Postdoctoral Researcher, remote sensing and hydrological/snow modelling

We are now looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher in remote sensing and hydrological/snow modelling

for a 3-year fixed-term position to join us in the Faculty of Technology, Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Unit.

About the job

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join our team to study changes and patterns in hydrology, snow and microclimates across Arctic, boreal and alpine ecosystems. The Postdoc will utilise and develop advanced mechanistic and deep-learning models with fine-resolution satellite imagery and empirical microclimate datasets to understand and predict the localised effects of climate change or human impacts on cold climate ecosystems and biodiversity.

The postdoctoral position is linked to large-scale and long-term research in the water sector at the Flagship DIWA - Digital Waters, and SAFIRE - Safeguarding Biodiversity through Interdisciplinary Research on Habitat Restoration- a Profi8 programme at the University of Oulu, funded by the Research Council Finland. SAFIRE’s focus is the production of scientifically excellent and actionable knowledge on habitat restoration, especially in Arctic regions. The position is located at the Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering research unit, in the Faculty of Technology. Our water research team includes 4 research groups with a strong focus on various aspects of water engineering, including hydrological modelling, cold climate hydrology, hydrological process studies, and groundwater research. In hydrology, the research includes studies at our research stations and supersites in Finland with a unique and developing infrastructure. The position is also linked to the Arctic, Antarctic and Mountain initiative, a network of ~150 researchers across the world that works on global microclimate datasets and promotes microclimate research across disciplines. 

Your responsibilities:

• Develop algorithms for fine-scale snow and hydrological mapping and modelling utilizing Landsat, Sentinel, and PlanetScope satellite data.
• Integrate satellite observations with climate reanalysis (ERA5-Land) and microclimate data to reconstruct historical snow and hydrological trends.
• Collaborate with ecologists and hydrologists to assess the impacts of hydrological and cryospheric changes on ecosystems and water resources.
• Collaborating with SAFIRE profiling researchers, aiming to drive a paradigm shift in habitat restoration through transdisciplinary research and societal engagement.
• Publish high-quality research and contribute to open-source tools.
• Depending on personal interest, field work in northern Finland, Sweden and Norway is possible.
• Participate in doctoral supervision and education.

What we offer

We offer you an interesting and versatile position as part of a large and growing digital water research cluster in Finland and the SAFIRE profiling research team. We help you to grow and realise your full scientific potential and contribution. You will have the opportunity to develop professionally with the help of an experienced and enthusiastic team. You will also have access to our unique global infrastructure, where innovative studies can be initiated in collaboration with our team members.

The University of Oulu offers

• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits. 
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and your close ones in settling into Oulu.
• 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. 
• 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?

To succeed in the position, you are required to have:

• A relevant doctoral degree in remote sensing, hydrology, data sciences, environmental science, ecosystem modelling, or a related field. The doctoral degree must have been completed by the closing date for applications. The degree must have been obtained no more than 10 years ago.
• Ability to engage in independent scientific research or artistic work
• Teaching skills required for the position
• Strong background in numerical modelling and data analysis
• Experience with programming languages such as Python, R, Julia, Fortran or C/C++
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Strong experience in scientific writing and excellent communication skills

We also appreciate the following:

• Experience with satellite remote sensing data and analyses
• Experience with collecting and analysing drone imagery
• Experience from ecological restoration projects
• Familiarity with high-performance computing and environments
• Experience in supervision or co-supervision of doctoral researchers
• International experience and networking skills
• Experience in proposal writing

When assessing the candidate’s merits for the position of Postdoctoral Researcher, attention will be paid to scientific excellence, such as research outputs, international scientific activities and collaboration, supervision of undergraduate students, pedagogical competence, societal relevance, impact and potential of scientific activities, and services for the academic community. 

Salary

The position is a fixed-term position for 3 years, beginning on 1.6.2026 (or as soon as possible thereafter). A trial period of 6 months is applied to the position.

The salary will be based on the level 5-6 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities, depending on your qualifications. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Typical monthly salary for a post-doctoral researcher is 3700 - 4800 € (before taxes), depending on your experience and qualifications.

How to apply?

Apply online at the latest by May 3, 2026 (23:59 Finnish time). The application should be written in English and include the following documents:

1. A letter of motivation (max 2 pages)
2. An academic Curriculum Vitae (max 4 pages) following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. List of 10 most important publications: select maximum of 10 scientific articles that highlight your research interests and competence and explain your role in them.
4. Teaching and supervision experience (2 pages)

Eligible applicants best fitting the expected research profile may be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified when the selection process is completed.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people of different ages, genders, languages, cultures, and minority communities.

Further information

Assistant Professor Pekka Niittynen, pekka.niittynen@oulu.fi

Associate Professor Hannu Marttila, hannu.marttila@oulu.fi