Postdoctoral Researcher, Empirical Software Engineering

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 join us in the Empirical Software Engineering in Software, Systems, and Services (M3S) research unit at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering.

M3S is Finland's largest software engineering (SE) research unit, ranked 2nd in Europe and 7th globally based on top-quality journal publications in SE from 2013-2020. In the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2020) of the University of Oulu conducted by an independent panel of scholars, M3S is ranked as an ’Outstanding’ (6/6) research unit. M3S is a member of the International Software Engineering Research Network (ISERN). M3S has hosted two Finland Distinguished Professors (FiDiPro) and has a diverse portfolio of externally funded projects, including Horizon, ITEA, Academy of Finland, Business Finland, and the 6G Flagship program.

About the job

The postdoctoral position is a part of the Research Council of Finland's research project ”Mitigating Cognitive Biases in Software Engineering (MICOBISE),” led by Professor Burak Turhan.

MICOBISE investigates software engineers' cognitive biases and introduces de-biasing practices as mitigation mechanisms. Cognitive biases currently lead to high costs, schedule overruns, and poor quality outcomes in software development. MICOBISE expects to significantly advance our understanding of the socio-technical aspects of software engineering using concepts from cognitive science. Expected results are theories on how biases affect software engineers and improved practices to counter these biases. These should provide significant benefits, including reduced software development costs, increased productivity in the software industry, and enhanced end-user experience and quality of life with higher-quality software products.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you are expected to conduct research and dissemination activities and co-supervise a doctoral researcher to achieve the project's objectives, which are to:

1. identify which cognitive biases occur during software development,
2. understand the effects of cognitive biases with empirical studies in real-world software engineering contexts,
3. understand the external factors that stimulate the manifestation of cognitive biases in SE,
4. develop new debiasing techniques for SE by adopting techniques from other disciplines in the context of SE to mitigate individual cognitive biases,
5. investigate how different cognitive biases interact and develop robust debiasing techniques to overcome these interactions,
6. evaluate the effectiveness of debiasing techniques developed through empirical studies in real-world SE contexts. 

What we offer?

• Significant mobility funding for project-related activities, including research visits and conference participation.
• A well-established, colloquial, and financially stable research environment, supporting further career building.
• Great connections to the international academic research community and industrial partnerships with the leading ICT companies in Finland, Europe, and internationally.
• Development and career options of the big organization, including opportunities to cultivate your academic leadership skills.
• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team of 50+ people in the M3S Research Unit, where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covers sports, 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 an HR Excellence in Research -a quality label, a recognition awarded by the European Commission for developing 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?

In order to succeed and enjoy the position, we expect from you: 

• A doctoral degree (completed or expected soon) in software engineering, computer science/ engineering, cognitive science, experimental psychology, behavioral economics, or a related field. The degree must be obtained no more than 10 years ago.
• Experience in empirical research methods, including interviews, controlled experiments, and/or grounded theory.
• A high-quality publication record relative to opportunity.
• Ability/ potential for independent scientific work in the area of Human Aspects of Software Engineering
• Fluency in written and spoken English

We also appreciate - but don't require

• Experience in industry collaboration
• Teaching and supervision experience
• Project management skills

Salary

The position is fixed-term during 1.10.2024-31.8.2028 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The salary will be based on 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 (a maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). The starting gross salary will be approx. 3600-4200 € per month (before taxes). A trial period of 6 months is applied for 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, following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 
2. Cover letter (max 4 pages), stating your:
   • research experience and background
   • motivation for postdoctoral research
   • research interests, experience, areas of expertise, and how these align with the research project
   • qualitative and quantitative research method skills and experience
   • your availability (time frame) to start in the applied position
   • your expected PhD degree date if you are in the final stages of completion.
3. List of publications, following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland 
4. Certificates/Diplomas (in English)
5. Contact information of 2-3 persons available for recommendation. You can also attach recommendation letters to the application.

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 Prof. Burak Turhan, email: burak.turhan@oulu.fi 

1. Burak Turhan,