InterLearn Centre of Excellence is currently seeking to recruit POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS for the period 1.9.2022 (or starting upon negotiation) - 31.12.2026

Come to work as a Post-doc in brain research to the Centre of Excellence in Learning Dynamics and Intervention Research (InterLearn) at the University of Jyväskylä.

The Centre of Excellence in Learning Dynamics and Intervention Research (2022-2029, CoE InterLearn) consists of researchers from the Departments of Psychology and Education at the University of Jyväskylä and the Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Turku. The multidisciplinary consortium includes researchers of e.g. psychology, education, medicine, neuroscience, speech therapy and statistics. In addition, the collaboration involves several top international researchers in these research fields.

The Centre of Excellence investigates the development of children and young people, learning and its problems, and socio-emotional well-being, combining research traditions and methods from different disciplines. Longitudinal and intervention studies aim to understand the interrelationships between cognitive, neural, motivational, and emotional factors, as well as various environmental factors, in development, learning, and response to learning support.

Tasks and qualifications

The main duties of the postdoctoral researchers include planning, implementation and reporting (publishing) of research related to brain research carried out in developmental follow-up studies. The postdoctoral researchers are expected to cooperate actively with CoE researchers and also participate in other activities of the Centre of Excellence and the science community. The duties include teaching and guidance (5% of annual working hours) in the Faculty of Education and Psychology.

The applicants are required to have a doctoral degree in one of the following fields: education, psychology, cognitive neuroscience or affective neuroscience or a related field. Applicants are required to be capable of independent scholarly work and have good cooperation skills. We appreciate earlier experience of brain research and signal processing. Skills in advanced brain analysis methods is considered as an advantage. We also appreciate experience in longitudinal and developmental research, research in learning-related environmental factors or intervention research.

Experience in working with children and families and participation in collaborative research groups are considered merits. Further advantages include, relative to the phase of the applicant’s career, experience from national and international collaboration networks, and a track record of leadership/responsibility in research duties.

The duties, qualification requirements and language skills of a Postdoctoral Researcher are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. In this position, the Postdoctoral Researcher is expected to have excellent skills in English language

What does the University of Jyväskylä offer as an employer?

We offer a motivating research environment with motivated colleagues and top experts in the field of learning, learning difficulties and related brain research. At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a valued member of our academic community. You become part of our international and multi-science community where the welfare of each individual is important.

Jyväskylä is an attractive but compact modern city in Central Finland. It features excellent opportunities for sport and recreation and beautiful natural surroundings. Around 150,000 people live in the city, many of them students. To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, see the University's International Staff Guide.

The University is committed to fairness, consistency, and transparency in selection decisions, and undertakes the recommendations for the responsible evaluation of a researcher in Finland. 

The annual salary range will be approximately 39.000 – 47 000 EUR (gross income, including holiday bonus), depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate.

A trial period of six months will be used when the position is first filled.

How to apply?

Please attach the following documents as PDF files in English to the online application form:

1. A brief motivation letter (max. 2-3), including a brief descritions of your scientific merits and why you would be a good post-doc for us.

2. Curriculum vitae (CV), composed according to good scientific practice and considering where possible the researcher CV template by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity

3. List of publications. A numbered list of all scholarly and other publications with which the applicant wishes to demonstrate his/her qualifications and merits for the position.  The list should comply with the guidelines of the Academy of Finland

Please submit your application by 10 August 2022 using the online application form.

 For further information, please contact: InterLearn CoE director prof. Paavo Leppänen (p. 050-3384747, paavo.ht.leppanen@jyu.fi) ja vice-director prof. Mikko Aro (p. 040 805 3632, mikko.t.aro@jyu.fi) Please, always also cc. InterLearn coordinator Anna Rytivaara (aryti@jyu.fi).

The Faculty of Education and Psychology is a research and education unit that uses its strong traditions as a foundation for building a sustainable future. The mission of the faculty is Learning and wellbeing in building a sustainable future society. The faculty is among the top units in Finland in teacher education and psychotherapy training.

The strengths of the faculty’s internationally renowned high-quality research are learning, teaching and interaction. The faculty has five focus areas of research: Education, teaching and interventions; The psychological and neurocognitive basis of learning; Interactive and technology-enhanced learning environments; Childhood, family, interaction and wellbeing; and Wellbeing, learning and interaction at work. The faculty coordinates a number of infrastructures and networks, including the Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research (CIBR), the Methodology Centre for Human Sciences (IHME), the Psychotherapy Training and Research Centre, Multidisciplinary Research on Children and Families, and the Centre for Research on Learning and Teaching (CLT).