Postdoctoral Researcher, Ecology and Genetics

The University of Oulu; Oulu; On-site; EUR 47,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

Occupational health care and holidays

Job summary

The University of Oulu invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Ecology and Genetics. The successful candidate will study mechanisms of plant biodiversity change, using long-term experiments to address spatial context, dispersal, biotic interactions, and intraspecific trait variation.

The role includes data analysis, manuscript writing, and collaboration with international partners. The position is based in the Ecology and Genetics Unit in Oulu, with potential field work and

Qualifications

• PhD in plant biodiversity/ecology or equivalent (obtained within the past 10 years).
• Ability to publish independently in high-impact international journals.
• Experience in plant biodiversity, experimental/global-change research, trait-based ecology or related areas.
• Strong statistical, data exploration and data management skills; excellent in R.
• Knowledge of grassland ecosystems (temperate, tundra).
• Independent scientific work; good communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Analyze existing long-term global change data and write manuscripts for international journals.
• Collaborate with project leader and international partners; some field work possible.
• Contribute to teaching at undergraduate/graduate level and co-supervise students; develop proposals.
• Participate in administrative tasks and collaborate with the Ecology and Genetics Unit.
• Present at international conferences.

Skills

Statistical analysis and data handling

Independent scientific work

Communication and teamwork

English proficiency

Education

PhD in plant community ecology or equivalent

Tools

R

Job description

Postdoctoral Researcher, Ecology and Genetics

Faculty of Science, Ecology and Genetics

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 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.
• 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 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
approx. 3900-4300 € per month (before taxes).

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)