The University of Oulu in Finland, with approximately 15,000 students and 3,000 employees, is an international, multidisciplinary research university, with a rich pool of creative and intellectual talent. The strengths of the University include multidisciplinary research interests, modern research and study environments, and broad international cooperation (http://www.oulu.fi/university/). INTERACT research unit (http://interact.oulu.fi/) in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, specializes on the topics of human-centered design and human-centered digitalization.

INTERACT research unit has open two (2) postdoctoral researcher positions for one year time period, starting 1.1.2020. The postdoctoral researchers will work in the following two projects:

(1)    Academy of Finland funded Critical Design and Making by Children (MAKE-A-DIFFERENCE): The project examines how children of today can be empowered to develop an identity of critical designer and maker. This will be pursued by introducing children to the worlds of digital design, innovation and fabrication as well as critical design and critical making. Critical approach towards design, making and technology will be emphasized; those can be utilized for empowering people and for making the world a better place, but this requires taking a critical approach towards the goals, procedures and outcomes involved. The project entails exploring and engaging in critical design and making projects together with children.

(2)    H2020 funded Learning science the fun and creative way: coding, making, and play as vehicles for informal science learning in the 21st century (COMnPLAY SCIENCE): The project aims to help Europe better understand the new ways in which non-formal and informal science learning is taking place through various coding, making, and play activities that young Europeans are nowadays increasingly engaged with, outside school and higher education science classrooms, beyond the formal boundaries of science education. A core of the project is a period of 19 months of intensive interdisciplinary field research involving implementation of several activities in the context of case studies, data gathering from the field, and data analysis. The consortium carries out in-depth investigation of the nature and impact of informal science learning taking place through coding, making and play activities.

Required Qualifications and assessment

The duties of the postdoctoral researcher include scientific research in the above mentioned projects. In addition, teaching of undergraduate and post-graduate courses and supervision of theses are expected.

The successful applicant must hold a doctoral degree. PhD students near completion can also apply.

When assessing the applicant’s merits, issues to be considered will include scientific publications, teaching experience, theses supervised, activity in the scientific community, success in acquiring external funding, scientific work abroad, and other international activities. A good applicant has a proven record of high quality scientific research and publications on the project topics.

INTERACT research unit has strong commitment to perform cutting edge research that is publishable in top journals and conferences. Hence, the candidate is expected to have a strong commitment to perform research that is publishable in such venues.

Salary and benefits

The salary will be based on demand level 5-6 of the salary chart of 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 practice, the salary will be roughly 3500 – 4500 € / month, depending on qualifications, performance, and experience. The employed person will be insured by the university and provided occupational healthcare. Finland is known as a country with a high quality of life and good healthcare system.

Application Procedure

The following documents must be attached to the application (to be submitted in English):

1) Cover letter describing prior background, research interests and career plans (maximum two (2) pages).

2) Curriculum vitae formatted according to the template of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (http://www.tenk.fi/en/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae).

3) List of publications formatted according to the template of the Academy of Finland (https://www.aka.fi/en/funding/apply-for-funding/az-index-of-application-guidelines/list-of-publications/), so that the six (6) publications most relevant to the position are clearly marked.

4) Contact information of two-three (2-3) persons, who may be asked to give a statement on the candidate.

Applications must be submitted using the electronic application system by November 15, 2019, 23:59 (Finnish local time). Applications sent by email will not be considered. Applications will not be returned. A six-month trial period will be effective in the beginning of the contracts.

For further information regarding the filling of this post:

Professor Netta Iivari, email: netta.iivari(at)oulu.fi