Grant funded Postdoctoral Researcher in Conservation Science

The Faculty of Science invites applications for a

GRANT FUNDED POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE

starting from November 2024 or as agreed. The Postdoctoral Researcher will receive a 2-year scholarship funded by the Kone foundation. This position is grant funded only; it does not establish an employment relationship with the University of Helsinki.

Position description

The successful applicant should contribute to one or more of the research themes of the project "The interplay between funding and governance factors in achieving sustainable conservation outcomes for protected areas in the tropics" financed by the Kone foundation. The principal investigator (PI) of the project is Associate Professor Johanna Eklund. The project aims to provide insight into what are the enabling factors needed to attain sustainable conservation outcomes for protected areas in the long term. The project will use expert elicitation techniques to engage with local stakeholders and experts and identify what they perceive as important in implementing successful conservation policies. The work will include identifying both remote factors (such as institutional constraints) and proximate factors (actions directly related to protected areas). The project uses novel attribution methods, previously not used in conservation science, to explore causalities. The analytical framework will build on a Qualitative Comparative Analysis - allowing to study how certain factors in their specific combinations with other factors influence an outcome and will require defining and framing the candidate conditions, their thresholds, and the truth tables of the method in collaboration with local protected area stakeholders and experts.

Responsibilities as a grant funded postdoctoral researcher

The appointed researcher will lead one of the planned working packages of the project and this will entail to design the data collection, conduct stakeholder focus groups and workshops, to analyze data using a Qualitative Comparative Analyses framework, and publish the findings in high level journals in the field. The position will require familiarity analyzing both qualitative and spatial quantitative data (GIS, focus groups, interviews, workshops), but the work will be supported by a part time research assistant.

Requirements and eligibility criteria

The postdoctoral researcher must have a doctoral degree in conservation science, geography, policy analysis, or a related field. It is expected that applicants have experience with mixed-methods and working with both qualitative and quantitative data and analysis. Previous experience with impact evaluation methods in conservation, and especially qualitative attribution methods is a merit. As the position will require leading one of the project work packages, excellent organizational, social, and collaborative skills are also required. Familiarity with different types of stakeholder engagement activities is considered a merit. Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English are also expected, and so is a track record of being able to publish scientific articles.

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from all genders, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds.

Scholarship and benefits

The successful applicant will receive a scholarship funded by the Kone foundation from November 2024 to October 2026. The personal grant amount is 3200 euros monthly. Please note that this position is grant funded only; it does not establish an employment relationship with the University of Helsinki.

Finland is a member of the EU, has high quality free schooling (also in English), generous family benefits and healthcare, and was recently ranked as the happiest country in the world for the 7th year in a row. Finland and the Helsinki region possess top expertise in sciences in terms of a vibrant talent pool, leading research, strong support services and functioning collaboration networks. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers.

How to apply

Please submit your application, which includes the following PDF-documents in English:

• A cover letter presenting your motivation and qualifications for the position (max. 2 pages)
• A curriculum vitae including a list of publications
• A copy of your doctoral degree certificate
• Names and contact details of two referees who are willing to provide reference letters upon request
  
   

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



Applicants who have a helsinki.fi username and a valid employment/grant/visitor contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the Employee login button.



The deadline for applications is 21 October 2024, but please note that the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found.



More information?

For project- and position-related questions, please contact

• Associate Professor Johanna Eklund, johanna.f.eklund(at)helsinki.fi, tel +358504484428.
  
   

If you need support with the recruitment system, please contact hr-kumpula(at)helsinki.fi.



The Department of Geosciences and Geography at the Faculty of Science is the leading research and education unit in its field in Finland. The research carried out in geography is interdisciplinary with strong research lines in both human geography, physical geography, and geoinformatics. Cross-disciplinary collaboration is further advanced by the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS).



The University of Helsinki is an international scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers. It is one of the leading multidisciplinary research universities and ranks among the top 100 international universities in the world.