Doctoral Researcher, Ecology and Genetics

University of Oulu; Finland; Hybrid; EUR 29,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible presence/remote work

Occupational health care

HR Excellence in Research

Quality of life in Finland

Job summary

The University of Oulu is seeking a highly motivated Doctoral Researcher to study mechanisms of plant biodiversity change within a three-year fixed-term position. The project involves analyses of spatial context, dispersal, and biotic interactions, using existing data and new field data.

Collaboration with international partners and opportunities for publishing high-quality work are offered. The Doctoral Researcher will complete a doctoral degree in the University of Oulu Graduate School, with

Qualifications

• MSc in plant ecology or equivalent field.
• Strong motivation and doctoral commitment.
• Experience in plant biodiversity or global change research.
• Excellent statistics skills with R.
• Willingness to travel and do fieldwork.
• Good grassland identification skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Collect new data on plant communities (field, greenhouse, lab).
• Conduct statistical analyses on new and existing data from long-term field experiments.
• Write manuscripts (2–3) and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Present at national and international conferences/workshops.
• Teach in BSc/MSc courses and co-supervise master's students.

Skills

Motivation

Curiosity

Teamwork

English proficiency

Education

MSc in plant ecology or equivalent field

Tools

R

Job description

Organisation/Company University of Oulu Research Field Biological sciences » Botany Biological sciences » Other Environmental science » Ecology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 15 Nov 2026 - 21:59 (UTC) Country Finland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 4000 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 19,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations. The University of Oulu is ranked in the top 3% of the world’s universities. All our research, education, and community activities are guided by our university’s values and ethical principles.

We are looking for a highly motivated and research-oriented person to carry out doctoral
research addressing the mechanisms of plant biodiversity change. In this project, we investigate
what are the roles of mechanisms related to spatial context, dispersal in space and time, biotic
interactions (competition, herbivory) and intraspecific trait change in driving heterogeneous
responses of plant biodiversity to different global change factors (e.g., climate warming, nutrient
enrichment). We aim for a more holistic understanding of plant biodiversity change in the
Anthropocene, being able to provide answers to questions: how, why and where plant
biodiversity changes. The specific research questions can relate, for example, to (1) the role of
temporal dispersal via soil seed banks as a diversity maintaining mechanism under multiple
global changes, (2) the role of intraspecific trait change in modifying the effects of climatic and
other global changes on plant biodiversity, and (3) relative and interactive roles of spatial context
(i.e., connectivity and habitat size), dispersal and herbivory in mediating plant biodiversity
response to global changes. A suitable combination of these questions/ideas will be developed
together with the project leader. We use already existing data (ready to be analyzed) and will also
collect new data from two unique, existing long-term experimental systems to address these
research questions.

As a Doctoral Researcher, you will conduct research in the “Mechanisms of Plant Biodiversity
Change” project described above and complete a doctoral degree and studies studies at the
University of Oulu Graduate School. Your specific tasks are:

• Collecting new data on plant communities (field, greenhouse and laboratory work),
  including organizing and planning the work
• Conducting statistical analyses on new and already existing research data from long-term
  field experiments
• Writing manuscripts (2-3) and publishing the research findings in high-quality
  international peer-reviewed journals under the guidance/supervision of your mentor and
  in collaboration with other researchers
• Participating national and international conferences and workshops, when relevant
• Teaching in BSc/MSc level courses and co-supervising master's students and interns.
• Being an active member of the working group

Although the position will be based at the Ecology and Genetics Research Unit in Oulu, the
doctoral researcher will also collaborate with an international researcher team from, for example, the University of Helsinki, Finland and the University of California, Davis, USA. There may also be research visit(s) to these collabortors’ groups.

Qualification requirements for the Doctoral researcher position

• MSc in plant community ecology or equivalent field
• Strong motivation, curiosity, and enthusiasm towards ecological research and to pursue
  doctoral studies
• Experience and interest in some of the following: plant biodiversity research, experimental
  research, global change research, trait-based plant ecology
• Excellent statistical skills with software R
• Ability to travel and do field work, experience in field work
• Good grassland plant identification skills and ability to quickly learn new species
• Knowledge of grassland ecosystems (e.g., temperate, tundra)
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Good communication and teamwork skills, ability to work in an international team
• Driver’s licence is needed or willingness to acquire one

Assessment of the applicants will be based on, acknowledging the content of the job, 1) overall fit to the above profile, 2) scientific publications (if applicable), 3) motivation, 4) previous work experience, 5) national and international mobility and networking skills, and 5) other academic activities and merits.

What we offer

• A three-year, full-time Doctoral Researcher position in an ambitious project
• Opportunities for national and international collaboration, conference participation, co-
  authored publications and research mobility if relevant to your doctoral project
• You will become a part of a highly enthusiastic and talented research group that is
  working on globally significant research areas
• Possibility for a flexible combination of presence work and remote work (this can be
  negotiated, depending on the situation of the applicant and project demands)
• Full benefits provided by the University of Oulu to university employees, including free
  time corresponding to holidays and free occupational health care services. The successful
  candidate will receive also benefits provided by the Finnish government to residents, for
  example possibility to obtain access to the national healthcare system, tax benefits for
  employees with children, and high-quality affordable childcare services.
• 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.
• 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.

The position is fixed-term for three (3) years as of February 1, 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The start date is flexible and can be negotiated.

The salary will be based on the levels 2-4 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 (a maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). The typical starting gross salary
will be approx. 2600-3000 € per month (before taxes). As the doctoral research progresses, there
is salary progression in accordance with the University salary system.
A trial period of 6 months is applied to the position.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact Professor Anu Eskelinen (anu.eskelinen(at)oulu.fi)

Type of employment: Temporary position
Contract type: Full time
Salary: TES
Number of positions: 1
Full-time equivalent: 100%
City: Oulu
County: Pohjois-Pohjanmaa
Country: Finland
Reference number: 2026/572
Published: 2026-09-24
Last application date: 2026-11-15