Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher (2 positions), Water Sustainability and Global Change

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for two Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher positions in Water Sustainability and Global Change at the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences of the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology on the Joensuu campus. The positions will be filled for a fixed term of two years starting on 1 December 2025 (or as agreed).

Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 3 November 2025.

Role and salary

We are seeking two highly motivated Postdoctoral Researchers/Project Researchers with strong analytical skills, and a keen interest in freshwater sustainability and Earth system resilience. The appointed Postdoctoral Researchers/Project Researchers will contribute to the European Research Council-funded project Protecting the planet’s bloodstream: feasible and just opportunities to safeguard freshwater’s Earth system functions (AQUAGUARD) (website). AQUAGUARD is an ambitious interdisciplinary project aiming to understand and quantify long-term changes in the terrestrial water cycle, their human drivers, and the impacts on key life-supporting functions of freshwater in the Earth system.

The two Postdoctoral Researchers/Project Researchers will synthesise qualitative and quantitative knowledge on how global freshwater changes affect the Earth system. Applicants are invited to choose one of two topics when applying: (1) ecological or (2) climatic responses to freshwater change.

• Topic 1 will synthesise knowledge on the impacts of freshwater change on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across aquatic, terrestrial, and transitional ecosystems worldwide.
• Topic 2 will synthesise knowledge on the impacts of freshwater change on regional-to-global climate, including effects on moisture recycling, precipitation patterns, and the Earth’s energy balance (e.g. greenhouse gas fluxes and albedo change).

The appointed Postdoctoral Researchers/Project Researchers will lead synthesis research on their chosen topic, with flexibility to choose their approach and methods within the project’s overarching aims. They will prepare scientific publications and engage actively in collaboration within the project’s interdisciplinary team. Their work will play a key role in advancing understanding of how global freshwater change affects the Earth system.

The successful candidates will join the Global Water Sustainability Research Group (GLOWS) (website), where we foster a collaborative and respectful research environment that values diverse perspectives and interdisciplinary thinking. Our team culture is grounded in curiosity, openness, and intellectual humility, with an emphasis on constructive communication and shared learning. We support individual development while working together to achieve ambitious research goals at a sustainable pace. We warmly welcome applications from candidates who share our group’s values and are motivated to address pressing water and sustainability challenges.

The positions will be filled for a fixed term of two years as from 1 December 2025 (or as agreed). The positions will be filled for a fixed term due to them pertaining to a specific project task. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.

The salary of the positions is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. For a Postdoctoral Researcher, the job-related salary element is based on level 5 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. For a Project Researcher, the job-related salary element is based on level 4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. At the beginning of the employment, the total salary of a Postdoctoral Researcher will be approximately EUR 3,825 – 4,020 /month and the total salary of a Project Researcher will be approximately EUR 3,300 – 3,475 /month.

Our requirements and expectations

Requirements

• the person appointed as a Postdoctoral Researcher must have a doctoral degree in ecology, biogeochemistry, (eco)hydrology, physical geography, climate science, Earth system science, environmental science or another relevant field. The doctoral degree may not have been completed more than five years ago at the time of starting in the position (a net period of time, which does not include parental leaves, military service etc.)
• the person appointed as a Project Researcher must hold a Master’s degree in ecology, biogeochemistry, (eco)hydrology, physical geography, climate science, Earth system science, environmental science or another relevant field, and be in the final stages of completing their doctoral degree
• good skills in spoken and written English (demonstrated ability to conduct research in English)
• demonstrated ability or strong motivation to connect across disciplines boundaries to address global environmental challenges
• demonstrated ability or strong motivation to work collaboratively in a respectful, supportive, and curiosity-driven research environment

The following will be considered an advantage

• experience with knowledge synthesis methods, such as systematic reviews, meta-analysis, or other integrative approaches
• strong quantitative skills, including handling and analysis of large datasets
• experience with programming languages for scientific computing (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB)
• demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific results into clear written, oral, and visual outputs
• ability to independently lead research while critically reflecting on and adapting methods as needed

Your benefits

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

• the opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• extensive occupational health care
• a 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

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

You will have an opportunity to work in a meaningful 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 3 November 2025 by 23:59 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC +2).

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

• a CV (Template for CV, TENK website)
• a list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland website)
• 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 (max. 1 page) describing your interest in the position, your fit with the research topic, and how you see yourself contributing to both the science and culture of GLOWS Research Group
• a short outline (max. 5,000 characters, not including spaces) of your approach to the chosen research topic (topic 1 or 2), highlighting key research questions, methods, and the rationale guiding your approach. Please provide up to 15 key references (the reference list is not counted towards the character limit)
• other documents to demonstrate the applicant’s merits for the position

Generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) can be useful for improving clarity and grammar, but please use them sparingly. We value hearing your own voice and ideas in your application.

If your diploma is not in English, Finnish or Swedish, an official English translation must be provided. All translations must be issued either by the awarding educational institution or an authorised translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator’s stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by the applicants themselves are not accepted.

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Associate Professor Miina Porkka, e-mail: miina.porkka@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4453499.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Iiris Korhonen, email: iiris.korhonen@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4458161 and HR Specialist Noora Hämäläinen, email: noora.hamalainen@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4458302.

Haemme kahta tutkijatohtoria/projektitutkijaa Itä-Suomen yliopistolle. Tehtävät sijoittuvat luonnontieteiden, metsätieteiden ja tekniikan tiedekuntaan ympäristö- ja biotieteiden laitokselle Joensuun kampukselle. Tehtävät alkavat 1.12.2025 (tai sopimuksen mukaan), ja ne täytetään kahden vuoden määräajaksi. Tehtävissä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on tutkijatohtoreilla vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasolla 5 ja projektitutkijoilla vaativuusluokittelussa tasolla 4. Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6–50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävissä edellytetään hyvää englannin kielen taitoa.

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävistä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtäviin päättyy 3.11.2025.