Postdoctoral Researcher, IsoMuseomics (Stable Isotopes)

Emerging Scholars Council; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

The Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a fixed-term postdoctoral researcher position for one year, with potential extension funded by the IsoMuseomics project. The appointee will join Kyung Min Lee’s DNA Laboratory team at LUOMUS in Helsinki.

The project combines historical genomic data with stable isotope analyses and environmental records to explore dynamics of at‑risk species, focusing on Lepidoptera.

Qualifications

• PhD in biology, ecology, environmental science or related field.
• Experience interpreting stable isotope data.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Collect meteorological and phenological time-series data from open records (e.g., FMI).
• Establish historical climate and environmental reference datasets.
• Analyse stable isotope data (e.g., N, C, H isotopes).
• Interpret isotope patterns in ecological and environmental contexts using appropriate statistics.
• Contribute to manuscript writing.

Skills

Stable isotope data interpretation

Independent scholarly work

Collaboration and communication

English proficiency

Education

Doctoral degree in biology/ecology/environmental science

Tools

R

Job description

The Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a fixed-term period of one year. Additional funding will be sought to extend the funding period. The work will be based at the Finnish Museum of Natural History, LUOMUS, at the University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. The postdoctoral researcher will join the IsoMuseomics project, and work under the supervision of Kyung Min Lee, the Head of DNA Laboratory and University Researcher. This position is part of Lee’s four-year Academy Project, funded by the Research Council of Finland. The preferred starting date is ideally from January 2027.

About The Position

The IsoMuseomics project introduces a novel interdisciplinary framework combining genomic data from historical museum specimens (up to 200 years old) with stable isotope analyses and environmental data to explore the historical dynamics of currently at-risk species. The project focuses on Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) as a model system that serves as an important ecological indicator. By analysing stable isotope data from historical wing tissues, we can investigate how environmental signals are recorded in tissues, across both spatial and temporal scales, and how these relate to historical climate and environmental conditions.

The Postdoctoral Researcher Will Be Primarily Responsible For

• Collect meteorological and phenological time-series data from open records of the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), spanning from 1844
• Establish historical climate and environmental reference datasets
• Analyse stable isotope data (e.g. nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen isotopes)
• Interpret isotope patterns in ecological and environmental contexts using appropriate statistical methods
• Contribute to manuscript writing

Qualifications

• A doctoral degree relevant to the project (e.g., biology, ecology, environmental science, or related fields)
• Proficiency in working with and interpreting stable isotope data
• Ability to conduct independent scholarly work
• Strong collaboration and communication skillsExcellent written and spoken English skills

Highly Valued Qualifications

• Experience working with stable isotope data in insects, with understanding of tissue fractionation
• Experience analysing isoscapes or spatial isotope patterns, including use of datasets such as precipitation isotope records (e.g. OIPC or IAEA databases)
• Experience working with environmental or climate datasets (e.g. meteorological or phenological time series)
• Strong quantitative and statistical skills (e.g. R or similar)

Why conduct a postdoctoral project at the University of Helsinki?

In the field of ecology, the University of Helsinki is the leading university in Finland and the Nordic countries, and the fifth-best in Europe, according to Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects in 2024. The University of Helsinki invests in the welfare of its employees by offering preventive occupational health services, general medical care, and sports facilities. For further information please check: Staff benefits.

The starting gross monthly salary of the postdoctoral researcher will be ca. 3400-3800 euros/month depending on the appointee's qualifications and experience, based on level 5 in the salary system of Finnish universities. A six-month trial period will be applied. The working hours of the postdoctoral researcher will be 1612 hours on a yearly basis as they will belong to the annual workload scheme of research and teaching staff.

The postdoctoral researcher should reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The University of Helsinki assists employees from abroad with their transition to work and life in Finland. Finland is a member of the European Union, has high quality free schooling (also in English), as well as generous family benefits and healthcare. Read more about why the University of Helsinki is an excellent career choice: working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland. For eight years in a row, Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world.

A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to the University of Helsinki. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from different gender identities, linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and minorities to apply for the position. You can read about the accessibility and inclusivity of our university via this link.

Further information

For information about the position, please contact Kyung Min Lee: [e-mail]

For information about the recruitment process and recruitment system, please contact recruitment: [e-mail]