Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) position, Arctic plant community and trait ecology and carbon fluxes

We are inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) position at the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies on the Joensuu Campus of the University of Eastern Finland. The position will begin on 1 April 2026. Read more below and submit your application no later than 15 February 2026.

Position and salary 

We are seeking a highly motivated Doctoral Researcher to join the Research Council of Finland -funded project EmpERA. EmpERA seeks to understand patterns and processes of ongoing tundra vegetation changes across spatial scales and ecological contexts. The core aim of the project is to study how biotic interactions – especially allelopathy and herbivory – mediate the impacts of plausible future climates on plant community composition and ecosystem functioning in the Fennoscandian tundra. Our multidisciplinary approach combines state-of-the-art experimental climate manipulation studies, quantification of ecosystem carbon fluxes, multi-scale remote sensing and spatial ecology, as well as knowledge co-production.

The Doctoral Researcher will 1) explore the trait and abundance variation of the black crowberry (Empetrum nigrum) and other dwarf-shrubs along multi-scale environmental gradients and 2) study how the responses of the plant community composition and ecosystem carbon fluxes to warmer and cooler climates are mediated by black crowberry. Within these limits, the emphasis of the research can be adjusted based on the candidate’s interests and specific expertise. The candidate will work closely with researchers at the Digital Geosciences Research Group at UEF, as well as with collaborating researchers at the UEF Peat&Trees research group and the Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway.

When filling the position, consideration will be given tothe applicant’s research ideas, earlier academic performance and achievements in research, empirical experience in the field of research and the applicant’s motivation and ambition. We are looking for candidates with a solid background in Arctic plant ecology, soil ecology and carbon fluxes, as well as statistical analysis of ecological data. Candidates who are proactive, self-motivated, and eager to contribute to cutting-edge research are highly encouraged to apply. Field work experience, experience in leading a field team, experience in research data management, experience in R or Python, a driving license and fluency in Norwegian are considered additional assets.

The full-time researcher position will be filled starting from 1 April 2026 for a fixed term of three years. A Trial period will be applied to new members of university staff.

The Doctoral Researcher is physically based at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies on the Joensuu Campus, except for one year of international mobility at UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø during 2026–2027. In addition, the PhD project will include multiple field work campaigns in NW-Finland and Northern Norway.

The position is filled for a fixed term due to the requirements within the Doctoral School. The salary of the position is based on the salary system for the teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. The salary consists of a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. In this position, the job-related salary element is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart (EUR 2,281.48-2,844.66) , and the personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. In the position of a Doctoral Researcher, the salary is determined based on the stage of doctoral research and doctoral studies, as well as on personal performance.

Our requirements  

You must be eligible for doctoral education, i.e., hold a suitable higher university degree or have a suitable foreign education qualifying for equivalent university studies in the country concerned, and must have excellent English language skills (written and spoken).

The position can be filled by a person who is either planning to pursue or is currently pursuing their first doctoral degree. The person selected to the position must then separately apply for the right to pursue postgraduate studies in the Doctoral program of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies at the University of Eastern Finland. The person to be appointed must have a valid right to pursue postgraduate studies at the UEF Department of Geographical and Historical Studies before starting the employment relationship.

What we can offer you 

• An interesting position in an international, creative, participatory and engaging university community,
• The opportunity for flexible multi-location work, 
• The opportunity for international collaboration as part of a research team,
• Staff benefits of the University of Eastern Finland, including comprehensive occupational health care, versatile staff training opportunities, affordable campus restaurant lunches and Sykettä sports services. 

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.   

How to apply 

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 15 February 2026 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2).

For applicants who do not yet have the right to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Eastern Finland, the appointment to the Doctoral Researcher position will be conditional until they have been granted the right to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Eastern Finland.

Please note that the application is required to have the following appendices: 

• A CV (Template for CV, TENK website).
• A list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland website).
• A motivation letter of 1–2 pages, including research ideas connected to the position.
• A copy of the degree certificate / diploma and a transcript of academic records proving the applicant’s eligibility to pursue postgraduate studies. The documents must be in Finnish or English. For translated documents, only a Diploma Supplement issued by the higher education institution in question and/or other official translations issued by the awarding higher education institution or an authorized translator are accepted.
• Copies of certificates of language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas.

Questions? 

For more information on the position, please contact the project leader Dr. Maria Skalska-Tuomi, [emailprotected].

For more information on employment at the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, please contact Head of the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies Pieter Dhondt, [emailprotected].

For further information relating to the application procedure, please contact HR-Specialist Airi Leppänen, [emailprotected].

Väitöskirjatutkija

Haemme väitöskirjatutkijaa historia- ja maantieteiden laitokselle Joensuun kampukselle (EmpEra,, Arctic plant community and trait ecology and carbon fluxes). Tehtävä sijoittuu yhteiskuntatieteiden ja kauppatieteiden tiedekuntaan ja se täytetään kolmen vuoden määräajaksi 1.4.2026-31.3.2029. Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasolla 2–4 (2281,48 € - 2844,66 €). Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6–50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävässä edellytetään erinomaista englannin kielen taitoa.

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 15.2.2026.

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies operates on two campuses of the University of Eastern Finland – in Joensuu and Kuopio. The faculty trains experts in the fields of history, geography, economics and business administration, law, social sciences, and social and health management. The faculty's research is closely linked to the research areas identified in the university's strategy. The faculty has 4,480 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and approximately 500 postgraduate students actively pursuing their studies. The faculty has 550 staff members.

The Department of Geographical and Historical Studies carries out research addressing the use of natural resources, environmental changes, well-being and cultural interactions in border and peripheral areas, and their geographical, social and historical dynamics of development. The high level of education provided by the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies is based on the above-mentioned research, serving as a foundation for the development of the students’ analytical and critical skills. The department’s research activities offer its staff a means to actively participate in social debate.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 17,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en.Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.