University of Turku, Faculty of Science, Department of Geography and Geology, Geology Division, invites applications for

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER (Lake sediment research)

Appointment Specification

Applications are hereby invited for the fixed-term position of Postdoctoral researcher (Lake sediment research), at the University of Turku, in the Faculty of Science, the Department of Geography and Geology, the Geology Division.

Fixed-term position begins in 1^st of September 2021 and the assignment ends in August 2025. The fixed-term of 48 months is due to completing the tasks relating to the FIRST project funded by the Academy of Finland (2021-2025) and coordinated at the Department of Geography and Geology, the Geology Division. 

A six (6) month trial period applies to the position.

The post is placed at the Geology Division of the Department of Geography and Geology. Geology is a broad-focused and versatile discipline at the University of Turku in the Faculty of Science. It currently includes 4 professors and about 15 researchers or other staff members. Working place is in Geohouse (https://geohouse.fi/) and researcher will be work in Lake and Marine sediments working group and close collaboration with tree-rings working group at Luke (Natural Resources Institute Finland).

Lake and marine sediment research at University of Turku is focusing on annually laminated sediments as archives of environmental and climate change. The research group has excellent sediment sampling and coring equipment and versatile research laboratories.

The duties

The duties of the Postdoctoral researcher include a) participation in lake sediment coring in winters b) reconstruction of varve chronology of several lakes covering the last 2000 yrs. using for example micro-XRF and microfabric methods c) analyzing varve data together with tree-rings experts from Luke d) reconstructing paleoclimate data in form of international publications. The tasks will be specified together with the department staff.

Max 10 % of teaching duties (lectures and supervising undergraduate and graduate students) is included in working time of the position without separate compensation.

A good applicant for this post has:

• experience in lake sediment coring and sampling and ability to participate in lake sediment coring in winters in Finland
• experience in physical and geochemical methods of lake sediments research
• experience and enthusiasm for annually laminated sediment research
• eagerness to learn new research methods incl. use of a micro-XRF spectrometer
• good knowledge of sediment dating methods
• ability to work independently in the laboratory
• good computer skills
• enthusiasm and ability for paleoclimatological research and interpretation
• excellent academic writing and communication skills in English
• ability to work in a research team

Formal qualifications      

A person selected for the post must possess a doctoral degree in Quaternary geology or paleolimnology, or related discipline with above described qualifications. Persons appointed must have successfully completed their doctoral degree by the end of the application period.

Salary

The salary for the post is determined in accordance with the university salary system for teaching and research personnel. The task specific salary component for the postdoctoral researcher is 3 000,49 euros per month (according to level 5 of the job demands chart). In addition, a personal work performance component will be paid. The personal work performance component is 6-50% of the task specific salary component.

 Applications  

Applications are submitted to the Faculty of Science. Applications must include:

1) A curriculum vitae

2) An academic portfolio in accordance with the university practice https://www.utu.fi/en/university/come-work-with-us/academic-portfolio

3) A list of the applicant’s scientific publications

4) Motivation letter

5) Other documents that can be relevant for filling the post

Applications must be submitted by Friday 30th of July, 2021 (23:59), using the electronic application form of the University of Turku on the following address: https://www.utu.fi/en/university/come-work-with-us/open-vacancies
The link to the application system is at the beginning of this announcement (Apply for the job).

Enquiries

For the position, please contact Professor Timo Saarinen, email: tijusa@utu.fi or head of Geology section Eila Hietaharju, email: eila.hietaharju@utu.fi

For questions related to the application process, contact HR specialist Kaisa Ketomäki (kaisa.ketomaki(at)utu.fi).