Three Postdoctoral Researchers in the FRONT research programme

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 3,600 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 17,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations.  

We are now looking for

Three Postdoctoral Researchers

to join us in the Frontiers of Arctic and Global Resilience (FRONT) research programme (Profi7) at the University of Oulu. The postdoctoral researcher positions will be placed in the Faculty of Humanities, the Faculty of Education and Psychology, and the Faculty of Science.

The FRONT research programme forms a part of our national profiling actions supported by the Research Council of Finland. FRONT programme focuses on changing human-environment relations and challenges to cope and adapt with that change and aims to ground-breaking transdisciplinary research on resilience and how to ‘Adapt for Our Future’ in the Arctic and elsewhere on the planet. The programme involves cutting-edge research to advance the existing frontiers of knowledge on the systemic changes needed for resilience planning and governance, and for finding solutions to the wicked problems of resilience across the social and environmental sciences. FRONT focuses on international top-level collaborative and transdisciplinary research on socio-economic and socio-ecological resilience in different scales across social and environmental sciences, supported by the new Resilience Academy. By bringing together international, national, and University of Oulu-based scholars from across disciplines, and encouraging effective public communication of science, FRONT will promote inter- and transdisciplinary and citizen-engaged studies of the environment and raise the University’s profile as an international leader in addressing the challenges of humans in change and human impacts and dependency on environment. 

About the jobs

(1) Indigenous resilience in polycrisis era

We are looking for a scholar to join a research project dedicated to exploring the resilience of Indigenous Sámi culture, with a particular focus on the experiences and perspectives of younger generations. The study is framed within the context of polycrisis—a concept that refers to the interconnected and mutually reinforcing nature of global-local crises, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and geopolitical conflicts. These overlapping challenges compound one another, leading to complex and unpredictable processes as well as new path dependencies that heighten uncertainty and drive material changes. The project investigates how Sámi communities and individuals, both within and beyond Sápmi, particularly youth, navigate and sustain cultural resilience amid these shifting material, political and social dynamics. In addition to working within the interdisciplinary FRONT programme, you will be based at the Giellagas Institute, which offers a dynamic academic environment devoted to the study and revitalization of Sámi languages, culture, and society. Suitable academic backgrounds for this position include, but are not limited to, Sámi studies, sociology, political science, and history. The research will involve both qualitative and basic-level quantitative methods, and we value candidates who are open to interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative research approaches.

(2) Socio-ecological resilience from a psychological and/or an educational perspective

We are looking for a scholar to work in a project about how young people (foremost late adolescents and young adults) relate to climate change. The focus will be on identifying resilience factors - at a personal, social-psychological (friends, family), ecological (nature contact), and institutional level (school) - that can turn difficult emotions concerning climate change (like anxiety) into constructive forces for learning and an active citizenship (pro-environmental behaviour, collective and political engagement), while maintaining mental wellbeing, and/or could help young people to deal constructively with conflicts when trying try to live in a more sustainable way (hope as agency work). You will work together with the socio-ecological research team in planning and collecting survey data, analysing data with advanced statistics, and writing and publishing scientific articles in international journals. Participation in other sub-studies may also be the case, also qualitative studies. Strong skills in statistics and experience of working with survey studies are a requirement as well as an openness to other scientific disciplines and multidisciplinary approaches. Experience of other methodological approaches, for example, qualitative approaches, diary studies, intervention studies, experiments, participatory research, is a merit.

(3) Geospatial research methods

We are looking for a scholar conversant in resilience research on areas that can be related e.g. to climate and disaster risk management, natural resources management, sustainable development (and SDGs) governance, local and regional planning and development, and sustainability transformations. You are expected to develop and apply geospatial and other research methods on how to assess resilience in different spatial and temporal scales. You should have strong skills in GIS and geospatial methods as well as an openness to other research methods. We value social science or interdisciplinary research background.

As a postdoctoral researcher you will

• Collaborate in service to FRONT programme, faculty, and university
• Participate in the development and activities of the Resilience Academy of Oulu (RAO)
• Engage in writing and submitting applications for research funding
• Take part in teaching activities, subject to faculty and research unit needs and the successful candidate’s own teaching/research capabilities and interests.

What we offer?

• We offer you a supportive academic environment in a community of committed scholars and the possibility to make use of funding opportunities to generate new research ideas and build an innovative programme that will attract international scholars.
• The University of Oulu offers flexible working hours, an excellent work-life balance and provides a range of occupational healthcare services.
• Our competitive salaries include paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. Read more about working with us and our other staff benefits.

What we expect

• A doctoral degree in a relevant field that was awarded not more than ten years ago
• A transdisciplinary research orientation with demonstrated research experience or interest
• Good, demonstrated capacity to collaborate in research and research dissemination activities
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills in English

Salary

The position is fixed term for a maximum of two years starting 1.1.2025 or as agreed.

The salary will be based on levels 5-6 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (a maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). The starting gross salary will be approx. 3600-4200 € per month (before taxes).  

A trial period of 6 months is applied for the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by the 21st of October 2024 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

• CV following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 
• Cover letter (please state which of the three positions you are applying for)
• List of publications, following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland
• Certificates/Diplomas Contact information of 2 persons available for recommendation

The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified during the selection process.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, such as people of different ages, genders, and lingual, cultural, or minority groups. 

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact 

Indigenous resilience in polycrisis era: Tapio Nykänen, Associate Professor, Faculty of Humanities, Giellagas Institute, tapio.nykanen@oulu.fi

Socio-ecological resilience from a psychological and/or an educational perspective: Maria Ojala, Professor in socio-ecological resilience, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Values, Ideologies and Social Contexts of Education, maria.ojala@oulu.fi

Geospatial research methods: Aleksi Räsänen, Associate Professor, Faculty of Science, Geography Research Unit, aleksi.rasanen@oulu.fi, tel. +358503719512.

General questions: Lotta Haukipuro, Coordinator, Frontiers of Arctic and Global Resilience (FRONT) research programme, lotta.haukipuro@oulu.fi, tel. +358 440 661 683

1. Lotta Haukipuro, +358440661683