"Postdoctoral and Doctoral Researchers in Future Forests Research"

We are seeking two postdoctoral researchers or one postdoctoral and one doctoral researcher for a four-year 'Future Forests' research project funded by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation. The project focuses on monitoring tree growth in Finland using remote sensing resources and combining this with whole genome sequencing data from up to 10,000 birch trees.

Positions available: (i) Remote sensing advised country-wide genotype-phenotype linking, and (ii) Country-wide study of genetic adaptation and population structure dynamics in a changing climate. Duties include analyzing whole-genome data, associating it with phenotypic and climate data, performing population genetic analyses and simulations, and participating in supervision of undergraduate students and teaching (approximately 5% of working hours).

Skills and Qualifications: For the doctoral researcher position, candidates must have an applicable second-cycle degree and the right to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki. For the postdoctoral researcher position, candidates must hold a doctoral degree and demonstrate ability to conduct independent scholarly work. Optimal candidates have a PhD in biology, forest sciences, environmental sciences, or data sciences, with a strong background in ecological genetics, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, and population genetics. Proficiency in GWAS, landscape genomic analyses, and population genetic simulations is required. Candidates must be fluent in English, demonstrate team spirit, and have a structured working attitude.

Contract and Salary: The positions are full-time with a preferred start date of October/November 2025. The doctoral researcher’s starting salary is approximately 2500 euros/month, based on levels 1-2 of the job requirement scheme, increasing with progress. The postdoctoral researcher’s salary ranges from 3600–4500 euros/month, based on level 5. Employment includes a six-month probationary period. The place of work is Helsinki.

The hired persons will be part of the Centre of Excellence in Tree Biology and co-supervised by Tanja Pyhäjärvi and Jarkko Salojärvi.

How to Apply: Submit your application through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System. The application should include: a cover letter, complete CV, copies of diplomas, and contact information of two referees. The closing date is August 25, 2025.

For further information, contact Tanja Pyhäjärvi at tanja.pyhajarvi@helsinki.fi or Jarkko Salojärvi at jarkko.salojarvi@helsinki.fi. For recruitment system support, contact HR Specialist Mirkka Juntunen at mirkka.juntunen@helsinki.fi.

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