Postdoctoral Researcher on Interdisciplinary Project about Mosquitoes in the Arctic

We are now looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher

to join the interdisciplinary research project “Insects of the North”.

The Postdoctoral Researcher will be based in the Faculty of Humanities, Unit of History, Culture and Communications, and will be part of a new international consortium research project, “Insects of the North”, funded by the EU program Interreg Aurora. Insects of the North is a cross-border collaboration between northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway that aims to better understand human relations to blood-sucking insects and to develop methods adapted to northern conditions for monitoring and predicting populations of insects. The three year project seeks to fill critical knowledge gaps about insect biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics in the northernmost parts of Europe. By combining scientific research with traditional ecological knowledge, the project will inform conservation strategies and enhance public understanding of the ecological significance of insects in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions.

The University of Oulu’s component of this project involves important ethnographic research (qualitative data collection and analysis), and seeks to involve environmental social science and environmental humanities perspectives. The qualitative research is led by Prof Vesa-Pekka Herva and Dr Roger Norum, University of Oulu. In principle we are looking to hire a researcher for 50% part-time over 24 months. However, alternative arrangements, such as a 100% full-time position for a total of 12 months, or some other permutation of percentage and duration, may also be possible. The project funding is fixed, however, and project work cannot be extended beyond December 2027.

This project benefits from a close affiliation to two large PROFI research programmes, Biodiverse Anthropocenes, focused on biodiversity loss, and SAFIRE, focused on ecosystem restoration. These innovative, transdisciplinary initiatives coalesce researchers from across the social and natural sciences to collaboratively investigate environmental relations and action. The postdoctoral researcher will be encouraged to become a core member of both and take part in the programmes’ active calendar of interdisciplinary activities and events.

Located on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia in Northern Finland with 13,900 students and 3,800 employees, the University of Oulu is one of the Nordic countries’ largest universities and a global leader in studies of Arctic environments and peoples. The research unit of History, Culture and Communications, in which the position will be based, combines cutting-edge expertise of archaeology, cultural anthropology, information studies, history, and the history of science and ideas.

About the job

The Postdoctoral Researcher will become a key member of the interdisciplinary EU-funded project “Insects of the North”. The postdoc will be primarily responsible for designing, conducting, and analyzing ethnographic interviews with local and Indigenous communities in northern Finland, Sweden (and possibly Norway). These interviews will focus on traditional ecological knowledge and lived experiences, perceptions, memories, imaginations and practices related to blood-sucking insects such as mosquitoes and biting midges. The researcher will explore how these insects feature in local lifeways, oral histories, seasonal practices, and cultural understandings of the environment. Working closely with project partners, the postdoc will contribute qualitative insights to help contextualize insect monitoring data within broader social and cultural frameworks. The role involves periods of fieldwork (both during the summer season as well as at other times of the year) and project tasks include community engagement, ethical collaboration with knowledge holders, and interdisciplinary analysis aimed at integrating ethnographic findings into the project’s broader goals of developing predictive tools and informing conservation policy in Arctic and sub-Arctic contexts.

A core goal of the “Insects of the North” project is to establish and encourage practices of knowledge exchange among diverse stakeholders in order to understand how environmental and ethnographic data can be integrated with broader stakeholder perceptions. This will improve how environmental and biodiversity data is used and put into practice by decision-makers at local, municipal, state, and international levels of policymaking. The “Insects of the North” project is a Nordic cross-border cooperation led by Norrbotten County (Sweden), with partners including Västerbotten County, Västernorrland County, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), and the University of Oulu.

For this position we are looking to recruit a talented and highly motivated research-oriented person interested in human-insect relations, biodiversity loss, and qualitative research methods. Prof Herva and Dr Norum have engaged with human-environmental relations extensively and from multiple perspectives, and the postdoctoral researcher will benefit from the team’s experience and contact networks, as well as from the community of scholars in the Biodiverse Anthropocenes and SAFIRE research programmes. The hired candidate will also be encouraged to engage with another new Oulu-led project about ecological knowledge practices in rural Europe, RURALEX — Knowledge in Crisis: The Dynamics of Environmental Expertise amidst Rural Change. The hired researcher will thus have a unique opportunity to produce original work within a new and dynamically growing research area. You are encouraged to take a transdisciplinary approach across, between and beyond various disciplines, as well as to push innovative creative research methods (e.g. walking interviews, soundscape ecology, etc.).

Working with an established group of scholars and stakeholders across the Nordic countries on the “Insects of the North” project, the postdoctoral researcher's primary roles will be to:

• Design and carry out qualitative interviews and deploy survey questionnaires in key project research sites in Northern Finland and Sweden (and possibly Norway);
• Analyze collected qualitative data;
• Work with entomologists and ecologists to integrate quantitative data into analyses, where required;
• Disseminate research results in publications and at workshops and conferences;
• Engage in knowledge exchange activities with team, Faculty and programme members;
• Participate in outreach initiatives with both academic and non-academic publics;
• Play an active role in logistical and administrative aspects of the project, including taking part in regular project meetings, assisting with project reporting, and convening exchanges with visiting scholars;
• Take part in teaching or supervisory activities, subject to your particular teaching/research capabilities and interests, and to faculty needs (max 5% of the total 1612 working hours per year);
• Carry out other relevant support functions.

What we offer

• We offer you a place in an excellent research programme, working to solve globally significant research problems. The University of Oulu has a strong transdisciplinary environmental research community; this position will place you at the forefront of this dynamically growing research area.
• The University offers a wide variety of support services, allowing you to focus on your work. In addition to modern facilities, we offer you personnel benefits such as free occupational healthcare, support for sport services and opportunities to develop your skills and competences.
• Regular salary is paid 12 months per year, including paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. The employed person will be insured by the university. The Finnish government provides benefits to residents and their families, for example possibility to the national healthcare system and high-quality affordable childcare and school services.
• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits here.
• 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, excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

In order to succeed in and enjoy the position, we would expect from you:

• An applicable Doctoral degree in a relevant field (archaeology, anthropology, geography, environmental humanities, STS, or a related field) that has been awarded not more than ten years ago;
• An interest in (and ideally experience with) issues related to insects, animals, biodiversity, and sustainability;
• High motivation, efficiency, self-organization; independence, and the ability to work in a group;
• An experience in qualitative social scientific research, in particular interdisciplinary work;
• Fluency in Finnish and adequate proficiency in Swedish (enough to conduct ethnographic interviews);
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills in English.

We also appreciate:

• A transdisciplinary research orientation, with work anchored in multiple approaches from across the social, natural sciences and/or humanities.
• Interest in working with insect ecologists, biologists and other STEM scientists.
• Capacity to collaborate in research and research dissemination activities.

Salary

The position is part-time (50%) and fixed-term for 24 months beginning on 1.10.2025 or as soon as possible thereafter and ending on 30.9.2027. Possible arrangements such as a 100% full-time position for a total of 12 months, or some other permutation of percentage and duration, may also be possible. The project work cannot be extended beyond December 2027.

The salary will be based on the levels 5-6 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). Starting gross salary will be approx. 3600-4200 € per month (before taxes). For 50% working time the salary will be approx. 1800-2100 € per month (before taxes).

A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by Sunday, 31st of August 2025 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. Curriculum vitae (max 4 pages, additional pages will not be considered)
2. A motivation letter (max 2 pages; additional pages will not be considered), in which you detail your academic career and other work experience in relation to the position, and how your expertise and skills are suited to the project's required tasks.
3. A sample of academic writing – e.g. an academic paper, book chapter, chapter of PhD thesis.
4. The contact details of two references
5. Any other attachments you deem significant for the coordinator position

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, including people of different ages, genders and members of different language, cultural or minority groups.

Contact Information

If you have any further questions about this position or the project, please contact Prof. Vesa-Pekka Herva (vesa-pekka.herva@oulu.fi) or Dr. Roger Norum (roger.norum@oulu.fi)