A Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor or Full Professor in Space magnetism and space hazards

We are now looking for

A Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor or Full Professor in Space magnetism and space hazards

to join us in SafeEarth Research Programme at the University of Oulu (Finland).

The programme forms a part of our national profiling actions supported by the Research Council of Finland.

The University of Oulu has offices in several locations, e.g. in the Linnanmaa campus in Oulu and the Tähtelä space campus in Sodankylä Geophysical Observatory.

The University has recently launched a new multi-faculty strategic research programme, SafeEarth. SafeEarth aims at novel ways of recognizing and tackling safety and security threats by studying 1) how solar storms with sudden energy releases and particle bursts create natural hazards on timescales from seconds to centuries, 2) how the effects of humanmade attacks, especially in the cyberspace, can be minimized, and 3) how language, communication and information practices enable protective actions.

About the job

As an Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, you will research and teach space magnetism and space hazard physics. The purpose of your work is to gain new knowledge on the effects by space hazards to high-tech systems, vital societal functions and humans. Understanding how solar storms and other space disturbances create natural hazards in polar regions is required. The work includes tasks such as:

• develop and sustain research, scholarly and creative activities leading to academic publications and public-facing outreach initiatives
• establish research partnerships across disciplinary boundaries in Finland and internationally
• collaborate with other researchers in the SafeEarth programme, faculty and university
• communicate research results to the academic community, relevant stakeholders and the public
• supervise undergraduate and graduate students’ theses
• develop and teach undergraduate and graduate level courses
• develop new capabilities and practices to understand the Sun-Earth system by using existing long-term data and research infrastructures hosted by the University of Oulu
• support to renew the scientific profile of the university and produce evidence-based knowledge to enable arctic and space exploration

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

Who are you?

We search for candidates with strong expertise in the fields of space physics and magnetic phenomena or other relevant fields. We appreciate the demonstrated capability to renew science and the capability of producing new ground-breaking knowledge. In addition, we expect 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.

Our tenure track (Assistant and Associate Professor) is positioned for exceptionally talented researchers with a high potential to advance in their careers. The Professor position is targeted at experienced and highly qualified candidates who have already advanced in their careers. The top candidates will undergo an evaluation by external, international experts and are required to reach top scores (5-6 on a scale from 1 to 6 for scientific activity and as the overall score) to qualify for the position.

You are expected to hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field. Because this is an interdisciplinary position, depending on the position level, we expect vision (assistant) or demonstrated experience (associate/full professors) in interdisciplinary approaches in research. We also expect that you have excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.

The general criteria for each career level are as follows:

Qualifications for a tenure track Assistant Professor position: You must demonstrate the ability to work independently and have proven teaching skills. 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.

Qualifications for a Professor position: You must demonstrate high-quality academic qualifications and experience of leading research. You are able to provide high-quality teaching based on research and also supervise thesis work. You are expected to show evidence of international cooperation and should already be an academic leader in your field.

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.

Salary

Those hired at the Assistant or Associate level will be tenure track positions with five-year terms at each level. The Professor position will be a permanent, tenured position.

In Assistant or Associate Professor positions, the salary is based on levels 5-7 and in the Professor position, on levels 8-10 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 salary will likely be between 3800-5500 for an Assistant or Associate Professor and 6000-7200 for a Professor. A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 6.5.2025 (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.
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity Tenk
3. Narrative CV, using the given template and information: principles for the assessment of research and researchers at the University of Oulu
4. List of publications following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland, with the ten most important ones marked
5. Details regarding the acquisition of research funds
6. Brief account of teaching merits or a teaching portfolio, max 2 pages, including:
   • Teaching philosophy, teaching strategies, and methods
   • Teachers' self-reflection on their teaching style and personal background ideas of teaching; how are these reflected in teaching?
   • A description of oneself as a teacher and an implementer of educational work
   • Practical experience in teaching and efforts to improve teaching
   • Description of educational material (curricula, handouts, assignments, workbooks)
   • Professional development as a teacher
   • Evaluation of teaching (student evaluations, peer evaluations, awards, and assessed test lectures)
   • Plans for future directions of teaching in the discipline concerned
7. A brief research and action plan, max 3 pages
8. Contact details 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 and patents
• 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

If you have any further questions, please contact the coordinator of the SafeEarth Programme, Emma Bruus, emma.bruus@oulu.fi, +358 50 573 1213

Or

SafeEarth Programme leader Professor Eija Tanskanen, eija.tanskanen@oulu.fi.