Professor of Nursing Science with focus on Digital Health

We are now looking for

Professor in Nursing Science with focus on Digital Health

to join us in the Research unit of Health Sciences and Technology at the Faculty of Medicine, at the University of Oulu. 

The Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology (HST) at the University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary research environment within the Faculty of Medicine, integrating health sciences and technology to address contemporary challenges in healthcare and wellbeing. The unit brings together research groups in areas such as nursing science, health management science and medical bioengineering. HST promotes high-quality research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strong engagement with clinical and societal partners at regional, national, and international levels.

About the job

The field of nursing science recruits for a professor whose competence lies at the intersection of nursing practice, clinical care, digital transformation, and value creation across health service systems. The professorship emphasises internationally recognised expertise in digital health and artificial intelligence grounded in nursing science, applied to nursing practice and care processes, including digital care pathways, predictive and preventive models, and data-informed clinical decision-making. The professorship emphasises internationally recognised expertise in digital health and artificial intelligence that is grounded in nursing science and theoretically advances the disciplinary understanding of human responses to health, illness, caring, and the optimisation of nursing interventions. This expertise is applied to nursing practice and care processes, including digital care pathways, predictive and preventive models, and data‑informed clinical decision‑making.  

Central to the role is a demonstrated ability to evaluate the impact, effectiveness, and value of digital services from a nursing perspective across the patient journey, from prevention to long-term care, using robust clinical investigation and health services research methodologies relevant to nursing science. The position requires scholarly leadership in user-centred and co-designed digital solutions that support clinical nursing work, with a deep understanding of implementation processes, facilitators, and barriers within complex healthcare systems.

Strong competence in translating digital innovation into measurable improvements in patient wellbeing, quality of care, and nursing practice is essential. The professorship thus aligns with a future-oriented agenda of value-based digital healthcare, where nursing science contributes substantively to sustainable, effective, and data-informed health services.

By integrating disciplinary theories of caring, patient experience, and clinical reasoning with emerging digital methodologies, the professorship contributes to a future‑oriented agenda of value‑based digital healthcare, where nursing science plays a central role in the development of sustainable, effective, equitable, and human‑centred health services.

The duties of the Professor in Nursing Science include:

• leading and developing research and teaching in the field,

• teaching at the undergraduate and doctoral levels in nursing science,

• securing supplementary external research funding,

• contributing to societal impact in matters related to the field, and

• engaging in national and international collaboration.

What we offer

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team of HST and University of Oulu people, where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• We have an HR Excellence in Research -quality label, which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers. 
• If you are moving from abroad, we offer comprehensive relocation packages to support your smooth relocation to Oulu.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu

Who are you?

We require from you: 

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field
• Scientific competence of a high standard 
• Experience in the management of scientific research
• The ability to provide high-quality teaching based on research and supervise theses 
• Proof of international cooperation within their field of research 
• Ability to act as an Academic Leader
• Experience in digital health oriented research as described in the job description above

We also appreciate Finnish language skills since health research material is often only in Finnish.

Salary

The position is permanent as of September 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The salary will be based on the levels 8-9 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (a maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). The starting gross salary will be approx. 5900-6700 € per month (before taxes).  A trial period of 6 months is applied to the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 30.04.2026 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. Cover letter
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. List of publications following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland
4. Brief account of research merits 
5. Brief account of teaching merits or a teaching portfolio containing:
   1. Teaching philosophy, teaching strategies, and methods
   2. Teacher’s self-reflection on his/her teaching style, a personal background idea of teaching; how are these reflected in teaching?
   3. A description of oneself as a teacher and an implementer of educational work
   4. Practical experience in teaching and efforts to improve teaching
   5. Description of educational material (curricula, handouts, assignments, workbooks)
   6. Professional development as a teacher
   7. Evaluation of teaching (student evaluations, peer evaluations, awards, and assessed test lectures)
   8. Plans for future directions of teaching in the discipline concerned
6. Details regarding the acquisition of research funds 
7. A brief research and action plan 

The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified during the selection process.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, such as people of different ages, genders, and linguistic, cultural, or minority groups. 

The selection process follows the University of Oulu recruitment guidelines. The process is carried out by a recruitment committee, and the candidates that are considered most suitable by the recruitment committee will also undergo an expert evaluation assessing the following merits:

• Scientific excellence: Research outputs, such as publications, research data, methods, scientific quality, openness, scientific renewal, and impact
• Research activities, such as acquisition of competitive research funds, presentations, workshops and seminars, trans- or multidisciplinary, awards, honours
• International scientific activities and collaboration
• Teaching, supervision of undergraduate students and doctoral researchers, mentoring activities, and pedagogical studies
• Societal relevance, impact, and potential of scientific activities, such as patents and inventions, stakeholder activities, expert work, science popularisation, promotion of the SDGs, and citizen science
• Services for the academic community, such as peer review, editorial work, academic expert, and administrative tasks
• Leadership and interaction skills 

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, you can contact Prof. Simo Saarakkala, Head of the Research Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, simo.saarakkala@oulu.fi, +358 400 354512.