Postdoctoral Researcher/ Project Researcher, Integrating landscape- and holding-level forest planning - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher/ Project Researcher in Joensuu campus. The position will be filled for fixed term from 1 August 2023 (or as agreed) – until the end of year 2024.

Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 12 June 2023.

Role and salary

The person to be appointed to this position will work at the School of Forest Sciences in a consortium UTOPIA, asking "Is climate smart forestry a utopia if the preferences of landowners are not considered?" with the funding by the Academy of Finland. The specific tasks are related to a work package "Reconciling landscape vs. holding forestry through a digital negotiation platform" led by Professor Jari Vauhkonen.

The postdoctoral researcher/ project researcher will investigate the synergies and trade-offs between landscape-level climate-smart forest management and management planned according to the varying forestry preferences of the owners of individual forest holdings in Finland, and whether digital decision support tools can help to achieve holding-level objectives with management practices that deliver climate and other environmental benefits. Depending on the candidate's knowledge and skills, the research may focus more on simulation and optimization of forest plans at different scales; opportunity costs and financial compensation as mechanisms to promote acceptance of alternative plans; effects of uncertainties in initial forest data, development projections, and the operating environment; or forest owner aspects such as risk aversion.

Depending on an agreement, the position enables short-term scientific visits to our international partners in Sweden and Canada.

The position will be filled from 1 August 2023 (or as agreed) to 31 December 2024. The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to a specific project task. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.  

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of the Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job requirement component and a personal performance component. In this position, the job requirement component is 3000,49 euros/month, based on level 5 of the job requirement chart for teaching and research staff. The personal performance component can be a minimum of 6 % and a maximum of 50 % of the above-mentioned sum. The estimated salary in the beginning of the employment will be 3 300,50 – 3 660,56 €.

Our requirements and expectations

Requirements

• The person to be appointed in the position shall hold a doctoral degree from a scientific field relevant for the role described above.

The person to be appointed to the postdoctoral researcher is required to hold a doctoral degree, which may not have been completed more than five years ago at the time of accepting the position. (In this context, the 5 years refer to a net period of time, which does not include maternity leaves, parental leaves, or military service, etc.). If the person to be appointed has received a doctoral degree more than five years ago, the position will be filled as a project researcher.

• A good command in written and spoken English language

Expectations

• Experience in simulation and optimization systems for forest planning or natural resources planning in general

• Demonstrated numeric skills and ability to implement computations (preferably in a programming or scripting environment such as R)

• The ability to work in international and multidisciplinary research teams and demonstrated scientific writing, communication and presentation capabilities

• Ability to work independently

• Good writing and other presentation skills

Your benefits

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including

• opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• extensive occupational health care
• broad selection of staff training
• staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services
• affordable sports services and tax-free bike benefit

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting/meaningful/diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

How to apply?

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 12 June 2023  (by 24.00 hours Finnish time).

Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application

• CV (https://tenk.fi/en/advice-and-materials/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae)
• a list of publications (https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/how-to-apply-for-funding/az-index-of-application-guidelines2/list-of-publications/)
• copies of your academic degree certificates / diplomas, and copies of certificates / diplomas relating to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas
• a motivation letter

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Professor Jari Vauhkonen, email: jari.vauhkonen@uef.fi, +358 29 4453446

For further information on the application procedure, please contact Human Resources Secretary Sara Keronen, email: sara.keronen@uef.fi, +358 29 4458254