The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences is seeking to recruit a candidate for the position of

Assistant or Associate Professor in Exercise Psychology, tenure track 

The position starts on the 1^st of August 2021 or as soon as possible after that. Assistant Professor’s position 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. At the conclusion of each fixed-term assignment, there will be an evaluation procedure to assess the employee's qualifications for promotion (the next phase of the tenure track model).

Tasks and qualifications

The role of the Assistant or Associate Professor will be to lead and develop interdisciplinary multi-method research projects in exercise psychology and health behavior change, as well as research led teaching. The appointee will be expected to provide leadership and make a strong contribution to the research in behavior change. Duties will also include participation in the training of sport and exercise psychology experts, especially on the new international Master’s programme in the Psychology of Physical Activity, Health, and Well-Being, as well as making other contributions to education and society. 

The selected person is expected to have strong evidence of scholarship and expertise in research and education in one or more key disciplines relevant to the post, particularly, exercise psychology, physical activity promotion, health, social, and general psychology, behavioral medicine, and health behavior change. The appointed person is expected to conduct an independent program of research in exercise psychology and behavior change within the research infrastructure provided by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences and to collaborate broadly within the profiling action and with researchers in the University and beyond. 

The Assistant or Associate Professor will be expected to also lead research that contributes to the service of the profession and society in his/her field of expertise. In addition, the selected person is required to participate in research management positions, the acquisition of research funding, education development activities, and scholarly expert positions.

Candidates for the Assistant Professor are expected to provide evidence of independent research and show potential to conduct high-level international research and to develop multidisciplinary research, acquire research funding and give research-based teaching. 

Candidates for the Associate Professor should have an excellent record of conducting and publishing international scientific research. The selected candidate must have a well-established international cooperation network and experience in supervising doctoral dissertations, obtaining research funding, managing research, and research-based teaching. Applicants are required to have the potential to become a leader in a top research team, which has the potential to succeed in research funding (eg. EU, ERC, Academy of Finland). Please see the general requirements of the position. The qualification requirements should be met before the closing time of this call.

What do we offer? 

The university will support the new assistant or associate professor in forming a research group and in implementing one’s research plan (e.g., by offering at least 30,000 euros annual support for two years)

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 (the next phase of the tenure track model).

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities as well as 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.  

A competent and prosperous scientific community

At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a respected member of the university community. You get the opportunity to learn from your colleagues and meet high-level researchers from the full spectrum of science and humanities. Here the barriers between disciplines are low, and we encourage our employees to cross them in their daily work. We offer you meaningful career where you can make a real impact not only in your field, but also to society.

You will become part of our international and multidisciplinary community where the wellbeing of everyone is important. We provide a good setting for a mobile and healthy lifestyle on and around campus. Jyväskylä region offers an excellent balance between ambitious work and chance to relax after work, with beautiful nature and various sport and cultural activities within close distance from home and work.  

Take a closer look at the workplace by watching Faculty video in YouTube!

Salary

Salaries are based on job demands and employees’ performance following the Finnish University Salary System. A holiday bonus is paid to all employees. There is a trial period of six months at the start of the period of employment.

How to apply

Based on the above requirements, the applicant must assess his / her own merit and choose which position (Assistant or associate) he / she is applying for and indicate it on the electronic application form. The applicant will only be considered for the position indicated.

The application should include:
(the name of the applicant must always be mentioned in the file name, all the documents should be on PDF format.)

1. CV composed according to good scientific practice and considering, when possible, the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (TENK) (see: http://www.tenk.fi/sites/tenk.fi/files/CV_english_270613.pdf),
2. A numbered list of publications covering the applicant’s the scientific and other publications according to the instructions of the Academy of Finland (see: https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/how-to-apply-for-funding/az-index-of-application-guidelines2/list-of-publications/ ),
3. Short (2-3 pages) explanation of the applicant’s research activities, merits in scientific work and supervision of research including acquisition of supplement funding and  responsibilities in externally funded research projects,
4. Short (2-3 pages) explanation of the applicant’s pedagogical training and teaching merits (see: Teaching portfolio — University of Jyväskylä (jyu.fi)),
5. Short (2-3 pages) explanation of the applicant’s international activities and experience in societal interaction,
6. A maximum of ten publications, which must be numbered according to the list of publications (and fixed to a one pdf file). 
7. Short (2-3 pages) explanation how the applicant intends to develop the research and education of the field at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences.

Applicants are kindly asked to submit their applications using the online application form by 21.4.2021. 

For further information, please contact Dean, Professor Ari Heinonen, ari.o.heinonen@jyu.fi, +358408053551 or Head of administration Heikki Herva, heikki.herva@jyu.fi, +358504432400.

Education and research in sport sciences in Finland are concentrated at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä. There are two main lines of study at the Faculty: Sport Sciences and Health Sciences. Links between physical activity and health as well as promotion of exercise and health are viewed from a multidisciplinary perspective with the improvement of health, functional ability and wellbeing across the human lifespan as the key aim. An important national responsibility of the Faculty is teacher education in sport and health sciences. 

Research at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences is a central part of the University’s denoted core research field of exercise, health and well-being, which has recently been expanded by a current profiling action to focus on behaviour change. This tenure track position is within profiling area of Behaviour change, health, and well-being across the lifespan (BC-Well), which the University is committed to strengthening. 

Exercise psychology and exercise promotion are interdisciplinary fields of research that focus on the determinants of physical activity and health behavior, and developing and testing behavioral interventions that promote physical activity and well-being.

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. The University of Jyväskylä is the third largest employer in Central Finland.