja Eino Kollin Säätiö
Säätiön tehtävänä on tukea tieteellistä sekä soveltavaa tutkimusta ja kehitystyötä myöntämällä apurahoja hankkeiden toteuttajille. Säätiö tarjoaa mahdollisuuksia yksittäisille tutkijoille ja kehittäjille sekä tutkimus-/ kehittäjäryhmille. Haasteena on ruokkia nimenomaan sellaista kehitystä, jolla olisi elinympäristömme kannalta positiivista vaikutusta pitkällä tähtäimellä. Apurahojen hakuaika on jatkuva.
(På svenska) Svenska tekniska vetenskapsakademien i Finland (STV)
Akademien utdelar stipendier för verksamhet vars syfte sammanfaller med Akademiens. Stipendier kan beviljas enskild sökande med avlagd akademisk slutexamen. Stipendier kan sökas kontinuerligt under året och beslut görs kvartalsvis.
Stipendier till stöd för vetenskapen
Stipendier i första hand för kortare forskningsvistelser
https://www.stvif.fi/forskarstipendier/
EDUFI Fellowship
The EDUFI Fellowship is intended, particularly, for providing initial funding to carry out research for a doctoral thesis in Finland.
Applicant: a Finnish university department
Who: a doctoral student or a young researcher from outside Finland
Purpose: initial funding for completing a doctoral research project in Finland, completion of a double degree or a study visit on exceptionally compelling reasons
Application deadline: rolling deadline. You should apply for the grant five months before the start of the fellowship.
Duration of fellowship: 3–12 months, visits 3–6 months
https://www.oph.fi/en/development/edufi-fellowship
Inter-Country Travel Grant
Invite U.S. Fulbright scholars, teachers, professionals and advanced PhD students to Finland. Fulbrighters need to be on their Fulbright grant period during the Inter-Country visit (a maximum of 1-week visit).
Please note that the application needs to be sent to the Fulbright Finland Foundation six weeks before the planned visit.
Application Period: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
https://www.fulbright.fi/fi/node/577#forinstitutions
(In Finnish) Chujo Watanabe – rahaston apuraha
Japani-Suomi Yhdistyksen Chujo Watanabe – rahastosta julistetaan haettavaksi yksi apuraha, suuruudeltaan JPY 300 000 käytettäväksi vuoden 2026 loppuun mennessä.
Apurahat on ensisijaisesti tarkoitettu Japanissa tapahtuvaan opiskelu- ja/tai tutkimustyöhön. Etusijalle asetetaan nuoret suomalaiset hakijat ja hakijalta edellytetään jonkinlaista japanin kielen taitoa. Aiempi osallistuminen Suomen ja Japanin väliseen ystävyystoimintaan on eduksi.
Hakuaika päättyy lauantaina 31. tammikuuta 2026 klo 18.
https://suomi-japani.net/chujo-watanabe-rahaston-apurahan-haku-meneillaan-2/
(In Finnish) Osk. Huttunen Fellowship -apuraha Cambridgen yliopistossa
Säätiö julistaa nyt haettavaksi Osk. Huttunen Fellowship –apurahan lukuvuodelle 2026–2027. Apuraha on tarkoitettu professoreille ja muille akateemisesti meritoituneille, vähintään dosenttitasoisille senioritutkijoille. Se mahdollistaa pääsääntöisesti akateemisen lukuvuoden (12 kk) mittaisen tutkimuskauden Cambridgen yliopistossa, kuitenkin stipendiaatille parhaiten soveltuvalla aloitus- ja lopetusajalla.
Lukuvuoden 2026-2027 Osk. Huttunen Fellowship –apurahan hakuaika on 1.12.2025 – 15.1.2026.
(In Finnish) Suomen Luonnonsuojelun Säätiö
Suomen Luonnonsuojelun Säätiö rahoittaa luonnonsuojelullisesti vaikuttavaa tiedettä, tutkimusta ja toimintaa.
Säätiö etsii tulevassa apurahahaussa erityisesti hankkeita, joissa keskitytään luonnonsuojelun yhteisvaikutuksiin metsä- ja suoluonnolle sekä vesistöjen ja Itämeren suojelulle.
Apurahojen hakuaika on 1.12.2025–31.1.2026.
https://luonnonsuojelunsaatio.fi/vuoden-2026-apurahat-pian-haettavina/
(In Finnish) Metsämiesten Säätiö
Metsämiesten Säätiö jakaa apurahoja osaamiseen, hyvinvointiin, verkostoihin, tunnettuuteen, metsäkulttuuriin ja ennakointiin Säätiön strategian mukaisesti.
Apurahojen hakuaika on vuosittain 1.12. – 31.1. klo 24.00.
https://www.mmsaatio.fi/apurahat/apurahan-hakijalle.html
The Post Doc Pool’s Spring Call
The Post Doc Pool Spring Call open from 1 Jan until 31 Jan, 2026
Magnus Ehrnrooth foundation
The Magnus Ehrnrooth Foundation awards annually grants for researchers in mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and medical chemistry.
Additionally, the foundation supports school education in mathematics and the exact sciences in primary and secondary schools by granting scholarships for further education to teachers in these subjects.
Open call for applications: 1.1.-31.1.
https://www.magnusehrnroothinsaatio.fi/