Research Assistants/Project Researchers

The Eskelinen research team is looking for two or three motivated, enthusiastic and independent

Research Assistants/Project Researchers

to work in our Global change and biotic interactions -group with plant communities.

You will mainly conduct field work in a beautiful grassland metacommunity system in the archipelago of southern Finland, Åland Islands, and/or in tundra grasslands in the very northern Scandinavia, Kilpisjärvi. In our Research Council of Finland funded project in Åland, we examine how global changes affect plant biodiversity, functional traits and ecosystem functioning in a natural plant metacommunity system with varying grazing, habitat size and connectivity. In Kilpisjärvi, we examine how reindeer grazing interacts with climate warming and nutrient enrichment to affect plant biodiversity, inter- and intraspecific traits and various ecosystem functions.

You can be a bachelor’s/master’s level student or already advanced in your career, we will shape the position based on the selected persons’ background. You will work in an international researcher team. The work language will be English, but we are preferably looking for persons who can also speak at least some Swedish.   

Contents of tasks

(can vary depending on the level of employment and the main strengths of the hired person)

• Conducting independently or helping with plant community (e.g., cover, biomass, functional trait, seedling surveys) and soil/ecosystem function (e.g., root biomass, photosynthesis, soil microbial) sampling
• Applying experimental treatments
• Processing plant biomass, traits (e.g., SLA), roots and soil in a lab (partly in Oulu, can be negotiated)
• Communicating with landowners in Åland
• Helping researchers in various tasks in the field and lab

Requirements

• For project researcher: Recent Master’s degree in Ecology
• For research assistant: Ecology student or Bachelor’s degree in Ecology

General requirements:

• Capability for independent and detail-orientated work in both field and laboratory, including sometimes challenging weather conditions and remote places in the field
• Good knowledge of plant species (especially species in Southern Finland/Central Europe and/or tundra species)
• Field work experience with plant communities
• Ability to work in a team, good social skills in general
• Interest in plant community ecology, biodiversity, functional traits, and global changes. Skills in measuring functional traits will be a strong asset.
• Good English skills, Swedish skills will be an asset (in Åland)
• Previous knowledge about field work in the Åland Islands and/or Kilpisjärvi will be an asset

Salary and terms of employment

The positions will be fixed term for 1-3 months, starting from 1.6.2026, or as agreed. The duration can be adjusted. A trial period of max 50% of the duration of the contract will be included. Employment comes via the University of Oulu, and fieldwork takes place in the Åland Islands and/or in Kilpisjärvi. Salary depends on education and experience, which affect the responsibilities and tasks.

Salary is in accordance with the Finnish universities’ salary system: for the research assistant according to the teaching and research personnel level 1, and for the project researcher according to the other staff level 6-9. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50% of the job-specific component). Typical starting salary for a research assistant is approx. 2300–2500€ per month (before taxes) for a project researcher is approx. 2600-3100€ per month (before taxes).

How to apply

Applications should be submitted using the electronic application form by the 20^th of March 2026 at 23:59 (Finnish local time). The application should be written in English and include the following:

1) Curriculum vitae

2) A letter of motivation including names of two refences

For further information

please contact Dr. Anu Eskelinen (anu.eskelinen@oulu.fi).