Research Assistants/Project Researchers

Our team (https://eskelinenresearch.com/) is looking for two (2) motivated, enthusiastic and independent

Research Assistants/Project Researchers

to work with a Global Change Effects on Plant Metacommunities Project.

You will mainly conduct fieldwork in a beautiful grassland metacommunity system in the archipelago of southern Finland, Åland Islands. In our Research Council of Finland funded project, we examine how global changes affect plant biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in a natural plant metacommunity system with varying grazing, habitat size and connectivity. In a separate Ministry of the Environment -funded Biodiversa-project, we also combine investigating plant communities with pollinator diversity using both traditional and modern AI-based methods.

You can be a bachelor’s/master’s level student or already advanced in your career, we will shape the position based on the selected persons’ background. You will work in an international researcher team. The work language will be English, but we are preferably looking for persons who can also speak at least some Swedish.    

Contents of tasks

(can vary depending on the level of employment and main strengths of the hired person)

• Conducting independently or helping with plant community (cover, biomass, seedling surveys) and soil/ecosystem function sampling
• Applying experimental treatments
• Processing plant biomass, seed traits, and soil in a lab (possibly in Oulu, can be negotiated)
• Communicating with landowners
• Helping in pollinator sampling using traditional methods and AI-based camera sampling (one of the positions)
• Helping researchers with various tasks in the field and lab

Requirements

• For project researcher: Recent Master’s degree in Ecology
• For research assistant: Ecology student or Bachelor’s degree in Ecology

General requirements:

• Capability for independent and detail-orientated work in both field and laboratory in various conditions, including remote and sometimes challenging weather conditions
• Good knowledge of plant species (especially species in Southern Finland/Central Europe) or capability to learn quickly
• Field work experience
• Ability to work in a team, good social skills in general
• Interest in plant community ecology, biodiversity, and global changes
• Good English skills, Swedish skills will be an asset
• Experience in pollinator and flower sampling is an asset (one position)
• Previous knowledge about the Åland Islands study system in general will be a strong asset

Salary and terms of employment

The positions will be fixed term for 1-3 months, starting from 15.5. or 1.6., or as agreed. The duration can be adjusted. A trial period of max 50% of the duration of the contract will be included. Employment comes via the University of Oulu. Salary depends on education and experience, which affect the responsibilities and tasks.

Salary is in accordance with the Finnish universities’ salary system: for research assistant according to teaching and research personnel level 1 and for project researcher according to other staff levels 6-9. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50% of the job-specific component). The typical starting salary for a research assistant is approx. 2100-2400€ per month (before taxes) for a project researcher is approx. 2400-2900€ per month (before taxes).

How to apply

Applications should be submitted using the electronic application form by 1st of March 2025 at 23:59 (Finnish local time). The application should be written in English and include the following:

1) Curriculum vitae

2) A letter of motivation

3) Contact information for two references

For further information, please contact Dr. Anu Eskelinen (anu.eskelinen@oulu.fi).