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

Assistant or Associate Professor in the field of physical activity and health research, tenure track 

The position starts on 1 September 2021 or as soon as possible after that date. The position of Assistant Professor is defined for a fixed term of three to five years and the position of Associate Professor is defined for a fixed term of five years.


Tasks and qualifications

The position is based in the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, within the University of Jyväskylä’s profiling area (Academy of Finland Profi5) focusing on physical activity in the course of life, particularly in the research area that examines the mechanisms between physical activity and health: physical activity throughout the life span (phase 2, PACTS2).

The responsibilities of the Assistant/Associate Professor include research and teaching related to their own research area. The selected candidate is expected to conduct internationally high-level research on the health effects of physical activity, integrating mechanistic research with applied clinical research. The selected person is expected to undertake translational research, which tests how new mechanistic findings on the health impacts of PA can be utilised in preventing and treating illnesses or in planning individual exercise treatments. We are primarily seeking a person whose field of research is related to the study of the effects of physical activity on health. The person selected for the position is expected to conduct independent research utilising the research infrastructure of the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences and networks in the field. Further requirements include active engagement in developing the discipline, supervising dissertations, developing multidisciplinary research activities, applying for research funding granted on the basis of quality, and research-based teaching.

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: https://www.jyu.fi/hum/en/aineistot/tyosuhteet/portfolio_eng.pdf/view),
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 June 4^th 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.

The faculty has a unique and versatile research infrastructure.The conditions for research will be further improved by the new sport and health laboratory that is being planned at the University of Jyväskylä.In addition, the research profiling project has significant connections to the Central Finland Health Care District.The following three research centres operate within the Faculty:The Neuromuscular Research Center, the Gerontology Research Center, and the Research Centre for Health Promotion.