Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Freshwater Biodiversity

We are now looking for a

Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Freshwater Biodiversity

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

We are looking for a motivated and talented researcher with a strong background in freshwater biodiversity and research on or relevant to habitat/environmental restoration to join our interdisciplinary Research Council of Finland Profi8 programme.

SAFIRE is a new strategic research programme which brings together the faculties of Sciences, Humanities, and Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. SAFIRE’s focus is the production of scientifically excellent and actionable knowledge on habitat restoration, especially in the Arctic regions. SAFIRE aims to develop transdisciplinary processes to improve habitat restoration through basic and applied science, engaging and co-producing knowledge and solutions with societal actors, and the integration of advanced modelling approaches, both at the level of individual projects and at an institutional level within the University of Oulu SAFIRE will also advance research and discussion concerning the multiple environmental and societal contributors to ecosystem restoration and will strengthen the collaborative role of the natural sciences, social sciences, and the 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 between research disciplines and 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 ecological and social 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 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, especially in the fields of Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration;
• Supervise graduate research students (MA and PhD levels) and postdocs;
• Finnish skills or the motivation to learn Finnish is an asset;
• Support the strategic aim to renew the scientific profile of the university and to promote multi- and interdisciplinary research approaches;
• Participate on funding calls and project management

Who are you?

We invite applications from candidates with strong academic backgrounds in ecology, zoology, limnology and/or other related research fields, who have experience with freshwater biodiversity and preferentially applied ecosystem restoration or conduct research relevant to ecosystem restoration. The candidate will be working with an interdisciplinary research team and conduct research on freshwater biodiversity and how to make the restoration of freshwater habitats, with a special focus on Finland and Arctic regions, more efficient. Experience in experimental ecology, stakeholder engagement and the motivation to collaborate closely with other disciplines, such as genetics, hydrology and social sciences, are assets.

Experience in leading research groups and academic endeavors and in successfully applying for research funding is welcome. Experience of working across disciplines and/or collaborating with other sciences is a plus. The appointed candidate will be expected to collaborate closely with other SAFIRE members in the Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, and Faculty of Science. Our tenure track (Assistant and Associate Professor) is positioned for accomplished researchers with a high potential to advance in their careers.

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. 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.

Find out more about our tenure track system, entry criteria, evaluation procedure and advancement on our career website.

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 generous start-up package that comes with funding for research expenses and the hiring of a postdoctoral researcher (3 years) or a doctoral researcher (3 years). 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 to Oulu. Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and 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.

Salary

Those hired at the Assistant or Associate level will be 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 salary will likely be between 3800-5500 for an Assistant or Associate Professor. A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply and evaluation process

Please apply 19.5.2025 (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 at.

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

3. Narrative CV (1 page), using the given template (more guidelines 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. Brief account of research merits (1 page)

6. Brief account of teaching merits or teaching portfolio (2 page).

These should cover the following points:

a. Teaching philosophy, teaching strategies, and methods.

b. Practical experience in teaching and efforts to improve teaching.

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

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

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

7. Details regarding acquisition of research funds.

8. A brief research and action plan for the first 2 years in the appointment (2 page).

9. Contact information of 2–4 persons available as referees.

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

For further questions, please contact the Lead of SAFIRE, Stefan Prost, stefan.prost@oulu.fi, +358 505 766 384.

Or

Vice-Lead of SAFIRE, Anna Krzywoszynska, anna.krzywoszynska@oulu.fi, +358 503 209 267.