Åbo Akademi University is an internationally acknowledged research university with an extensive responsibility for providing education in Swedish in Finland. With its strong Nordic ties, Åbo Akademi University has an acclaimed and recognized position within research and education both nationally and internationally. The Faculty of Social Sciences, Business and Economics, and Law offers a diversified and boundary breaking study and research environment. Research is conducted within, among others, the strategic research profile areas Minority Research and the Sea. The Institute for Human Rights and Social Science Research Institute are situated at the faculty. The faculty is located in Turku and Vasa.
Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU) invites applications to the position as Professor of Environmental Law with a focus on law related to the Baltic Sea at the Faculty of Social sciences, Business and Economics and Law. The employment begins in August 2026, or as agreed. The position is located in Turku, Finland.
The faculty offers education in business administration, social sciences and law. Information about the subject's research can be found on the following website: https://www.abo.fi/en/law-research/
WORK DESCRIPTION AND QUALIFICATIONS
A Professor shall carry out scientific research, provide research-based tuition, follow developments in science, participate in societal interaction, and in national and international cooperation within one’s field of responsibility in accordance with the Universities Act (558/2009).
The field of activity of the position is environmental law with a focus on law related to the Baltic Sea. The field of activity can encompass international law, EU law and comparative national law as well as multidisciplinary perspectives on the law of the Baltic Sea. The professor shall carry out and oversee scientific research in the field of activity and provide research-based teaching and tuition in the field of activity. The professor shall develop the activities at the department in accordance with the given curriculum and based on the overall mission of the subject cluster and the faculty; obtain research funding and participate in national, Nordic and international cooperation in the field, as well as contribute to the faculty's overall research environment. Also administrative tasks and possibly managerial responsibilities are included in the tasks.
Detailed information about the position, the qualification and evaluation criteria and the recruitment process, are found in the appointment plan: https://web.abo.fi/befattningar/2025/Appointment_plan_Professor_Environmental_law.pdf
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
The language requirements at Åbo Akademi University are defined in Section 78 of the University Act (558/2009) and in § 1 and 2 the Åbo Akademi University internal language instructions (25.2.2010).
For teaching positions, native Finnish citizens are required to have excellent proficiency in Swedish (written and oral) and sufficient proficiency in Finnish. Applicants that have not yet a certificate of their Swedish language skills can demonstrate their skills and, if necessary, take a language test arranged by the ÅAU Language Board. For instructions regarding demonstration of Swedish language skills, please see https://www.abo.fi/om-abo-akademi/jobba-hos-oss/information-om-sprakkunskapskrav-for-sokande-till-undervisningsbefattningar/ (only in Swedish).
Foreigners and non-native Finnish citizens can be exempted from the requirement to have proficiency in Swedish and Finnish and still be eligible for the position as professor. Swedish skills are considered a merit. However, as the administrative and teaching language of the university primarily is Swedish, the person appointed is expected to acquire such knowledge of Swedish that he or she will be able to participate successfully in teaching and administrative tasks in Swedish in the future.
Excellent oral and written knowledge of English is necessary for managing the duties of the position successfully.
SALARY AND WORKING TIME
The salary for professors is set on levels 8-11 of the job demand level for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid. See the salary chart for teaching and research staff: https://www.sivista.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Salary-Scales-010923-and-010324.pdf.
Teachers and researchers have a total working time of 1,612 hours per year. A probationary period is applied at the start of new employments.
APPLICATION
Submit your electronic application through the ÅAU recruitment system below by Wednesday 2nd April 2025 at 15:00 (Finnish local time) at the latest. For guidelines on the electronic application, please see https://www.abo.fi/en/instructions-for-submitting-an-application/.
The application should include the following enclosures (in English):
1. Application letter with justification for why you are applying for the position
2. A curriculum vitae for researchers and a complete list of publications modelled on the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity, TENK: https://tenk.fi/en/advice-and-materials/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae
3. A complete list of publications (see https://www.abo.fi/en/about-abo-akademi-university/come-work-with-us/instructions-appendices-in-applications-reserach-and-teaching-staff/ )
4. A separate list of no more than 10 publications that the applicant wishes to refer to, to prove their competence. The list must include a brief justification for the choice of publications and information about the applicant's contribution in the case of a co-publication. The publications must be made available electronically by linking to the publications in the list of publications; through a file-sharing system in which publications are stored; or as a PDF, as an attachment to the application form.
5. An account of future planned research and scientific activities (max 5 pages)
6. An educational portfolio. See instructions: https://web.abo.fi/befattningar/Pedagogical_portfolio2021.pdf
7. A description of the applicant's view of leadership in developing the subject area (max. 2 pages)
8. Copies of doctoral certificates and language certificates of language competence.
INFORMATION
For questions regarding the position, please contact professor Magdalena Kmak (email: magdalena.kmak[a]abo.fi). For questions regarding the recruitment process, please contact HR Specialist Ann-Katrin Laine (ann-katrin.laine[a]abo.fi).
We welcome applicants of all backgrounds within the scientific field in question to apply for the position. Åbo Akademi University works for equal gender distribution and diversity in all staff categories.
