Research Assistant on FORbEST research project (Horizon Europe)

We are now looking to hire a

Research Assistant

to join the University of Oulu’s Faculty of Humanities for a fixed-term position lasting until 31 July 2027.

You will work within the European Commission’s Horizon Europe-funded project FORbEST “Safeguarding carbon and biodiversity across European forest ecosystems through multi-actor innovation” (2025-2029). The FORbEST project is led by the University of Oulu (Lead Coordinator). You will support the lead coordinating team in the management of the FORbEST project.

The Research Assistant position is based within Cultural Anthropology in the Research Unit of History, Culture and Communications, which combines cutting-edge expertise of human-environment interactions, transdisciplinary environmental social sciences, cultural studies, political ecology, restoration, conservation, and mobility studies.

Located on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia in Northern Finland with over 14,500 students and 4,000 employees, the University of Oulu is one of the Nordic countries’ largest universities and a global leader in studies of Arctic environments and peoples.

About the job

As a Research Assistant for FORbEST, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the project management and coordination team. You will be jointly supervised by Ramona Arechiga, project manager, and Prof Roger Norum, the scientific coordinator. Your responsibilities will include:

• Project coordination: assisting in the coordination of project activities, timelines, and deliverables
• Documentation: maintaining project documentation and records on Microsoft Teams
• Communication: monitoring and managing internal project communication channels including Microsoft Teams, FORbEST project email, and email lists
• Administrative Support: providing administrative support to the project manager and team, including scheduling meetings, drafting meeting agendas, taking meeting minutes, and assisting other logistical tasks, as well as assisting with budget-related tasks 
• Reporting: assisting in the preparation, including formatting and copy-editing, of project reports (deliverables, progress reports etc.)
• Other duties: assisting in project's public facing communication including sharing out requests, posting to Microsoft Teams, copy-editing, formatting and general administrative support tasks as assigned

What we offer

• Work that matters! Read more about working with us.
• Development and career options of the big organisation. Read more about staff benefits.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy. The position is based in Oulu. Read more about living in Oulu! 

Who are you?

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

• A Bachelor's degree
• Advanced proficiency in project management software and Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Teams
• Strong competence in using PDF tools, Webropol, Outlook calendar and organising and hosting virtual meetings using Zoom
• Strong communication skills, excellent command of written and spoken English language
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team
• High self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks and to work efficiently

We also appreciate:

• Experience of working in EU funded research projects

Salary

The position is fixed term starting from 1 August 2026 until 31 July 2027 (or as agreed). The salary will be based on the levels 3-4 of the demand level chart for other expert and support 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). The starting gross salary for the position will be approximately 2200-2500€ per month (before taxes). A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 7 June 2026 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system. The application should be written in English and should include the following appendices:

• Cover letter (max. 1 page)
• Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages)
• Contact information of two previous employer references 

The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview. The selection process may include more than one interview. The shortlisted candidates are also asked to submit their diplomas, and their references will be contacted. All applicants will be notified during the selection process. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, such as people of different ages, genders, and linguistic, cultural, or minority groups.

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact:

Ramona Arechiga (ramona.arechiga@oulu.fi)

Roger Norum (roger.norum@oulu.fi)