About the employer
The University of Turku has a unique, creative and inspirational work environment. Here you will work with top experts, pedagogues and researchers.
Visit the employer pageThe University of Turku has a unique, creative and inspirational work environment. Here you will work with top experts, pedagogues and researchers.
Visit the employer pageThe Faculty of Science at the University of Turku invites applications for a 3-year fixed term postdoctoral researcher position at the Department of Biology from 1.1.2024 to 31.12.2026. Employment starts on 1.1.2024 or as agreed.
We are hiring 2-3 postdoctoral researchers in an ERC-project called “KinSocieties”, led by professor Virpi Lummaa. The postdoctoral positions are funded by the EU and will be based at the University of Turku, Finland.
Job description
Family, friends, and complex social networks are important in all human societies and other group-living non-human animals. Social interactions can improve health, support and resources, but close contact with conspecifics can also increase disease exposure and stress, and lead to competition and conflict. We are looking for 2-3 postdoctoral researchers to study the benefits and costs of sociality in our two complimentary study systems: humans and Asian elephants. Both species are currently facing drastic changes in social structures due to break-down of kin networks.
The postdocs will test how translocation to new areas with or without kin, friends or the familiar social group is associated with health outcomes, reproduction and mortality risk. They will flexibly use our two longitudinal datasets on:
(1) Life events of >100,000 Karelian war evacuees displaced during WW2 due to loss of territory and resettled elsewhere either individually or with their previous entire village maintaining old social bonds
(2) Follow-up data on translocations of semi-captive Asian elephants coupled with information on their group compositions, personalities, friendships, longitudinal health records (e.g. diseases, injuries) and various endocrinological stress measures and physiological health indexes
In the Department of Biology, we explore life and biological evolution in a range of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Empirical experimentation in the field and laboratory is widely applied when digging into the structure and function of individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems. The Department of Biology is one of the scientifically most productive units of the University and successfully educates experts at all degree levels. It also harbors the Center of Evolutionary Applications that supports academic research and provides molecular genetic analyses for conservation needs outside the University.
The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.
The University of Turku has a unique, creative and inspirational work environment. Here you will work with top experts, pedagogues and researchers.
Visit the employer page