Postdoctoral Researcher, Cross-border Governmental, Economic and Cultural Agencies in the North Calotte, Faculty of Sciences

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 3,600 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 17,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations.  

We are now looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher

to work with our multi-talented human geography research team for the project Cross-border region resilience: Cross-border governmental, economic and cultural agencies in the North Calotte in a state of continuous change (RE-NORTH). The project is an Eudaimonia spreadhead project for the period of 2022-2025. 

Eudaimonia is one of the four strategic centres for multidisciplinary research at the University of Oulu with the research focus on “Understanding humans in change”. The focus of Eudaimonia is on high-quality research in human sciences (economics and business administration, educational sciences and psychology, humanities, human geography). It supports the research and doctoral training activities of the scholars in human sciences and has a particular focus on multidisciplinary research. Eudaimonia has a new fellowship programme with Clare Hall at the University of Cambridge. 

Research environment and the research group

The Geography Research Unit currently has six key focus research areas: Regional Development and Regional Policy, Geoinformatics, Physical Geography, Sustainable Geographies, Regional and Political Geography, and Tourism Geographies. The research unit has approximately 25 faculty members and 150 BSc, 200 MSc and 20 PhD students. The unit offers a progressive, stimulating and international working environment. According to international rankings (e.g., QS-ranking), the Geography Research Unit has been consistently one of the strongest units at the University of Oulu. Researchers working at the unit have contributed substantially to international research and debates in several sub-fields of geography.

The RE-NORTH research project consists of theoretical work on cross-border dynamics and societal resilience as well as empirical research in the North Calotte area. The project is multidisciplinary, bringing together human geography, border studies, and social scientific resilience research. The project provides new knowledge, conceptualizations and insights regarding the sustainable development of cross-border regions and communities.  

About the job

The research focus for the postdoctoral researcher is to study the multiple ways cross-border governance and actors in the North Calotte region are adapting and responding to experienced crisis, including pandemics and geopolitical turbulence. The postdoctoral researcher will conduct theoretically sophisticated qualitative analysis of the materials collected in the earlier phases of the project and write scientific articles together with the project team members. The position is for a fixed-term 2024-2025, and in addition to research contains selected on-site teaching and supervising duties at the University of Oulu (approximately 10% of working hours). 

As a postdoctoral researcher of the RE-NORTH project you will,

• Contribute to theoretical research on cross-border governance, agencies and resilience
• Report the findings in high-quality international peer-reviewed publications in collaboration with the project team
• Contribute to research funding proposal preparation
• Teach in graduate courses
• Co-supervise masters and doctoral students
• Collaborate with the research group
• Present research in Eudaimonia Researchers’ Seminar

What we offer?

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic research team where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits here.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and close-ones in settling into Oulu.
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• We have a HR Excellence in Research -quality label which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers. 
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

We expect from you: 

• We expect doctoral degree in human geography or corresponding field completed with excellent grades. The doctoral degree must have been received no more than 10 years ago.
• Ability for independent scientific work.
• Proven track record on qualitative research methods, experience in critical discourse analysis and theory is considered a strong merit.
• Open-minded and enthusiastic towards research.
• Excellent with communication skills in English. Fluency in Finnish is considered as a benefit.
• A skillful team worker as well as a leader.
• Proven track record on secured competitive research funding (e.g., national research council, foundations) is considered a strong merit. 

Salary

The position is fixed-term for 2024-2025 as of 15.10.2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The salary will be based on the levels 5-6 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Starting gross salary will be approx. 3600-4200 € per month (before taxes).  

A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 22.9.2024 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. CV (max. 4 pages), and following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 
2. Cover letter 
3. List of publications, following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland 
4. Certificates/Diplomas (Scanned copy of the original doctoral degree certificate, official translations to Finnish or English)
5. Contact information of 2 persons available for recommendation
6. A research agenda (max. 2 pages) 
   •    Description of past research activities relevant for the project and how it contributes to the aims and scope of the project

The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified during the selection process.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, such as people of different ages, different genders and members of different language, cultural or minority groups. 

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact professor Eeva-Kaisa Prokkola, Geography Research Unit, eeva-kaisa.prokkola@oulu.fi; or senior researcher Kaj Zimmerbauer, Geography Research Unit, kaj.zimmerbauer@oulu.fi, tel. +358 400479471.

1. Eeva-Kaisa Prokkola, +358505568241