Postdoctoral Researcher (Wisdom Fellow), Environmental or Sustainability Sciences – Jyväskylä, Finland

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä is seeking to recruit:

a Postdoctoral Researcher (Environmental or Sustainability Sciences), for a period of three years, starting 15.3.2024 or as agreed (1.8.2024 at the latest).

The position is allocated to the Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy and to the profiling area of planetary well-being and sustainability transitions. The position links to a new 5-year ERC StG project ‘Environmental Landscape Ethics: A Theory of Cohabitability’ (link).

Research in this project consists of innovative interdisciplinary research that seeks to transform the ethics of land use and create new frameworks and theories for approaching cohabited environments that humans actively manage.

Duties and requirements

The main task of the to-be-recruited researcher is to lead WP2 and conduct interdisciplinary research in the ERC project, both individually and in close collaboration with other team members. WP2 conducts interdisciplinary conceptual analysis and theory construction, proceeding from ecologically informed conceptual work to the systematisation of the constituents and forms of cohabitability into the descriptive theory of cohabitability.

The applicant is expected to have a Ph.D. degree in environmental sciences or sustainability science, but training in environmental sciences combined with Ph.D. from social sciences or other relevant field is also suitable. (In case you are interested yet uncertain about the suitability of your degree, please don’t hesitate to ask more.) The position necessitates strong knowledge from ecology and excellent skills for interdisciplinary research. Capacities for both independent and collaborative research are important.

Besides research, we expect the chosen candidate to contribute as a Wisdom Fellow to the building and development of the cross-disciplinary JYU.Wisdom sustainability research community. The primary place for community building and research collaboration is Jyväskylä.

The candidates are expected to conduct research at high international level, and a good command of English is required for this position. The duties, qualification requirements and language skills of a Postdoctoral Researcher are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. The qualification requirements should be met by the closing of the application time.

What does the University of Jyväskylä offer as an employer?

You get to participate in our international and multidisciplinary community where everybody’s welfare is valued. You will work in an enthusiastic, ambitious research team and become a member of the multidisciplinary, highly engaged JYU.Wisdom community where you also get support for creating own research projects and project funding applications. At JYU, you will enjoy a beautiful campus environment that supports a healthy and active lifestyle (including good sports benefits for staff) and has received the European Heritage Label.

Finland has a high standard of living with healthcare, free schooling (also in English), affordable childcare, and good family benefits. The city of Jyväskylä is located in central Finland amidst Finnish lakes and has excellent opportunities for different nature, outdoor, and sports activities. It is a major educational center, whose large student population is responsible for a vibrant cultural scene. To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä, and living in Finland, see the University’s International Staff Guide.

The Postdoctoral Researcher positions are rated on levels 5-6 in the YPJ salary system for Finnish universities. At the beginning of the work contract, the monthly salary (gross income, excluding holiday bonus) in this postdoctoral researcher position will be approximately 3.300–4.100 €, depending on the qualifications and prior experience of the candidate.

Six months trial period is applied to the filling of the position.

In case you also have training in philosophy or social scientific subjects, please see also the other application related to this ERC project (Postdoctoral Researcher, Philosophy).

How to apply

Following documents must be included in English to the electronic recruiting system:

1. CV composed according to good scientific practice and considering, using e.g., the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (TENK);
2. Informal motivation letter, which explains your personal research orientation and interest in the given topic and research project (link). The motivation letter can include the names and contact information of 1-3 references (« cover letter » on the online application form);
3. Numbered list of publications covering the applicant’s the scientific and other publications according to the instructions of the Academy of Finland (please highlight five most relevant publications for this position);
4. Ph.D. degree certificate (a PDF copy).

For more information, please contact Assistant Professor Teea Kortetmäki, teea.kortetmaki@jyu.fi (tel. +358 40 183 4918).

The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences is a strong contributor to human sciences. It has a central role in understanding and developing human activities and the structures of society. The faculty is a unique, strongly profiled unit that conducts internationally significant research with societal impact. Research and education at the faculty focus on culture, arts, traditions, languages and communication, social sciences and philosophy.
The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centred environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and wellbeing for us all. It is essential that each member of the community thrives and has opportunities to develop and grow. We cherish openness of thinking as well as the balance between research and education. Our naturally beautiful campus is located at the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.

Location: Seminaarinkatu 15

Information for the applicant

The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, after submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.

You have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout.