Postdoctoral Researcher or Doctoral Researcher in Designing Sustainable Animal Based Diets

Updated: 11 months ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 31 May 2023

The Department of Agricultural Sciences at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry invites applications for the position of  POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER OR DOCTORAL RESEACHE

For a fixed term of either September 2023-December 2024 (post-doc) or September 2023-May 2025 (PhD researcher)

The Agroecology research group of the University of Helsinki and Finnish Environment Institute are looking for a highly motivated and skilled postdoctoral or late-stage PhD researcher to join our interdisciplinary team in the Academy-funded project SustAnimalFood. The researcher will be employed for a minimum of 16 months in the Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. The team will seek additional funding with the candidate.

The candidate will be responsible for implementing research on qualitative designs of ‘eco-culturally sufficient diets’ for Finland. The designs seek novel ways to imagine sustainable ways of using animal-based foods in our diets. The candidate will conduct qualitative research on the cultural values attached to animal- and plant-based foods; focus groups with stakeholders will be a primary method of data collection. Work will be done in close collaboration with other project researchers.

Who can apply 

The candidate must be a mid- to late-stage PhD studies or a postdoc with relevant experience in the subject matter and/or methods. Special attention will be given to skills needed for the position in the appointment process.

We seek a candidate with the following qualifications:

  • In-progress or recently-completed PhD on topics related to food consumption and practices, diets, sustainability, food systems, nutrition,  livestock production or agroecology
  • Methodological skills in conducting qualitative research, including focus groups, and experience with cultural models in eating
  • Demonstrated academic outputs in the form of scientific publications
  • Shown ability to conduct research independently
  • Shown ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team, and evidence of previous work with researchers from different disciplines
  • Ability to communicate research ideas and results and an interest to engage with stakeholders outside the academic community
  • Excellent written and spoken English

Fluent Finnish skills are a major advantage (focus groups and data collection will be done in Finnish). Knowledge of Finnish diets and food systems is meritorious.

Terms of employment

This is a 16-month, full-time PhD position (September 2023-May 2025) or postdoc position (September 2023-December 2024).

The workplace is primarily at Viikki campus of the University (with a possibility for hybrid or remote work).

How to apply

The application should include as one single pdf file:

  • A cover letter explaining the applicant’s motivation for the research work.
  • Curriculum vitae showing the applicant's education, completed qualifications, work experience, list of publications and contact information of 2 persons for references (up to 3 pages).
  • Copies of Doctoral, Master's, and Bachelor's degree certificates and official transcripts of the records, and their translations, if the originals are not in Finnish, Swedish or English.
  • A proof of proficiency in Finnish, Swedish or English, if the applicant is not a native speaker or educated in any of them.
  • Please submit your application via our recruitment system by 31.05.2023 (23.59 EEST).

    External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via Apply Now button.

    Applicants who have a helsinki.fi -username and a valid employment contract, a grant researcher’s contract or a visiting researcher’s contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the employee login.

    Salary and benefits

    The postdoctoral researcher’s salary will be based on level 5 of the requirement level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. The starting gross salary will be ca. 3 300 – 3 500 euros/month, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. The PhD salary will be based on level 2 of the requirement level chart with a starting gross salary of ca. 2 400 – 2 600 euros/month, depending on the stage of PhD work.

    The University of Helsinki invests in the welfare of its employees by offering preventative occupational health services and general medical care. Read more about the employee benefits at the University of Helsinki and why the University of Helsinki is an excellent career choice: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers

    Further information on the position can be requested from Dr. Iryna Herzon [email protected]

    For further information on the recruitment process and the recruitment system please contact HR Specialist Mirkka Juntunen (mirkka.juntunen(at)helsinki.fi ).

     About us

    The University of Helsinki is among the leading multidisciplinary research universities in the world. In addition to its 11 faculties, the University includes several independent institutes, some of which are jointly operated with other universities. Some 35,000 students are currently pursuing an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree at the University of Helsinki.

    The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry  is nationally unique faculty with a high international standing. The mission of the faculty is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources through scientific research and research-based teaching. We focus on agricultural and forest sciences, food and nutrition, microbiology, as well as on economics and management.

    The Agroecology research group , led by Assoc. Prof Johan Ekroos, is a highly dynamic interdisciplinary group with a wide collaborative network across research communities in Finland and Europe. . More about the SustAnimalFood project https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/agroecology/sustainable-niche-for-farmed-animals-in-food-systems



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