Postdoctoral Researcher, Project Researcher, Doctoral Researcher – Joensuu, Finland

We are now accepting applications for a Researcher (Sustainability Law) position at the UEF Law School’s Centre for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law on the Joensuu campus. The position can be filled with the title of Postdoctoral Researcher, Project Researcher or Doctoral Researcher. The position will be filled for a two-year term from 1 May 2024 (or as agreed). Read more below and submit your application no later than 13 February 2024.

Position and salary

As a Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher/Doctoral Researcher (Sustainability Law), you will be based at the UEF Law School, which is the leading Finnish research institution in the fields of natural resources, climate change, energy, and environmental law. The UEF Law School hosts the Centre for Climate Change, Energy and Environmental Law (CCEEL), which has emerged as an international hub for high-quality research in these fields. CCEEL brings together a dozen professors, nearly 20 senior researchers, and more than 50 PhD students.

The Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher/Doctoral Researcher position will be part of the KATKO project exploring the legal and economic foundations of sustainability transformation. The project is funded by the Saastamoinen Foundation. Thematically the project will focus particularly on the legal challenges and trade-offs arising from ambitious climate and energy, biodiversity and nature restoration and environmental status targets set by the European Union, both within the EU legal system itself, as well as within any given Member State legal systems in transposition and implementation.

As a Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher/Doctoral Researcher (Sustainability Law), your main responsibilities will include:

• carrying out independent, high-quality, project-based research, including literature reviews, case studies, doctrinal analysis, and interviews;
• actively contributing to the research team at UEF through collaborative project work, sharing insights and expertise, and participating in team meetings and discussions;
• preparing high-quality scientific publications;
• teaching activities at the postgraduate level (up to 15% FTE for postdoctoral position and up to 5% for doctoral researcher and project research positions).

The position will be filled for a two-year term from 1 May 2024 onwards (or as agreed). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to a specific project. A probationary period is applied to all new members of staff. In the case that the successful applicant is at the doctoral researcher level, the initial contract will be signed for one year and the contract is then extended by one additional year once the applicant has gained the PhD study right in the UEF Law School’s doctoral programme.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. For a Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, the job-related salary element is EUR 3,213.15 /month, based on level 5 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. For a Doctoral Researcher, the job-related salary element is EUR 2,222.83 – 2,775.28 /month, based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal salary element can be between 6–50% of the above-mentioned sums.

Our requirements

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:

• A doctoral degree in a relevant discipline (law, political science, or similar) by the time they start in the position. If the doctoral degree has been awarded less than five years ago, the post will be one of a Postdoctoral Researcher. If the doctoral degree has been awarded more than five years ago, the post will be one of a Project Researcher. In this context, the 5 years refer to a net period of time, which does not include parental leaves or military service.
• If the position is filled as a doctoral position, the applicant must possess a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (law, political science, or similar) and must meet the eligibility and admission criteria of the UEF’s Doctoral Programme in Law. In this case, the candidate shall be appointed to be a Doctoral Researcher and the employment contract is contingent on the applicant obtaining a study right for a PhD degree in law at the UEF Law School.
• A strong track record of carrying out research in the area of sustainability, climate, energy, or environmental law, or general EU law.
• Experience with collaborative interdisciplinary research and working as part of a team.
• An affinity for various research methods.
• An excellent command of English (both for writing and general communication purposes).

What we can offer you

• An interesting position in an international, creative, participatory, and engaging university community.
• Staff benefits of the University of Eastern Finland, including comprehensive occupational health care, versatile staff training opportunities, affordable campus restaurant lunches, and sports services.

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more. 

How to apply

The application should be submitted no later than 13 February 2024 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2) by using the electronic application form.

The objective is for the successful candidate to be appointed to the position by 1 May 2024.

Please note that the application is required to have the following appendices:

• A curriculum vitae
• A list of publication
• A letter stating the applicant’s motivation to apply for the position and their key qualifications relevant to the position (no more than one page).
• Copy of the diploma and transcript of academic records certifying that the applicant is eligible to pursue postgraduate studies. The documents must be in either Finnish or English. For translated documents, only a diploma supplement issued by the higher education institution in question and/or other official translations issued by the higher education institution or made by an authorised translator are accepted.
• Copies of certificates related to the applicant’s proficiency in English, unless language proficiency is otherwise evidenced.

Questions? 

For more information on the position, please contact Professor Niko Soininen: niko.soininen@uef.fi or Professor Seita Vesa: seita.vesa@uef.fi.

For further information relating to the application procedure, please contact Human Resources Coordinator Airi Leppänen: tel. +358 29 445 5171, airi.leppanen@uef.fi.

Tutkijatohtori/Projektitutkija/Väitöskirjatutkija, oikeustieteiden laitos

Haemme tutkijatohtoria/projektitutkijaa/ väitöskirjatutkijaa (kestävyysoikeus) Itä-Suomen yliopiston oikeustieteiden laitoksen Ilmasto-, energia- ja ympäristöoikeuden keskukseen (CCEEL). Tehtävä sijoittuu yhteiskuntatieteiden ja kauppatieteiden tiedekuntaan, Joensuun kampukselle ja alkaa 1.5.2024 tai sopimuksen mukaan ja se täytetään kahden vuoden määräajaksi (1.5.2024–30.4.2026). Tutkijatohtorin ja projektitutkijan tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuusluokittelussa tasolla 5 (3,213.15 €/kk) ja väitöskirjatutkijan tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasoilla 2–4 (2,222.83–2,775.28 €/kk). Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka voi olla 6–50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta.  Tehtävässä edellytetään erinomaista englannin kielen taitoa.​

​Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 13.2.2024.​

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies operates on two campuses of the University of Eastern Finland – in Joensuu and Kuopio. The faculty trains experts in the fields of history, geography, economics and business administration, law, social sciences, and social and health management. The faculty’s research is closely linked to the research areas identified in the university’s strategy. The faculty has 4,480 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and approximately 500 postgraduate students actively pursuing their studies. The faculty has 550 staff members.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 experts, and our community includes approximately 16,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en. Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.

Type of employment: Temporary position (shorter than 10 days)
Contract type: Full time
Number of positions: 1
Full-time equivalent: 100
City: Joensuu
County: Pohjois-Karjala
Country: Finland
Reference number: 271/01.01.03/2024
Published: 2024-01-23
Last application date: 2024-02-13