Postdoctoral Researcher in Sustainability science

Helsinki Innovation Services Ltd; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Helsinki seeks a Postdoctoral Researcher in Sustainability Science under the HELSUS theme focused on biodiversity loss prevention and mitigation. The appointee will engage with stakeholders, design research that tests solutions, and contribute to HELSUS activities and publications.

The position requires a doctoral degree, eligibility within five years of PhD, and residence in Finland. Salary starts around 3,800–4,200 euros per month with a six‑month trial period.

Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant discipline and ability to conduct independent scholarly work.
• Maximum five years since PhD completion (degree certificate issued between 1 November 2021–31 October 2026).
• Residence in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki.

Responsibilities

• Engage in catalyzing sustainability transformations with stakeholders based on scientific knowledge.
• Actively participate in HELSUS activities and communications.
• Report on the use of funding to the donor and invite donors to events.

Job description

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Postdoctoral Researcher in Sustainability science

Call for applications for HELSUS Postdoctoral Research Position under the theme: prevention or mitigation of loss of biodiversity

The theme of the call is biodiversity loss, its mitigation and prevention. Strong societal impact is expected, including concrete collaborations with relevant societal stakeholders in co-creating, co-planning or co-designing new tools or elements for mitigating and preventing biodiversity loss. This funding targets to allow testing solutions to prevent loss of biodiversity, in collaboration with societal change-makers be it political, municipal, company, NGO or other relevant actors. Via concrete cases, the research is expected to build wide systemic understanding of feasible solutions and potential positive and negative feedbacks included in any solution.

The topic is open, and it can focus on any ecological or social system, or their combination.

Researchers from a variety of backgrounds are welcome to apply, since significant solutions to mitigation or prevention of loss of biodiversity can come equally well from, for example, expertise on species and ecosystems, planning, regulation, or other perspectives, often working together. In this position, you are expected to engage in catalyzing sustainability transformations with relevant stakeholders, based on scientific knowledge. The postdoctoral researcher is also expected to participate actively in HELSUS activities and communications. The appointee is expected to report on the use of funding during the project to the donor for example via lunch meetings, via giving research reports to the donor, and via inviting the donor to interesting events around the topic.

WHO CAN APPLY

For the postdoctoral researcher’s position, the appointee must have a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and the ability to conduct independent scholarly work. To be eligible to apply for the position, the applicant must have a maximum time of five years since PhD completion (degree certificate issued between 1 November 2021-31 October 2026). Possible career breaks (maternity, paternity, parental or childcare leave, military or nonmilitary service, or long-term illness) will be considered. If the applicant pleads these special reasons, they should be justified in the CV.

The call is not open for the members of the HELSUS Steering Group.

The appointee is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The selected applicant will be based either in the city centre campus or in the Viikki campus.

Evaluation criteria:

• The quality and innovativeness of the research plan
• Focus on sustainability science
• Interdisciplinary quality
• The applicants credibility in executing the research plan
• How the application contributes to the development of sustainability science and HELSUS

Salary and benefits

The postdoctoral researcher funding is to be used for the applicant’s own salary and other justified costs for a period of up to 14 months . The postdoctoral researcher’s salary will be based on level 5 of the requirement level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities . In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. The starting gross salary will be ca. 3 800 – 4 200 euros/month, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience.

Employment starts as soon as possible and there is a six-month trial period in the position.

The deadline for applications is 8 October 2026 (at 23:59 EEST).

Further information

For more information about this position, contact Prof. Christopher Raymond, Director of HELSUS: christopher.raymond(at)helsinki.fi

Questions regarding the recruitment system: recruitment(at)helsinki.fi

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Unit: Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry

Sub-unit: Department of Economics and Management

ID: 5229

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