Postdoctoral Researcher, Biodiversity Change
The Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a
Postdoctoral Researcher, Biodiversity Change
for a fixed-term employment for the duration of three years. The work will be based at the Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS at the University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. The postdoctoral researcher will join the Biodiversity Change research group, and they will work under the supervision of Julia Kemppinen, the assistant professor in biodiversity change. The postdoctoral position is within Kemppinen’s Academy Research Fellowship project funded by the Research Council of Finland. The selected candidate can start as soon as possible and ideally by early 2026.
About the position
The main aim of the postdoctoral project is to design and conduct field and greenhouse experiments for testing causality in plant-microclimate relationships, especially from a functional ecology perspective. The focus is on tundra plants under climate change and how microclimates shape responses within and across species, populations, and communities. The main task of the postdoctoral researcher involves designing and registering protocols for greenhouse and field experiments, conducting the experiments, and carrying out the related statistical analyses and writing of manuscripts.
Qualifications of the postdoctoral researcher
The position requires a doctoral degree relevant for the project, for instance a PhD in plant sciences or plant ecology, and the ability to conduct independent scholarly work. The position also provides the opportunity to co-supervise training periods and theses of master student’s related to the postdoctoral project (max. 5 % of annual working time). Good collaboration and communication skills are also essential for working in the research group. Experience in conducting greenhouse or field experiments is highly valued, as well as good skills in programming and statistics, and good knowledge of plant ecology and microclimate ecology.
The appointee should have:
- a doctoral degree by the beginning of employment
- ability to conduct independent scholarly work
- good skills in teaching
- good skills in collaboration and communication
Also, these qualities are highly valued:
- experience in conducting greenhouse and field experiments on plants
- good skills in programming and statistics
- good knowledge of plant ecology and microclimate ecology
- good skills in written and spoken English
Why conduct a postdoctoral 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 postdoctoral researcher will be ca. 3400-3800 euros/month depending on the appointee's qualifications and experience, based on level 5 in the salary system of Finnish universities. A six-month trial period will be applied. The working hours of the postdoctoral 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 postdoctoral 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?
Only online applications submitted through the recruiting system by 7.10.2025 (23:59 EET) will be considered. The application must include the following documents written in English as a single pdf called “lastname_firstname”:
- Motivation letter, max. one page. Please state your research interests and address the points 1-8 above, outlining why you are the right person for this position. Also, indicate what is your earliest starting day, if you are selected for the position.
- CV, max. two pages, including a list of your most relevant publications for the position.
- Contact information of three persons who can provide a reference based on request and your relation to them.
We will review applications during the application period, after which, we will invite the top candidates for an interview. Before the interview, the top candidates will receive a pre-assignment. The interviews will be held on 20.10.2025 via Zoom.
A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to the University of Helsinki. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from different backgrounds to apply for the position. You can read about the accessibility and inclusivity of our university via this link.
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 and recruitment system, please contact HR: hr-erla(at)helsinki.fi