Doctoral Researcher, Biodiversity Change

The Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a 
 
Doctoral Researcher, Biodiversity Change
for a fixed-term employment for the duration of three years starting as agreed, or in September 2025 at the latest. The work will be based at the Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS at the University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. The doctoral researcher will join the Biodiversity Change research group, and they will work under the supervision of Julia Kemppinen, the assistant professor in biodiversity change.

About the position
The work tasks of the doctoral researcher will include:
-    Conducting research on tundra plants and microclimates
-    Completing an article-based PhD thesis

Qualifications of the doctoral researcher
The position requires a master’s degree from a field that is relevant for the project, for instance a MSc in ecology, geography, biology, or environmental sciences. Motivation to develop the following skills is highly valued: skills in programming and statistics, and knowledge of plant ecology and microclimate ecology. Collaboration and communication skills are also valued. Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential. 

The PhD project focuses on plant-microclimate relationships in northern Europe. The project will leverage large datasets, including species occurrences, plant functional traits, microclimates, soil nutrients, and geodiversity. The specific research questions are developed together with the PhD researcher based on their skillset and interests.

Why conduct a doctoral project at the University of Helsinki?
In the field of ecology, the University of Helsinki is the leading university in Finland and the Nordic countries, and the fifth-best in Europe, according to ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects in 2024. The University of Helsinki invests in the welfare of its employees by offering preventive occupational health services, general medical care, and sports facilities. For further information please check: Staff benefits. The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from all gender identities, and linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and minorities. 

The starting salary of the doctoral researcher will be ca. 2500-2700 euros/month, based on the salary system of Finnish universities. A six-month trial period will be applied. The working hours of the doctoral researcher will be 1612 hours on a yearly basis as the they will belong to the annual workload scheme of research and teaching staff.

The doctoral researcher should reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The University of Helsinki assists employees from abroad with their transition to work and life in Finland. Finland is a member of the European Union, has high quality free schooling (also in English), as well as generous family benefits and healthcare. Read more about why the University of Helsinki is an excellent career choice working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland. For eight years in a row, Finland has been ranked as the happiest country in the world.
 

How to apply?
The application must include the following documents written in English as a single pdf called “lastname_firstname”:
1.    Motivation letter, max. one page. Please indicate, if you prefer to start earlier than in September 2025.
2.    CV, max. two pages.
3.    Publication list, including the titles of the BSc and MSc theses.
4.    Contact information of a person who can provide a reference letter based on request.
 
Please submit your application via our recruitment system (Apply now) by 25.4.2025 (23:59 EEST). External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via Apply Now button. Employees of the University of Helsinki must submit their applications through the SAP Fiori portal: https://msap.sap.helsinki.fi

About the Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS
The Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS is an independent institute of the University of Helsinki and the national museum in the field of natural history in Finland. The museum’s duties are to amass, maintain and display its collections, and to conduct related research, particularly in the field of species-level biodiversity. The collections serve research, teaching, and public education in biology, geology, and biodiversity, and form part of the international network of natural history repositories. The Finnish Museum of Natural History has five units: Botany and Mycology, Zoology, Earth Sciences, Biodiversity Informatics, and Public Engagement. It has about 250 staff members, from which the Botany and Mycology Unit has a staff of about 70 persons, including both permanent and temporary employees.

Further information

• For information about the position, please contact Julia Kemppinen: firstname.lastname(at)helsinki.fi
• For information about the recruitment process, please contact HR: hr-erla(at)helsinki.fi