The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centered environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and wellbeing for all. We cultivate the skills, knowledge and passion needed to live wisely for the benefit of humanity. An open dialogue between research, education and society is our driving force. We cherish this balance and believe it is essential that each member of the community thrives and has opportunities to develop and grow. Our naturally beautiful campus is located in the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Science is currently seeking candidates for up to 5 Assistant and/or Associate Professor positions in Biological and Environmental Science, tenure track, starting on 1.4.2020 or as soon as possible thereafter, Assistant Professor for a fixed term of 3 to 5 years and Associate Professor for a fixed term of five years with potential for promotion.

Research at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science is a central part of the University’s denoted core research field of basic natural phenomena and mathematical thinking. The research in the Department focuses on three core areas: evolutionary biology (evolutionary ecology), natural resources and environment (including aquatic research, ecotoxicology, conservation biology and biodiversity research), and biological nanoscience. The Department building, Ambiotica, is an integral part of the University of Jyväskylä's Ylistönrinne Mathematics and Science Research Complex, which also includes buildings for chemistry, physics and nanoscience. Ambiotica houses high quality laboratories for ecology and environmental science, molecular bioscience and experimental facilities for a wide range of biological and chemical analyses as well as highly motivated laboratory personnel. Assistant/associate professors also have available to them up a variety of infrastructure and support staff for field research. The Konnevesi Research Station, experimental laboratories, and modern greenhouses provide the framework for extensive biological research from the molecular to the organism level, to which assistant/associate professors can contribute.

Responsibilities of the Assistant Professor / Associate Professor include research and teaching related to his/her own research area. The selected candidates are expected to conduct internationally top-level research. Primarily, we seek candidates, whose field of research is related to and complements current research at the Department in evolutionary biology and ecology (plant, animal or microbial) or in natural resources and environmental research. In each of these focal areas, top experts are sought to advance the fields using either empirical or theoretical (e.g. modeling of biological systems, biostatistics, biological mathematics and bioinformatics) approaches. Candidates with research that integrates, broadens or brings new perspectives and methods these fields are especially encouraged to apply.

Teaching responsibilities include teaching in courses as well as advising students at the bachelor, master and post graduate level. Continual development of the department’s teaching activities, administrative tasks related to teaching, and other  academic administrative obligations are also part of the everyday duties of these positions. Assistant/Associate Professors are expected to supervise theses at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels. Assistant/Associate Professors are also expected to seek external funding to finance research, PhD students, and post-doctoral researchers.

Candidates should have an excellent record of conducting and publishing scientific research, establishing international networks, obtaining funding and teaching. Please see the general requirements of the position. The qualification requirements should be met before the closing time of this call.

The University and the Department will support the formation of the research team and the implementation of the research plan both financially and by addressing needed technical support for the new group. We support your success in the tenure track-path, please read about the tenure track at the Faculty of Mathematics and science.

A position of Assistant Professor is defined for a fixed-term of 3 to 5 years and a position of Associate Professor is defined for a fixed-term of 5 years, (according to the tenure track model). At the conclusion of each fixed-term assignment, there will be an evaluation procedure to assess the employee's qualifications for promotion. 

Salaries are based on the job demands and employees’ personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. A holiday bonus is paid to all employees.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Finland provides one of the most advanced and comprehensive social security in the world. It includes for example sickness benefits, various family benefits and a comprehensive healthcare system. Please read more about working at the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland.

There is a trial period of six months at the start of the period of employment.

For further information, please contact Head of the Department, Professor Janne Ihalainen, janne.ihalainen@jyu.fi or Vice Head, Professor Anna Kuparinen, anna.k.kuparinen@jyu.fi.

The application should include:

1. A cover / motivation letter
2. Curriculum vitae, including personal ORCID iD. (A template from The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrit is preferred.) The CV should not exceed two (2) pages.
3. A numbered list of all scientific publications and other publications showing the applicants ability and merits
4. A maximum of five (5) main publications, numbered in accordance with the list of publications
5. A short (2-4 pages) description of the applicant’s academic research. Scientific merits and research leadership merits, including a clarification on received external funding and responsibilities in externally funded research projects are should be included. The description should include a plan for research and teaching plan, as well as academic and social engagement that the applicant will bring to the department.
6. A short (1-3 pages) description of the applicant’s pedagogical training and teaching merits (e.g. teaching portfolio)

Please submit your application at the latest on 22 November 2019 using the online application form.