Research Assistant in the Horizon Europe ICEBERG project - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

We are now looking for

Research Assistant

to join the University of Oulu’s Faculty of Humanities, Unit of History, Culture and Communications.

The part time (50%) three-year Research Assistant position will work within the European Commission’s Horizon Europe-funded ICEBERG “Innovative community engagement for building effective resilience and Arctic Ocean pollution-control governance in the context of climate change” project (2024-2026). The ICEBERG project is led by the University of Oulu (Lead Coordinator). As a Project Management Assistant at the University of Oulu, you will support the lead coordinating team in the management of the ICEBERG project.

The faculty and research group

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

Located on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia in Northern Finland with over 13,500 students and over 3,500 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 ICEBERG project

The ICEBERG consortium is composed of 16 European beneficiaries from nine countries (Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain). ICEBERG has a two-fold aim: to comprehensively assess sources, types, distributions, and impacts of pollution in combination with climate-induced stressors on ecosystems and communities in the European Arctic's land-ocean continuum using a One Health approach, and to develop strategies for enhancing community-led resilience, and pollution-control governance. ICEBERG focusses on western Svalbard, southern Greenland, and northern Iceland, investigating known and emerging pollutants (macro-, micro, nanoplastics, ship emissions, wastewater, POPs, and heavy metals). Using simulations, remote sensing, and in-situ observations, ICEBERG studies the effects of pollution (from Arctic ship traffic, freshwater discharge/cryosphere meltwater, wastewater, land-based atmospheric pollution) on the marine food web. It also analyzes chemical contaminants in the food chain to understand the combined effects of Climate Change and pollution on human health. The project evaluates the impact of micro- and nano-plastics and persistent organic pollutants on human health. ICEBERG develops automatic marine litter detection tools with drones, AI, and citizen science. It emphasizes multi-stakeholder and gender-based approaches to assess the impact, risks, and vulnerabilities on Indigenous and local communities and co-design local pollution-control strategies, which includes both mitigation (reducing pollution) and adaptation (reducing vulnerability to pollution), through scenario modeling. The project creates innovative governance approaches for pollution control in the Arctic.

Job description

As a Research Assistant for the ICEBERG project, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the project management and coordination team. You will be jointly supervised by Dr Thora Herrmann, the project leader, and Dr Élise Lépy, the project manager. You will benefit from the ICEBERG consortium’s extensive network of researcher and practitioner contacts, and you will have a unique opportunity to engage with different stakeholders in the Arctic, and will be able to collaborate with several research groups. Your responsibilities will include:

• Project coordination: assisting in the coordination of project activities, timelines, and deliverables,
• Documentation: maintaining project documentation and records,
• Communication: facilitating communication between team members, stakeholders, and partners,
• Administrative Support: providing administrative support to the project manager and team, including scheduling meetings, managing travel arrangements, and other logistical tasks,
• Reporting: assisting in the preparation of project reports and updates for the funder.

What we offer?

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team of people where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being and flexible multi-location and remote work opportunities. Read more about other staff benefits.
• Work-life balance: we don't count Saturdays as holiday periods!
• Development and career options of the big organisation.
• 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?

We expect from you the following qualifications and skills:

• A Bachelor or Master’s degree (or other applicable Master's degree) in a related field of environmental sciences, business administration, or equivalent.
• Proficiency in project management software and Microsoft Office, including Microsoft Teams
• Strong communication skills, excellent command of written and spoken English language
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team
• High self-motivation and ability to manage multiple tasks and to work efficiently
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to identify and resolve problems quickly

It is an advantage if you have:

• a good command of Finnish language
• prior experience in project management or research coordination
• knowledge of environmental research and Arctic issue

Applications from students are also welcome.

Salary

The position is part time (50%) and fixed term starting from 01.01.2024 (or as agreed as soon as possible thereafter) until 31.12.2026.

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). The starting gross salary for the part time position (50%) will be approximately 1100-1300€ per month (before taxes). A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 22.11.2023 through our recruitment system.

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

• 1) A motivation letter (max. 1 page) summarizing your professional experience and expertise and describing why you are interested in this position.
• 2) Curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages).
• 3) Certificates/Diplomas: Scanned copy of your Bachelor’s or/and Master’s and diploma and transcript, officially translated to either Finnish or English (if originally in another language).
• 4) Contact information of two previous employer references who may be asked to give a personal statement about you (note that these will only be requested if you are shortlisted for this position).

Only applications containing all relevant appendices and submitted through the online recruitment system will be considered. The top candidates will be invited to an on-site or online interview. All applicants will be notified at the various stages of the selection process, including once it has been completed.

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 Prof Thora Herrmann (thora.herrmann@oulu.fi) or Dr Élise Lépy (elise.lepy@oulu.fi).