Associate Professor in Transdisciplinary Human-Environment Relations

The Biodiverse Anthropocenes Research Programme at the University of Oulu (Finland) is inviting applications for an:

Professor / Tenure Track Assistant / Associate Professor in Transdisciplinary Human-Environment Relations

We invite applications from candidates who have strong research skills in environment and society, and who are interested in pursuing work across disciplinary boundaries. While the specific fields and research approaches are open, for this position we are looking for a scholar conversant in issues and frameworks linked to global and regional environmental change and biodiversity loss. These could include (but are not limited to): environmental humanities, animal studies or human-animal relationships, human-environment interaction from prehistory to the present, environmental ethics, political ecology, or STS. This is an inherently transdisciplinary position and as such the successful candidate may be institutionally based in more than one discipline or faculty.

The successful candidate is expected to design and develop a vigorous research program, conceptualize, and write proposals for external funding, publish scholarly work, teach graduate and undergraduate courses, and advise graduate and undergraduate students.

Those hired at Assistant or Associate level will be tenure-track positions with five-year terms. A Professor-level appointment will be a permanent position. The position includes a start-up package (negotiated according to career stage) that includes funding for a postdoctoral researcher, PhD student and some research costs.

Programme

Located on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia in Northern Finland with 15,000 students and 3,000 employees, The University of Oulu is one of the Nordic countries’ largest universities and is a global leader in studies of Northern environments and peoples. The University has recently launched a new multi-faculty strategic research programme, “Biodiverse Anthropocenes” (URL: https://www.oulu.fi/en/biodiverse-anthropocenes), which focuses on human-environment relations and biodiversity dynamics, with a particular eye towards the Arctic. This programme aims to advance research and discussion concerning the multiple cultural, societal and environmental contributors to biodiversity loss, including interaction between human agents and nature, and to strengthen the collaborative role of the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities in current political and scholarly debates about the environment. By bringing together international scholars from across disciplines, and encouraging effective public communication of science, Biodiverse Anthropocenes will promote transdisciplinary and citizen-engaged studies of the environment and raise the University’s profile as an international leader in addressing the challenges of ecological change and biodiversity.

Job description

The position’s primary duties are to:

• Develop and sustain research, scholarly and creative activities leading to academic publications and public-facing outreach initiatives
• Establish transdisciplinary research partnerships in Finland and internationally
• Collaborate with programme leaders to further the aims of Biodiverse Anthropocenes
• Participate in administrative (e.g. university or faculty level) service duties
• Take part in national and international academic networks and organizations
• Design and teach undergraduate and graduate level courses
• Supervise undergraduate and graduate students

What we expect

Our tenure track (assistant or associate professor) is positioned for exceptionally talented researchers with a high potential to advance in their careers. The professor position is targeted for experienced and highly qualified candidates who have already advanced in their careers.

You should hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field (humanities, social science, or natural sciences). You should have a transdisciplinary orientation, with work anchored in approaches from across the social, natural sciences and/or humanities (in the wider sense) that investigate aspects of environmental change and biodiversity crisis. Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills are necessary. The working language of the Biodiverse Anthropocenes programme is English.

Qualifications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position: You must demonstrate the ability to work independently and have proven teaching skills. In order to be eligible for a position as Assistant Professor, you must have received your doctoral degree not more than ten years ago.

Qualifications for a tenure-track Associate Professor position: You must demonstrate evidence of scholarly research work and relevant teaching skills. You must have the ability to lead research and experience of acquiring external research funding. We also expect you to have sufficient and relevant experience in international scientific work and evidence of international cooperation.

Qualifications for a Professor position: You must demonstrate high-quality academic qualifications and experience of leading research. You have the ability to provide high-quality teaching based on research and to supervise thesis work. You can also show evidence of international cooperation and should already be an academic leader in your field.

What we offer

The University of Oulu and the Biodiverse Anthropocenes Research Programme offer a supportive academic environment in a community of committed scholars and the possibility to make use of funding opportunities to generate new research ideas and build an innovative and internationally focused programme. The University of Oulu offers flexible working hours, an excellent work-life balance and provides a range of occupational healthcare services. Our competitive salaries include paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. Additionally, some costs of moving to Finland may be covered by the University, pending negotiation.

Oulu is a Northern Nordic city known for its stunning natural surroundings, vibrant cultural life and friendly, easy-going atmosphere. Residents of Oulu enjoy Finland’s high standard of living combined with affordable housing and lower living costs compared to larger cities in the south. The Oulu region is home to over 200,000 people, making it the largest urban centre in northern Nordics and one of the fastest growing regions in Finland. Find out more about Oulu: https://www.oulu.fi/university/living-in-oulu

Salary

The salary will be competitive and based on the standard salaries for teaching and research staff at Finnish universities. The salary will be based on the levels 5-6 for an assistant professor and on the levels 6-7 for an associate professor and in the Professor position, on levels 8-9 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). In EUR terms, the gross salary is likely to be between EUR 3500-5500 per month for Assistant or Associate Professor and EUR 6000-7200 per month for a Professor.

Applications and selection process

Apply online by Wednesday 30 June 2021. Please include the following attachments in your application:

1)         A letter of motivation with contact information, stating the career level (assistant/associate/professor) at which you would like to be evaluated.

2)          Curriculum vitae in line with the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity: http://www.tenk.fi/en/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae

3)         List of publications, preferably with DOI identifications, in line with the guidelines of the Academy of Finland: https://www.aka.fi/en/funding/apply-for-funding/az-index-of-application-guidelines/list-of-publications/ [with the ten most important ones highlighted]

4)         Brief account of research merits (max 1 page)

5)         Brief account of teaching merits or a teaching portfolio (max 2 pages)

6)         Details regarding acquisition of research funds (max 2 pages)

7)         A brief research and action plan, with particular reference to research across disciplines/fields (max 3 pages)

8)         Contact details of 2–4 persons available for recommendation [NB: these people will not be contacted unless you reach the shortlist stage].

The selection process follows the University of Oulu’s recruitment guidelines. The process is carried out by a nominated recruitment committee and the candidates are subjected to publication analysesbased on their publication lists. The candidates who are considered most suitable by the recruitment committee will undergo an external evaluation by international experts, who will assess the candidate on the following criteria:

• Research activities and their reflection in the candidate’s publication record, conference presentations and other recognitions, e.g. awards and patents
• Teaching activities (teaching portfolio; including student evaluations)
• Supervision of undergraduate, Master’s and/or doctoral students
• Successful acquisition of competitive research funds
• International activities (research, keynotes, workshops, conferences) and networks
• Academic community and administrative services
• Academic and public relevance of research activities

In order to qualify as appointable for the position, shortlisted candidates are required to reach top scores (5-6 on a scale from 1 to 6) for Research activities and also as an overall average score across all criteria.

Further information

The Assistant / Associate Professor position is for a term of five years based on the tenure-track system of the University of Oulu. The successful candidate will have the subjective opportunity to advance their career through external evaluations at regular intervals. The Professor position will be permanent upon hire. The position is due to begin in January 2022 or as negotiated. A probationary period of six months is applied in the position.

Further details are available from the coordinator of Biodiverse Anthropocenes, Dr Emma Vatka (emma.vatka@oulu.fi).

In your application, please refer to Professorpositions.com