Postdoctoral Researcher in Kvantum spearhead project “Mosses, nature’s purifier, for reducing land use-derived metal and nutrient loads in catchments (PUREWA)”

We are now looking for

a Postdoctoral Researcher

to join us in Ecology and Genetics Research unit (EGRU) at the Faculty of Science. Within the University of Oulu, EGRU is fully aligned with the research strategy under the theme "Mitigating climate change and safeguarding biodiversity" as well as Kvantum Institute's profiling themes Biodiverse, Arctic, Digital Water Systems and Global Resilience, and Green Transition and Circular Economy.

Kvantum Institute is one of the centres for multidisciplinary research in areas of global challenges and it contributes to cross-faculty research cooperation at the University of Oulu by interdisciplinary networking, multidisciplinary projects and doctoral training, crossing faculty boundaries. 

About the job

The Kvantum Institute spearhead project PUREWA aims to study and develop passive, moss-based water purification for reducing metal and nutrient leakage caused by land use change. Clean water is a crucially important natural resource. However, aquatic ecosystems are threatened by multiple stressors due to climate change and increasing land use. As a result, the amount of nutrients and metals increases in the catchments, which slows down the decomposition of organic matter and disrupts the biodiversity of aquatic ecosystems. This results in increased water brownification and acidification, eventually threatening the quality of drinking water. There is an urgent need for sustainable and cost-effective water treatment solutions in the cold conditions of the Arctic. Microbes can significantly enhance the uptake of heavy metals by plants, and several moss species are efficient in accumulating toxic contaminants from wastewater in cold conditions. We aim to 1) Identify the most efficient moss-microbe combinations for phytoremediation of brownified water, 2) Understand the metabolic processes of phytoremediation, 3) Develop tools, and 4) Formulate recommendations on using mosses in phytoremediation.

What we offer?

•  The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team of ten people where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert (See Host-Microbe Interactions) 
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits here.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and close-ones in settling into Oulu.
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• We have a HR Excellence in Research -quality label which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers. 
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you? 

We are looking for a researcher with strong prior experience on mutualistic plant-microbe interactions (endophytes), microbiology, molecular biology, mosses, and their manipulation. In addition, candidates experienced in omics methods such as amplicon sequencing, metagenomics or -transcriptomics, and metabolomics along with bioinformatic analysis of the corresponding data are appreciated.

The post-doc candidate:

• guides and sets an example to younger PhD students in the lab
• identifies directions for future scientific research
• holds a PhD degree in plant biology, microbiology, or other relevant field, obtained less than ten years ago 

A successful candidate:

• is fluent with several advanced molecular biology methods and plant tissue culture techniques in the lab
• easily communicates in the English language in an open verbal manner
• has a team player spirit
• has an ambitious work ethic
• critically contributes to the writing of manuscripts and grant proposals
• makes efforts to obtain independent funding
• fuels internal discussions of recent publications in the field

We also appreciate

• Finnish language skills

Salary

The position is fixed-term for four years as of 01.01.2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

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 in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 11.11.2024 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

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

1. Motivation letter
2. CV, following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 
3. List of publications, following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland 
4. Certificates/Diplomas
5. 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, different genders and members of different language, cultural or minority groups. 

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact prof. Anna Maria Pirttilä, +358-294 48 1545