Research assistant (Faculty of Humanities) - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

We are now looking for

A Research Assistant

to join us in the project "Rethinking Co-existence from the Margins (Co-Imagine)" at the University of Oulu’s Faculty of Humanities, Unit of History, Culture and Communications, for a 6-month fixed-term position lasting from 01.03.2024 until 31.08.2024 (or as agreed).

As a Research Assistant, you will support the principal investigator of the Co-Imagine project, gathering relevant documentation, preparing literature reviews, and contributing to setting-up the project's fieldwork and communication plans.

The faculty and research project

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

The Co-Imagine project is a four-year project funded by an Academy of Finland fellowship (2023-2027). Having started in September 2023, Co-Imagine engages with a fundamental question at the heart of social sciences: How do people live together? Between growing diversity and rising inequalities, this simple question has turned into a challenge for many democratic societies. Beyond debates about integration and the alleged incompatibility between cultures, Co-Imagine looks into coexistence in Finland and France. In each country, it zooms in on people’s everyday relationships unfolding in a cosmopolitan metropolis, a provincial town, and a rural area. Focusing the convergences between migration and locality, the project moves away from seeing them as distinct. Instead, it seeks to understand how the places people inhabit together, the bonds they form with others (or the lack thereof), and the ways they envision and make sense of their own lives illuminate how the social fabric is being maintained and transformed. Doing so, the project promotes constructive debates on coexistence with the objective to contribute to the advent of more inclusive and sustainable societies.

About the job

As a Research Assistant for the Co-Imagine project, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the setting-up of the project. You will be supervised by Dr Bruno Lefort, the principal investigator of the project. You will benefit from the international network of researchers activated by the project, and you will have a unique opportunity to engage with different key activities related to the launch of the project. Your responsibilities will include:

• Research: preparing literature reviews and assisting the principal investigator in the planification of the project's research activities,
• Documentation: gathering documentation relevant to the project, creating project's related documents (information sheets to participants, guidelines, etc.), and setting-up the project's data management system,
• Communication: participating in the development of the project's communication tools,
• Administrative Support: providing administrative support to the project's principal investigator, including assisting the preparation of the project ethical clearance.

What we offer?

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic researcher, as well as participating in the activities of a vibrant research environment where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Work-life balance: we don't count Saturdays as holiday periods!
• The possibility to work remotely from Finland
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• Work that matters! Read more about working with us.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu! 

Who are you?

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

• Master’s degree in social sciences, e.g., anthropology, human geography, sociology, or peace and conflict research.
• Strong communication skills and excellent command of written and spoken English.
• Ability to work independently in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• High self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks and to work effectively.
• Proficiency in project management software and Microsoft Office.

It is an advantage if you have some of the following skills and knowledge:

• prior experience in working in project(s). experience in desk studies, organizing research events, and communication of research.
• Knowledge of research fields related to coexistence, community relations, inclusion, and diversity, as demonstrated by, for example, the topic of the Master thesis or the specialization of the Master's programme.
• Knowledge of the research contexts in which the project operates, i.e., France and Finland.
• Prior experience in engaging with research documentation.

Salary

The position is fixed term starting from 01.03.2024 (or as agreed), for 6 months.

The salary will be based on the levels 2-4 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). Starting gross salary will be approx. 2000-2400 EUR per month (before taxes). A trial period of 3 months is applied in the position. 

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 23.02.2024 through our recruitment system. Please attach a cover letter and your CV.

The eligible applicants 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.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, such as people of different ages, genders and lingual, cultural or minority groups.

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact Dr Bruno Lefort (bruno.lefort@oulu.fi).