Professor, Social scientific youth research

We are now looking for

a Professor of Social Scientific Youth Research

to join us in the Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu, Finland. The position is permanent and will be filled from the 1st of October 2025 or as soon as possible.

About the job

The successful candidate is required to have a doctoral degree in a relevant field and a strong track record of conducting outstanding scientific research. This includes publishing in leading scientific journals, attracting external research funding, and supervising doctoral students.

The selected candidate will conduct and develop research and teaching in the area of the position within the faculty and at the University of Oulu, including teaching and developing the curriculum of minor studies in sociology. The language of instruction in the University of Oulu is Finnish, and the degrees are awarded in Finnish. Teaching is to be given in Finnish and English.

You are:

In order to succeed and enjoy the position, we expect from you: 

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field
• High level of scientific qualification (including possible docentship)
• Demonstrated excellence in scientific research
• Demonstrated ability to lead and provide high-quality research-based education at Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral levels
• Demonstrated experience in supervising doctoral theses
• Demonstrated international research cooperation in the field of the professorship
• Demonstrated ability to attract competitive external research funding and act as an Academic Leader
• Experience in high societal impact and research dissemination to stakeholders and the general public
• Fluency in Finnish language, excellent oral and written language skills in English
• Particular merit is given to overlaps between applicant’s research profile and educational and pedagogical research questions.

We offer:

As a Faculty of Education and Psychology, we offer a nationally and internationally respected education and research environment, which embraces societal impact. We carry out and develop interdisciplinary and international research and teacher training. Our research community members are supported by highly skilled administrators, excellent library facilities and research services. Read about staff benefits and more about working with us.

Oulu is a combination of beautiful, northern nature, vivid cultural life and modern technology. The city is also known for its highly educated people and friendly, easy-going atmosphere. Oulu enjoys the high standard of living Finland is known for, while living is very affordable compared to many of its other university cities. The Oulu region is home to over 200,000 people making it the largest urban centre in northern Nordics and one of the fastest growing regions in Finland. Check all the possibilities we can offer.

 Salary

The position is permanent from 1.10.2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. The beginning salary will be based on the level 8 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). Starting gross salary will be approx. 6000-6400 € per month (before taxes).  A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position. Within the full-time working hours (1612 hours per annum) and an annually confirmed working plan, the professor shall teach in the faculty’s introductory, intermediate and advanced level courses and supervise theses.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 7.5.2025 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system. The application should be written in English and the following information needs to be included:

1. Cover letter
2. CV (5 pages) following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity and a Narrative CV (1 page) following the guidelines in the Principles for the assessment of research and researchers at the University of Oulu 
3. List of publications following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland
4. Brief account of teaching merits or teaching portfolio (max 3 pages)
   • Pedagogical training
   • Demonstrated practical experience in teaching and efforts to improve teaching
   • Production of teaching material (books, book chapters, curricula, handouts, assignments, workbooks)
   • Awards and assessed demonstration lectures
   • Plans for future directions of research-based teaching in the discipline concerned
5. Brief research and action plan (max 3 pages)
6. Description of what kinds of collaboration opportunities you see with the research conducted at the Faculty of Educational and Psychology (max 3 pages). The descriptions of the faculty's research groups can be found under each unit's website.
7. Contact information of 2–4 persons available for recommendation

The selection process follows the University of Oulu’s recruitment guidelines. The process is carried out by a recruitment committee and the candidates that are considered most suitable by the committee will be assessed based on the following merits:

• Scientific activities and their reflection in the publication record, scientific presentations and other recognitions, e.g. awards
• Teaching activities and their evaluation (teaching portfolio; including students’ evaluation of the candidate’s teaching performance)
• Supervision of doctoral students
• Acquisition of competitive research funds
• International scientific activities and contacts
• Services for the academic community
• Academic and societal relevance and potential of activities
• Relevance of activities to the research areas of the faculty and plans to participate in the coming years

Special consideration will be given to candidates whose research profile intersects with issues of education and pedagogy, as well as with the research areas of the Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu.

Three (3) external reviewers approved by the university’s research committee will be invited to review the applications. The applicants are informed about the selection of the reviewers. Based on an assessment of the applicants’ merits, the recruitment committee can at its discretion limit the number of applicants to be subjected to evaluation by the external reviewers. The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview and demonstration lecture.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Maija Lanas, Dean of the Faculty of Education and Psychology

Email: maija.lanas@oulu.fi

Phone: +358503504983

Saana Korkeakivi, HR Manager

Email: saana.korkeakivi@oulu.fi

Phone: +358504757963