Tenure Track Assistant professor or Associate professor or Full Professor in Orthopedics and Traumatology

We are now looking for a

Tenure Track Assistant professor or Associate professor or Full Professor in Orthopedics and Traumatology

to join the Translational Medicine Research Unit at the Faculty of Medicine.

The Translational Medicine Research Unit is one of five research units within the Faculty of Medicine. It brings together expertise in anatomy, cancer, pathology, clinical chemistry, surgery, anesthesia, and intensive care, and the idea for unit organization is to cross the boundaries between theoretical and clinical medicine. The unit provides patient-centered, evidence-based research to investigate, prevent, diagnose, and treat human illness. In parallel, we are committed to providing high-level evidence-based education in medicine, dentistry, and related fields at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

About the Job

In this role you will:

• Provide vision, leadership, and mentoring in the field of orthopedic surgery.
• Conduct and supervise scientific research at a high international level.
• Deliver both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including lectures, clinical teaching, and hands-on training in orthopedic surgery and basic surgical skills.
• Develop postgraduate training with a focus on professional activities.
• Organize and oversee specialist training in orthopedic surgery and subspecialties.
• Build national and international research collaborations and secure external funding.
• Contribute to the development of evidence-based clinical practice and education in collaboration with Oulu University Hospital.

In orthopedic surgery, evidence-based medicine is rapidly transforming clinical practice. New technologies — including artificial intelligence, robotics, advanced biomaterials, and bone substitutes — are shaping the field, while high-quality clinical trials are expanding the evidence base. This rapid development requires a new level of collaboration across disciplines to integrate knowledge and improve the care of patients with orthopedic disorders. The appointed professor will play a central role in fostering such collaboration in research, education, and clinical innovation.

What We Offer

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team of different specialties of surgery, operative care and beyond, where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Meaningful work with strong societal impact.
• A collaborative and multidisciplinary research and teaching environment.
• A modern clinical setting at Oulu University Hospital.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• We have an HR Excellence in Research -quality label, which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers. 
• Comprehensive relocation support for international recruits.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu

Who Are You

You are an experienced clinician–scientist with a doctoral degree and specialist training in orthopedic or musculoskeletal surgery.

We Expect from You
You should have excellent potential for a successful scientific career. The top candidates undergo an evaluation by external experts and are required to reach top scores (5 – 6 on a scale from 1 to 6 for scientific activity and as the overall score), to be recruited. Find out more about our tenure track system, entry criteria, evaluation procedure and advancement on our careers website.

For Assistant Professor:

• Doctoral degree in applicable research field.
• Specialist training in orthopedic or musculoskeletal surgery and at least 3 years of clinical experience after specialty. The right to work as a specialist in Finland requires that the person has a license issued by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) and that they have completed specialist training.
• Ability to work independently and have proven teaching skills.
• To be eligible for a position as Assistant Professor, you must have received your doctoral degree not more than ten years ago.
• Fluency in English and good command in Finnish. The clinical teaching language is Finnish which is also required for patient care.
• Commitment to on-site presence at Oulu University hospital.

For Associate Professor:

• Doctoral degree in applicable research field
• Specialist training in orthopedic or musculoskeletal surgery and at least 3 years of clinical experience after specialty. The right to work as a specialist in Finland requires that the person has a license issued by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) and that they have completed specialist training.
• You must demonstrate evidence of scientific research work and relevant teaching skills.
• You must have the ability to lead research and experience of acquiring external research funding.
• We also expect you to have sufficient and relevant experience in international scientific work and evidence of international cooperation.
• Fluency in English and good command in Finnish. The clinical teaching language is Finnish which is also required for patient care.
• Commitment to on-site presence at Oulu University hospital.

For Full Professor:

• Strong scientific competence with an international professor level track record.
• At least 5 years of clinical specialist experience. The right to work as a specialist in Finland requires that the person has a license issued by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) and that they have completed specialist training.
• Ability to lead research, supervise doctoral students, and secure external funding.
• Proven ability and motivation to teach at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
• Active international collaboration and engagement with the scientific community.
• Fluency in English and good command in Finnish. The clinical teaching language is Finnish which is also required for patient care.
• Academic leadership qualities, and a commitment to on-site presence at Oulu University hospital.

We Also Appreciate

• The position may include a secondary position at Oulu University Hospital, which will be agreed upon separately.
• A subspeciality expertise in any subfield of orthopedic surgery (such as traumatology, spine surgery, rheumatoid surgery, arthroplasty, upper extremity, bone tumors).
• Any international clinical merit and expertise.
• Formal clinical or university level pedagogical training.
• National or international participation in professional medical associations.

A researcher appointed to a tenure track position has the opportunity to advance systematically through the tenure track career levels towards permanent professorship, provided that the performance criteria are met.

Salary

Those hired at the Assistant or Associate level will be tenure track positions with five-year terms at each level. The Professor position will be a permanent, tenured position.

The position is permanent/fixed-term for 5 years as of 1.6.2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

In Assistant or Associate Professor positions, the salary is based on levels 5 – 7 and in the Professor position, on levels 8 – 10 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 approximately between 3,800 – 5,500 € per month for an Assistant or Associate Professor and 6,000 – 7,200 € per month for a Professor (before taxes). A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

The position may include a secondary position at Oulu University Hospital, which will be agreed upon separately.

How to Apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 15.1.2026 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

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

1. Cover letter, stating the career level which you would like to be evaluated at.
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. List of publications following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland with the ten most important ones marked.
4. Brief account of research merits.
5. Brief account of teaching merits or a teaching portfolio.
6. Details regarding acquisition of research funds.
7. A brief research and action plan.
8. Certificate to practice as a specialist in Finland
9. Contact information of 2 – 4 persons available for recommendation

The selection process follows the University of Oulu tenure track guidelines. The process is carried out by a recruitment committee, and the candidates that are considered most suitable by the recruitment committee will also undergo an expert evaluation.

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.

Contact Information
If you have any further questions, please contact:

Dean Jukka Hakkola
Faculty of Medicine
e-mail: jukka.hakkola(at) oulu.fi

Professor Petri Lehenkari
Faculty of Medicine
Research Unit of Translational Medicine
e- mail: petri.lehenkari(at)oulu.fi

If you have any questions concerning the recruitment process, please contact:
Human Resources Manager Tiina Pääkkönen
Faculty of Medicine
e- mail: tiina.paakkonen(at)oulu.fi