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Postdoctoral Researcher in snow and microclimate processes of cold-climate ecosystems

We are now looking for a

Postdoctoral Researcher in snow and microclimate processes of cold-climate ecosystems

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, and to connect their dynamics to ecological processes in cold climates. We welcome applicants with backgrounds in hydrology, remote sensing, data science, physical geography, environmental science, ecosystem science or ecology, as long as you bring strong numerical and programming skills and a genuine interest in cold-climate systems.

We recognise that excellent candidates come from different scientific traditions. We therefore invite applications along two complementary profiles, and encourage you to indicate in your application which profile best matches your interests and expertise. Both profiles are equally valued and will be assessed on their own merits. We also welcome candidates whose expertise and interests fall between these profiles or combine elements of both.

Profile A — Snow, climate and remote sensing (technical / modelling focus).
You will study snow-related processes and the impacts of climate change on them in Arctic, boreal and alpine ecosystems by combining remote sensing tools, microclimate datasets and mechanistic models. You will utilise and develop advanced mechanistic and deep-learning models with fine-resolution satellite imagery and empirical microclimate data to understand and predict the localised effects of climate change and human impacts on cold-climate hydrology and snow. This profile suits a hydrological modeller or data scientist with a strong background in spatial datasets and analyses and deep understanding in cold-climate processes.

Profile B — Snow, microclimate and ecosystems (interdisciplinary focus).
You will study the dynamics and spatial patterns in snow and hydrological and microclimate conditions and link them to ecological processes in Arctic, boreal and alpine ecosystems. You will investigate how shifts in snow cover, local hydrology and microclimates propagate through cold ecosystems affecting vegetation, biodiversity and ecosystem functions. This profile suits a hydrologist, physical geographer, ecosystem scientist or ecologist with strong numerical and programming skills and an understanding of cold-ecosystem processes and nature.

The position is linked to a project led by Assistant Professor Pekka Niittynen that studies local-scale trends in snow cover duration and their ecological implications across Arctic and alpine ecosystems.

The postdoctoral position is also 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 5 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

The responsibilities below are tailored to your chosen profile, with shared responsibilities common to both.

Shared responsibilities:

  • Integrate remote sensing observations, climate reanalysis and microclimate data to reconstruct historical snow, hydrological and microclimate trends.
  • Collaborate with ecologists, hydrologists and modellers to assess the impacts of hydrological and cryospheric changes on ecosystems and water resources.
  • 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.

In addition, for Profile A:

  • Develop algorithms for fine-scale snow and hydrological mapping and modelling utilising Landsat, Sentinel and PlanetScope satellite data.
  • Advance mechanistic, deep-learning or hybrid models that translate satellite and microclimate data into predictions of snow and hydrological change.

In addition, for Profile B:

  • Analyse how changes in snow, hydrology and microclimate propagate to ecological processes in Arctic and alpine tundra and boreal forests.
  • Bridge physical environmental data and model outputs with ecological and biodiversity datasets and outcomes.

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

Who are you?

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

  • A relevant doctoral degree in hydrology, remote sensing, data science, environmental science, ecosystem science, ecology, physical geography 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.
  • Teaching skills required for the position.
  • Strong background in numerical modelling and data analysis.
  • Experience with programming languages such as R, Python, 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.
  • Understanding of cold-ecosystem processes and nature, and experience linking environmental drivers to ecological or biodiversity outcomes.
  • Experience with ecological, hydrological or microclimate field measurements in cold regions.
  • 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, as well as prior experience in working with cold-climate topics. 

Salary

The position is a fixed-term position for 3 years, beginning on 1.12.2026 (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 October 15, 2026 (23:59 Finnish time). The application should be written in English and include the following documents:

  1. A letter of motivation containing a short description of the research you propose to conduct in the position (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, [email protected]

Associate Professor Hannu Marttila, [email protected]

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