Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Social Science or Humanities approaches to Ecosystem Restoration

We are now looking for a

Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Social Science or Humanities approaches to Ecosystem Restoration

to join us in the research program SAFIRE: Safeguarding Biodiversity through Interdisciplinary Research on Habitat Restoration at the University of Oulu (Finland).

We wish to appoint an accomplished researcher with expertise in social science and/or humanities approaches to environmental issues to a tenure track position of Assistant or Associate Professor in Transdisciplinary Ecosystem Restoration. We invite applications from candidates with strong academic backgrounds in anthropology, human geography, environmental humanities, history, sociology, science and technology studies (STS), or other related fields. Interest in, or previous experience of work on ecosystem degradation and restoration is welcome. 

The University has recently launched a new strategic research programme, SAFIRE, which brings together the faculties of natural sciences, humanities, and engineering. SAFIRE’s focus is the production of scientifically excellent and actionable knowledge on habitat restoration, especially in the Arctic regions. SAFIRE will develop transdisciplinary processes of engaging and co-producing knowledge and solutions with societal actors, both at the level of individual projects and at an institutional level within Oulu University. We define transdisciplinarity as the inclusion of non-academic stakeholders in the process of knowledge production.

SAFIRE will advance research and discussion concerning the multiple societal and environmental contributors to ecosystem degradation and restoration. It will strengthen the collaborative role of the natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and engineering in current political and scientific debates about the environment, especially but not limited to the Arctic. Through three linked tenure track appointments and significant investment in transdisciplinary collaboration with societal actors, SAFIRE will promote inter- and transdisciplinary and citizen-engaged studies of the environment and raise the University’s profile as an international leader in restoring inter-related social and ecological systems.

SAFIRE is part of a wider Profi8 program at the University of Oulu, funded by the Research Council Finland, and it is co-led by the Faculties of Science and Humanities at the University of Oulu.

About the job

As an Assistant/Associate Professor, you will:

• Develop and sustain a distinctive program of research and creative scholarly initiatives leading to academic publications, research funding applications, and public-facing outreach initiatives;
• Establish transdisciplinary research partnerships in Finland and internationally;
• Collaborate with the relevant faculties at the University of Oulu to further the aims of SAFIRE;
• Participate in national and international scientific organizations;
• Communicate research results to the academic community, user groups and general public;
• Participate in administrative tasks related to the position at the faculties and the university;
• Design and lead undergraduate and graduate level courses (teaching allocation is recommended at 5-15% during the SAFIRE program);
• Supervise graduate research students (MA and PhD levels);
• Support the strategic aim to renew the scientific profile of the university and to promote multi- and interdisciplinary research approaches;
• Participate in funding calls and project management.

What do 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 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 other staff benefits.

This position includes a generous start-up package that comes with funding for research expenses and the hiring of a postdoctoral researcher or a doctoral researcher. The start-up package details are based on negotiations with appointable candidates. If you are moving from abroad, we offer relocation packages to support your smooth relocation to Oulu. Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and your close-ones in settling into Oulu.

Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Oulu is a city known for its stunning natural surroundings, vibrant cultural life, and friendly, easygoing atmosphere. Residents of Oulu enjoy Finland’s high standard of living combined with affordable housing. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

We search for candidates whose work will support the strategic aim of contributing new scientific understanding and delivering societally impactful research on ecosystem restoration. We expect an interdisciplinary research vision as well as strong collaboration and networking capabilities. We expect you to support the strategic aim to renew the scientific profile of the University of Oulu.

We invite applications from candidates with strong academic backgrounds in anthropology, human geography, sociology, environmental humanities, history, science and technology studies (STS), or other related fields.

The candidate for this position will be conversant in debates around current political, social, economic, and cultural challenges of environmental change and restoration. We are especially interested in candidates who have experience in participatory approaches (including, but not limited to, knowledge co-production, participatory action research, or citizen science) and/or who have already conducted research in the Arctic or the Nordics. Experience in leading research groups and academic endeavors and in successfully applying for research funding is welcome. Experience in working across disciplines and/or collaborating with natural sciences is a plus.

Because this is an interdisciplinary position, depending on the position level, we expect vision (Assistant Professor) or demonstrated experience (Associate Professor) in interdisciplinary approaches in research. The appointed candidate will be expected to collaborate closely with other SAFIRE members in the Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Engineering, and Faculty of Science.

Our tenure track (Assistant and Associate Professor) is a post for accomplished researchers with a high potential to advance in their careers.

Previous experience of work on ecosystem restoration, and/or in the Arctic, is welcome but not required. Knowledge of Finnish is not required.  

Qualifications for a tenure track assistant professor position

You must demonstrate the ability to work independently and have proven teaching skills. In order to be eligible for a position as Assistant Professor, you must have received your doctoral degree not more than ten years ago.

Qualifications for a tenure track associate professor position

You must demonstrate evidence of scholarly research work and relevant teaching skills. You must have the ability to lead research as well as have experience in acquiring external research funding. We also expect you to have sufficient and relevant experience in international scientific work and evidence of international cooperation.

Salary

Those hired at the assistant or associate level will be in tenure track positions with five-year terms at each level. A researcher appointed to a tenure track position has the opportunity to advance systematically through the tenure track career levels towards permanent professorship, provided that the performance criteria are met. 

In assistant or associate professor positions, the salary is based on levels 5-7 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 (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). In EUR terms, the starting salary will likely be between 3800-5500 for an assistant or associate professor. A trial period of 6 months is applied for the position.

How to apply and evaluation process

Interested? If yes, please apply by 19.05.2025 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

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

1. Cover letter, stating the career level on which you would like to be evaluated at (assistant professor or associate professor).

2. CV, following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity

3. Narrative CV (1 page), using the given template, more information: principles for the assessment of research and researchers at the University of Oulu)

4. List of publications, preferably with DOI identifications, following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland, with a separate list of the ten most important ones for this application

5. Details regarding acquisition of research funds

6. Brief account of teaching merits or a teaching portfolio (max 2 pages), including:

   1. Teaching philosophy, teaching strategies, and methods

   2. Teacher’s self-reflection on his/her teaching style, a personal background idea of teaching; how are these reflected in teaching?

   3. A description of oneself as a teacher and an implementer of educational work

   4. Practical experience in teaching and efforts to improve teaching

   5. Description of educational material (curricula, handouts, assignments, workbooks)

   6. Professional development as a teacher

   7. Evaluation of teaching (student evaluations, peer evaluations, awards, and assessed test lectures)

   8. Plans for future directions of teaching in the discipline concerned

7. A research and action plan, including the applicant’s vision of how to renew the field of science in SAFIRE (max 3 pages)

8. Contact information of 2–4 persons available for recommendation

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

The selection process follows the University of Oulu's recruitment guidelines. The process is carried out by a recruitment committee, and the candidates are subjected to publication analyses based on their publication lists. The candidates that are considered most suitable by the recruitment committee will also undergo an expert evaluation assessing the following merits:

• Research activities and their reflection in the candidate’s publication record, scientific presentations, and other recognitions, e.g. awards
• Teaching activities and their evaluation (teaching portfolio; including students’ evaluation)
• Supervision of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students
• Acquisition of competitive research funds
• International scientific activities (research, keynotes, workshops, conferences) and networks
• Academic community and administrative services
• Academic and public relevance of research activities

The eligible candidates 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.

Contact Information

For further questions, please contact the Vice-Lead of SAFIRE, Anna Krzywoszynska, anna.krzywoszynska@oulu.fi, +358 503 209 267,

or

Lead of SAFIRE, Stefan Prost, stefan.prost@oulu.fi .