A Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor or Full Professor in Language use and comprehensive security

We are now looking for a

Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor or Full Professor in Language use and comprehensive security

to join us in SafeEarth Research Programme at the University of Oulu (Finland).

The programme forms a part of our national profiling actions supported by the Research Council of Finland.

The University of Oulu has recently launched a new multi-faculty strategic research programme, SafeEarth. SafeEarth aims to discover novel ways to recognise and tackle safety and security threats by studying 1) how solar storms with sudden energy releases and particle bursts create natural hazards on different timescales from seconds to centuries, 2) how the effects of humanmade attacks, especially in the cyberspace, can be minimised, and 3) how language, communication and information practices enable protective actions.

About the job

As an Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, you will:

• develop and sustain research, scholarly and creative activities leading to academic publications and public-facing outreach initiatives
• establish research partnerships across disciplinary boundaries in Finland and internationally
• collaborate in service to SafeEarth programme, faculty, and university
• communicate research results to the academic community, user groups and general public
• develop and teach undergraduate, master’s and doctoral level courses
• supervise undergraduate and graduate students
• support the strategic aim to renew the scientific profile of the university and to promote multi- and interdisciplinary research approaches

What we offer?

• We offer you a supportive academic environment in a community of committed scholars and the possibility to make use of funding opportunities to generate new research ideas and build an innovative programme that will attract international scholars.
• The University of Oulu offers flexible working hours, an excellent work-life balance and a range of occupational healthcare services.
• Our competitive salaries include paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. Read more about working with us and our other staff benefits.
• This position includes a start-up package that comes with funding for research expenses and hiring, for example, early-career researchers (postdoctoral and doctoral researchers). The start-up package details are based on negotiations with appointable candidates.
• If you are moving from abroad, we offer comprehensive relocation packages to support your smooth relocation to Oulu.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and your close-ones in settling into Oulu.
• Finland is one of the most liveable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy.
• Oulu is a city known for its stunning natural surroundings, vibrant cultural life, and friendly, easygoing atmosphere. Residents of Oulu enjoy Finland’s high standard of living combined with affordable housing. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

We search for candidates supporting the strategic aim to renew the scientific profile of the University of Oulu. We expect an interdisciplinary research vision as well as strong collaboration and networking capabilities.

Our tenure track (Assistant and Associate Professor) aims at exceptionally talented researchers with a high potential to advance in their careers. The Professor position is targeted for experienced and highly qualified candidates who have already advanced in their careers. The top candidates will undergo an evaluation by external, international 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) in order to qualify for the position.

This tenure track position Language use and comprehensive security strengthens the SafeEarth research in the area of Human Safety and Security. Comprehensive security means that society’s vital functions are secured through collaboration between authorities, business operators, organizations and citizens. Comprehensive security is about promoting security and preparedness against different kinds of threats and safeguarding the vital functions of society. Clear and timely language use (e.g., in media, instructions, guidelines, training and at work) is the primary tool for building, maintaining and enhancing safety and security. It is important when preparing for threats, collaborating during crises and tackling dis- and misinformation.

Applicants for this position are expected to have proven theoretical and methodological expertise in the research of language use (e.g., applied linguistics, conversation analysis, discourse analysis, interaction analysis). They are also expected to have a doctoral degree and be able to teach and supervise at undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The ability to teach and supervise across disciplinary boundaries on themes related to the position is considered a benefit.

While applicants are not yet expected to have a strong track record in research related to language, safety and security, they are expected to have a strong vision of how their research would produce ground-breaking research in the area. Possible themes and questions include, for example, the following: How can language be used to build and support human security and crisis response? How can language be used effectively to build a sense of security and make security issues and processes visible and accessible before a threat or crisis? How is language used to support effective action during acute threats and crises? How does adverse language use that disrupts or undermines safety and security look like (e.g., mis- and disinformation)? How can knowledge about effective language use be applied to the building and supporting of safe and secure societies?

Because this is an interdisciplinary position, depending on the position level, we expect vision (assistant) or demonstrated experience (associate/full professor) in interdisciplinary approaches in research. Collaboration with non-academic operators and/or organisations in the position’s area is a benefit.

The general criteria for each career level are as follows:

Qualifications for a tenure track Assistant Professor position: You must demonstrate the ability to work independently and have proven teaching skills. In order to be eligible for a position as Assistant Professor, you must have received your doctoral degree not more than ten years ago.

Qualifications for a tenure track Associate Professor position: You must demonstrate evidence of scholarly research work and relevant teaching skills. You must have the ability to lead research as well as have experience in acquiring external research funding. We also expect you to have sufficient and relevant experience in international scientific work and evidence of international cooperation.

Qualifications for a Professor position: You must demonstrate high-quality academic qualifications and experience of leading research. You are able to provide high-quality teaching based on research and also supervise thesis work. You are expected to show evidence of international cooperation and should already be an academic leader in your field.

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.

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). In EUR terms, the salary will likely be between 3800–5500 for an Assistant or Associate Professor and 6000–7200 for a Professor. A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 6.5.2025 (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 on which you would like to be evaluated.
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity Tenk.
3. Narrative CV, using the given template (more information: principles for the assessment of research and researchers at the University of Oulu)
4. List of publications following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland, with the ten most important ones marked
5. Details regarding the acquisition of research funds
6. Brief account of teaching merits or a teaching portfolio, max 2 pages, including:
   • Teaching philosophy, teaching strategies, and methods
   • Teacher’s self-reflection on his/her teaching style, a personal background idea of teaching; how are these reflected in teaching?
   • A description of oneself as a teacher and an implementer of educational work
   • Practical experience in teaching and efforts to improve teaching
   • Description of educational material (curricula, handouts, assignments, workbooks)
   • Professional development as a teacher
   • Evaluation of teaching (student evaluations, peer evaluations, awards, and assessed test lectures)
   • Plans for future directions of teaching in the discipline concerned
7. A brief research and action plan, max 3 pages
8. Contact details of 2–4 persons available for recommendation

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

The selection process follows the University of Oulu´s recruitment guidelines. The process is carried out by a recruitment committee, and the candidates are subjected to publication analyses based on their publication lists. The candidates that are considered most suitable by the recruitment committee will also undergo an expert evaluation assessing the following merits:

• Research activities and their reflection in the candidate’s publication record, scientific presentations, and other recognitions, e.g. awards and patents
• Teaching activities and their evaluation (teaching portfolio; including students’ evaluation)
• Supervision of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students
• Acquisition of competitive research funds
• International scientific activities (research, keynotes, workshops, conferences) and networks
• Academic community and administrative services
• Academic and public relevance of research activities

The eligible candidates 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 the coordinator of SafeEarth, Emma Bruus, emma.bruus@oulu.fi, tel. +358 50 573 1213