Postdoctoral Researcher, Ecology and Genetics

University of Oulu; Oulu; Hybrid; EUR 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wellness benefit ePassi

Buddy Programme

Spouse Network

HR Excellence in Research

Work-life balance

Flexible presence/remote work

Job summary

The University of Oulu invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to investigate the mechanisms driving plant biodiversity change. You will work with long-term data sets from experiments testing light effects and tundra warming, across international partners and collaborations.

The role includes potential field work, teaching, and co-supervision, with flexible presence/remote work and a salary tied to Finnish levels for teaching and research staff.

Qualifications

• PhD in plant community ecology or equivalent field (obtained within the past 10 years).
• Ability to prepare independently high-impact manuscripts/publications for international journals.
• Experience and knowledge of plant biodiversity research, experimental/global change research, trait-based plant ecology, or combinations.
• Strong statistical, data exploration and data management skills, excellent skills with software R.
• Knowledge of grassland ecosystems (temperate, tundra).
• Ability for independent scientific work; open-mindedness and curiosity.
• Excellent written and spoken English; good communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Carry out postdoctoral research on mechanisms of plant biodiversity change.
• Use existing long-term data sets, analyze data, and write manuscripts for international journals.
• Collaborate with project leader and international partners; contribute to fieldwork if needed.
• Teach in undergraduate/graduate courses and co-supervise students; develop proposals.
• Participate in administrative tasks and collaborate with the Ecology and Genetics Unit.

Skills

Manuscripts/publications

Plant biodiversity research

Experimental design

Statistical analysis

R programming

Knowledge of grassland ecosystems

Independent scientific work

English proficiency

Communication and teamwork

Education

PhD in plant community ecology or equivalent

Tools

R

Job 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.

A Postdoctoral Researcher

Description of the position

We are looking for a highly motivated and talented, strongly research-oriented person to carry out postdoctoral 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 research questions can relate, for example, to (1) the role of seed banks as a diversity maintaining mechanism under multiple global changes, (2) the role of competition for light and other mechanisms such as litter and loss of herbivory in driving diversity loss under climatic and other global changes, and (3) the role of intraspecific trait change in modifying the effects of climatic and other global changes on plant biodiversity. These will be developed together with the project leader.

The postdoctoral researcher in collaboration with the project leader and collaborators will use existing data from long-term global change experiments, analyze data, and write manuscripts/publish articles in highly reputable international journals. These data come from two experiments: (1) eDiValo experiment that was designed to test the ecological impacts of light on plant community diversity (Eskelinen et al. 2022 Nature), and (2) a long-term experiment in tundra manipulating temperature, grazing and nutrients (Kaarlejärvi et al. 2017 Nat Comm). There is also a possibility for some experimental field work, although the position is mostly targeted using already existing long-term experimental data.

Other duties may include teaching in undergraduate/graduate courses and co-supervising master's and doctoral students and contributing to developing new proposals to continue further research in this area. In addition, you may have to participate in administrative tasks of the university and/or the Ecology and Genetics Unit. 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 Utrecht, Netherlands, the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research iDiv, Germany, and the University of Helsinki, Finland. There may also be research visit(s) to these collabortors’ groups. We also expect participation to international conferences.

Qualification requirements for the Postdoctoral researcher position

• PhD in plant community ecology or equivalent field (obtained within the past 10 years)
• Demonstrated ability to prepare independently high-impact manuscripts/publications for international journals
  • Demonstrated experience and knowledge of plant biodiversity research, experimental research, global change research, trait-based plant ecology, or some combination of these
  • Strong statistical, data exploration and data management skills, excellent skills with software R
    • Knowledge of grassland ecosystems (e.g., temperate, tundra)
    • Ability for independent scientific work
    • Open-mindedness, curiosity, strong motivation and enthusiasm towards research and science
    • Excellent written and spoken English
    • Good communication and teamwork skills.

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

What we offer

• You will become a part of a highly enthusiastic and talented research group that is working on globally significant research areas
  • The support of an experienced and enthusiastic research team where you can share and grow your expertise.
  • Inspiring, novel, and ambitious study questions/systems
  • 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 also receive benefits provided by the Finnish government to residents, for example, the possibility to obtain access to the national healthcare system, tax benefits for employees with children, and high-quality affordable childcare services.
    • Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits here.
    • Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and your close ones in settling into Oulu.
    • 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.
    • Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
    • 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 two (2) 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 5-6 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 starting gross salary will be
• A trial period of 6 months is applied to the position.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people of different ages, genders, languages, cultures, and minority communities.

Contact Information

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