Postdoctoral Researcher, in the FRONT research programme

We are now looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join us in the Frontiers of Arctic and Global Resilience (FRONT) research programme at the University of Oulu. The postdoctoral researcher position will be placed in the Faculty of Education and Psychology. The FRONT research programme forms a part of our national profiling actions supported by the Research Council of Finland. FRONT programme focuses on changing human-environment relations and challenges to cope and adapt with that change and aims to ground-breaking transdisciplinary research on resilience and how to ‘Adapt for Our Future’ in the Arctic and elsewhere on the planet. The programme involves cutting-edge research to advance the existing frontiers of knowledge on systemic changes needed for resilience planning and governance, and for finding solutions to the wicked problems of resilience across the social and environmental sciences. FRONT focuses on international top-level collaborative and transdisciplinary research on socio-economic and socio-ecological resilience in different scales across social and environmental sciences, supported by the new Resilience Academy. By bringing together international, national and University of Oulu-based scholars from across disciplines, and encouraging effective public communication of science, FRONT will promote inter- and transdisciplinary and citizen-engaged studies of the environment and raise the University’s profile as an international leader in addressing the challenges of humans in change and human impacts and dependency on environment. About the job We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher in psychology (social psychology, environmental psychology, political psychology, developmental psychology etc.), education, or a neighboring social science field. The two-year project will be exploring “critical emotional awareness (CEA)” (Ojala, 2023, 2026) as a possible resilience factor against disinformation/propaganda and for civic engagement among young people in a time of polycrisis (climate change, war etc.). The age groups in focus in the project are young people between late childhood and up to young adulthood. The preliminary plan is that the post doc in collaboration with the project leader will: (1) Conduct interviews to explore young people’s emotions, and views about emotions, in relation to different intertwined societal problems (polycrisis), analyze, write, and publish an article on the data. (2) Based on earlier research and the interviews and in collaboration with young people create a survey scale capturing CEA, test how this scale works in groups of young people and publish articles on the data. Besides working in FRONT, you will work together with colleagues in the SERSus (Socio-Ecological Resilience and Sustainability) research group, led by Prof. Maria Ojala (who is also the project leader of this post doc project), at the Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu. As a postdoctoral researcher you will also Collaborate in service to FRONT programme, faculty, and university Participate in the development and activities of the Resilience Academy of Oulu (RAO) Engage in writing and submitting applications for research funding Take part in teaching activities, subject to faculty and research unit needs and your own teaching/research capabilities and interests What we offer We offer you a supportive academic environment in a community of committed scholars and the possibility to make use of funding opportunities to generate new research ideas and build an innovative programme that will attract international scholars. The University of Oulu offers flexible working hours, an excellent work-life balance and provides a range of occupational healthcare services. Our competitive salaries include paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team of people, with whom you can share your expertise and grow as an expert. Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits here. Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and your close ones in settling into Oulu. Development and career options of the big organization. We have an HR Excellence in Research -quality label, which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers. Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us. Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu . What we expect A doctoral degree in a relevant field that was awarded not more than ten years ago Skills in advanced statistical analyses and a solid experience in working with quantitative survey studies and preferably with scale development Experience of qualitative methods in the fo