The Faculty of Law at the University of Lapland is hiring two (2) Postdoctoral Research Fellows for the "Arctic Transitions, Energy and Climate Governance Horizons in the Far North" project.
The aim of the Arctic Transitions (AT) project is to critically examine how rapidly changing climatic conditions and a race to extract rare and valuable earth materials have made Arctic regions the focus of new extractive possibilities, as well as a laboratory for testing who controls these possibilities.
To meet this aim, the AT project is hiring a team to conduct comparative multidisciplinary research at locations across Arctic nations to explore:
- How and why changing climatic conditions and new resource demands are shaping extraction activities, infrastructures, security configurations, and governance arrangements.
- The impact of these activities and arrangements on the people and communities who live in these regions.
- How and why energy security and energy transition narratives are being mobilised, by whom, and to what end.
- How and why these activities, infrastructures, configurations, and arrangements are connected to, and entangled with, international legal provisions and flows of capital.
This is an exciting and unique opportunity to be a core member of a cutting-edge research team, in an area of research that is fast-moving and of geopolitical significance.
These are full-time, funded, 30-month research positions, based in Rovaniemi (Finland), with the possibility of remote working. The prospective start date for these positions is Spring 2027 (ex. January-March) or sometime shortly thereafter (to be negotiated).
Work Tasks
The successful candidates will be core and active members of the Arctic Transitions team. They will carry out independent research, work in close collaboration with the project's Principal Investigator, and take on leadership roles within the AT team. In particular, the selected candidates will:
- Conduct independent field research and data collection at selected field locations, to be chosen by the candidates in collaboration with the PI.
- Produce solo- and jointly-authored articles and chapters for top-tier peer-reviewed academic publishers.
- Present research results at national and international conferences.
- Contribute to the planning of an international conference to be hosted in Rovaniemi.
- Contribute to AT project planning and project administration.
- Participate in other duties related to the role assigned by the employer. Tasks in teaching may occur to a small extent.
Competence
Prospective candidates must:
- Have a PhD in law, policy, geography, economics, environmental studies, sociology, business, anthropology, science and technology studies, or related field.
- Have a publication record commensurate with their career stage.
- Be proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English at an academic level.
Proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking Finnish will be considered a merit. Demonstrable experience working in a research team will also be considered a merit.
What we Offer
- An opportunity to work in a multidisciplinary research team.
- An opportunity to conduct funded primary data collection (qualitative, quantitative, mixed method, etc.).
- An opportunity to be a part of an international university community.
- An opportunity to build a research portfolio.
- Modern work equipment and facilities.
- A stable organisation to work in.
- Opportunities for professional development.
- Extensive occupational health services.
- Sport, culture, and wellbeing benefits.
Application
Prospective candidates should submit their application via the University's electronic application form below. Applications must include:
- Cover letter (maximum 1 page)
- Curriculum vitae (cv)
- Research proposal (max. 3 pages, single spaced, 12-point font)
Research proposals should include:
- The region and/or location of the proposed field research.
- The methodological approach to data collection and analysis.
- A timeline for data collection, analysis, and writing.
- Proposed research outputs.
Short-listed candidates selected for an interview will be contacted by email. Interviews will be conducted online in November and/or December 2026.
Information
For further information about the position, please contact Sean Field, Principal Investigator at firstname.lastname@ulapland.fi and +358 4014 95972. Candidates are encouraged to get in touch with the PI prior to submitting their application.
Workplace address: Yliopistonkatu 8, 96300 ROVANIEMI
Duration of employment: 30 months starting in spring 2027 (to be negotiated)
Work hours: full-time employment
Trial period: 6 months
Salary: The university's salary system is made up of a task-specific salary component namely the demand level and a personal salary component namely the performance percentage. The task-specific salary for a postdoctoral researcher ranges from demand level 5 (3 366,36 €/ month) to demand level 6 (3 925,63 €/ month). The personal salary component can typically range from 19,1% to 30%. The starting salary for Postdoctoral Researcher ranges between 4 009,33 € / month (demand level 5, performance 19,1%) and 4 675,43 € / month (demand level 6, performance 19,1%).
Salary: 4009.33 - 5103.32 €/Monthly
Indicative starting salary calculated with demand level 5, performance 19,1% and demand level 6, performance 30%
Apply between 6 October 2026 and 15 November 2026 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)
Employment type: fixed-term