Postdoctoral Researcher on Animal Crosslocations

4 May 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

Research Field

Biological sciences
Sociology
Ethics in social sciences
Geography

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Established Researcher (R3)

Country

Finland

Application Deadline

15 Jun 2023 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Other

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The Faculty of Social Sciences and new inter- and transdisciplinary research environment ‘Resilient and Just Systems (RESET)’ of the University of Helsinki invite applications for the position of POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER for a fixed 3-year term starting on 1 September 2023 (or as agreed). Successful candidates are expected to work full time.

The doctoral researcher position is part of the Academy of Finland funded RESET research profiling action, which aims to build an inter- and transdisciplinary research environment that bridges life and social sciences, offering sustainable and just solutions and increasing system resilience.

The post-doctoral researcher based at the University of Helsinki is expected to carry out an individual research project addressing the movement of non-human animals across multiple borders (e.g. political, environmental, social, economic, infrastructural, technological, historical, conceptual) and how this mobility engages with, is generated by, and/or intervenes in, the changing conditions of the wider environment (whether urban, rural, maritime, aerial or riverine)  in order to contribute towards efforts to improve resilience in dealing with rapid environmental change. The term ‘crosslocations’ refers to an approach towards analysing the significance of changes in relations between places, peoples and non-human entities. It begins with the premise that the coexistence of political borders crosscut by habitats, infrastructural systems (e.g. internet cable networks), financial regions, linguistic borders, etc, creates dynamic conditions that require research in order to work towards developing resilient approaches.

Although the post-doctoral researcher will mainly be working on an individual research project, they will also be closely connected with the RESET research theme of “Health and welfare of domestic animals and wildlife” which focuses on creating new knowledge on non-human animal health and welfare, with a particular emphasis on the transportation or movement of animals across borders (e.g. livestock transport, wildlife movements across political borders and habitats, and the movement of microbes across borders). That emphasis is guided by the issues that are currently causing the most concern in terms of sustainability: intensive livestock farming, rapid changes in wildlife habitats, invasive species issues and of course, the spread of new zoonotic diseases. The post-doctoral researcher will be affiliated with Social and Cultural Anthropology at Helsinki University, Helsinki One Health (HOH) and Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ).   
 
The duties also include teaching and other tasks. Teaching tasks can account for up to 5 % of the annual working time.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Appointees must hold a doctoral degree in a field or multidisciplinary fields that are relevant to the research topic (the doctorate should have been awarded by the start of employment.). Such fields particularly include but are not limited to: social and/or cultural anthropology, political geography, sociology, ecology. The successful candidate should be prepared to work equally on independent and collaborative research; be willing to work in highly multi-disciplinary environments, which includes working with life science specialists (e.g. veterinarians, virologists, epidemiologists, zoologists); have excellent communication skills in English as well as a good command of any other languages needed to carry out their research.  

Preference will be given to candidates with at least nine months’ experience of ethnographic fieldwork in any part of the world; some experience of working on topics related to non-human animals (which includes farmed animals, companion animals, and wildlife) and their relations with human-influenced environments; a strong academic record; and an ability and/or willingness to teach in anthropology.  

Applicants of any gender, linguistic and cultural background, and from any region of the world are welcome.

The chosen applicant is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The Faculty of Social Sciences provides assistance in relocation if the successful applicant is from outside Finland.

WHAT WE OFFER

We are an equal opportunity employer and offer an attractive and diverse workplace in an inspiring environment with a variety of development opportunities and benefits. The annual gross salary range will be approx. €42,000 – €47,000, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. In addition, University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and opportunities for professional development. The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.

By completing the postdoctoral research as part of the RESET research environment, the appointee will have a unique opportunity to interact with a large number of junior and senior researchers based in several faculties of the University of Helsinki and their international networks. The appointee will also benefit from the common activities arranged by the various interdisciplinary research networks involved in RESET (e.g. INEQ, HOH, HELSUS).

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link "Apply now" below. Applicants who are currently employed by the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the SAP Fiori portal at https://msap.sap.helsinki.fi . The closing date for applications is 15 June 2023.

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications the following documents in English:

A curriculum vitae,

A research plan, including the issue to be researched, why it is important, how it will be researched (methods, schedule), what previous experience you bring to the project, and a list of key references (max. 2000 words excluding references).

A numbered list of publications on which the applicant has marked in bold their three key publications to be considered during the review 4) Copy of diplomas, transcript of records and other certificates relevant for the call.

Detailed information on the CV and list of publications can be obtained online .

Further information about the position may be obtained from Professor Sarah Green ([email protected] ) and Dr. Meri Kulmala (Director, Helsinki Inequality Initiative, [email protected]

In case you need support with the recruitment system, please contact HR Specialist Minna Maunula, [email protected] .

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

The University of Helsinki  is the oldest and largest institution of academic education in Finland, an international scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers. In international university rankings, the University of Helsinki typically ranks among the top 100. The University of Helsinki seeks solutions for global challenges and creates new ways of thinking for the best of humanity. Through the power of science, the University has contributed to society, education and welfare since 1640.

The Faculty of Social Science s is Finland’s leading research and education institution in the social sciences and also the most diverse in terms of its disciplines. In several research fields the Faculty belongs to the top 50 in the international rankings. The Faculty has a strong international profile both in research and teaching programmes. The number of academic staff stands at 500. Each year the faculty awards some 350 Bachelor’s degrees, 400 Master’s degrees, and more than 40 doctoral degrees.

Resilient and Just Systems (RESET) is an inter- and transdisciplinary research environment that brings together the life sciences and social sciences to offer just and sustainable solutions that reinforce systemic resilience. It seeks solutions to complex and complicated global sustainability challenges and crises requiring new kinds of transdisciplinary cooperation. RESET encourages collaboration between the life and social sciences to develop new transdisciplinary research paradigms, thereby enhancing human, animal and environmental welfare and increasing equality and justice.

The University of Helsinki Faculty of Veterinary Medicine manages RESET, which involves the faculties of biological and environmental sciences, agriculture and forestry, pharmacy, medicine, educational sciences, theology and social sciences, as well as Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE. The RESET activities are coordinated at the City Centre Campus by the Helsinki Inequality Initiative (INEQ) , a multidisciplinary network in inequality research.

Requirements
Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI

Country

Finland

City

Helsinki, Finland

Where to apply

Website

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/listing/338636/postdoctoral-resear…

Contact

City

Helsinki, Finland

STATUS: EXPIRED