About the opportunity
The Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher in biodiversity science for a fixed term of 2 years. The position is located at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Viikki Campus, Helsinki. This postdoctoral position is part of the Research Centre for Ecological Change (REC) and is funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation. The overreaching aim of REC is to generate a coordinated analysis of long-term ecological data to understand the drivers and consequences of global change on biodiversity, utilizing unique long-term datasets collected in Finland and developing state-of-the-art methodology within a joint species distribution modelling framework. The successful candidate will assess how patterns of species co-occurrence are shifting with global change, focusing on phenology and range shifts.
Salary and benefits
- Starting salary of approximately 3,700 euros per month, based on level 5 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in Finnish universities plus a personal performance component
- Funding provided by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation for a fixed term of 2 years
- Opportunity to work within a collaborative, world-class research environment at the Research Centre for Ecological Change
Who can apply?
- Must have completed a PhD in ecology, biostatistics, or a related field by the beginning of the employment
- Strong conceptual and statistical skills with experience working with large and complex datasets
- Ability to analyse diverse field-collected biodiversity data sets with a solution-oriented mindset
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as documented by first-authored papers
- Demonstrated independence, creativity, and strong interpersonal and collaborative skills
Required documents
- Motivational letter outlining why you are the right person for the task (maximum 1 page)
- CV (maximum 2 pages)
- List of publications
- Contact information of two persons willing to provide a reference letter by separate request
When to apply
- Application deadline is October 19, 2026, at 23:59 EEST
- Ideal starting date is as soon as possible and ideally by late 2026
How to apply
- Prepare all required documents combined into a single PDF file written in English
- External applicants must submit their application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now button
- Internal applicants with a valid Helsinki username and contract must apply using the employee login
Additional information
- There will be a trial period of six months in the beginning of the employment
- The position is based at the Viikki Campus in Helsinki, Finland
Our Take on This Opportunity
This section reflects Open Opportunities’ own analysis of the opportunity from an applicant’s perspective.
You may be a strong fit if…
- Strong background in ecological data analysis, biostatistics, or joint species distribution modeling
- Demonstrated track record of first-authored publications in ecology or related fields
- Desire to work collaboratively within a multi-PI research centre on large, long-term environmental datasets
What should you think carefully about?
- The position is fixed-term for a duration of 2 years
- Relocation to Helsinki, Finland is required for the duration of the appointment
- Competitive selection process focused heavily on quantitative skills and publication record
How could this fit your current goals and plans?
This postdoctoral fellowship offers a structured, well-funded environment to advance early-career research in biodiversity science, leverage unique Finnish ecological datasets, and collaborate with leading ecologists on pressing global change questions.
Our take
Early-career researchers holding a PhD in ecology or biostatistics with strong quantitative skills should seriously consider applying for this well-supported fixed-term postdoctoral position.
Ready to apply?
Review the opportunity on the official website before applying.
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