Postdoctoral Researcher, Environmental Social Sciences and Digital Infrastructures

We are now looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join us in the General Education Research unit at the Faculty of Education and Psychology. The unit brings together interdisciplinary research, including research on human-environment relations and more-than-human perspectives . The successful candidate will work in the Research Council of Finland-funded DATAVOID project and will have opportunities to collaborate with researchers across the University of Oulu as well as with the project’s international research partners. From a Void to the Cloud? Data Centres in the Afterlives of Arctic Industries (DATAVOID) is a four-year research project exploring data centres emerging in post-industrial northern communities. Across northern regions, data centres are increasingly being built or planned in places shaped by earlier industries. Former industrial sites, abundant energy and existing infrastructure can make these locations attractive for new digital investments. Data centres are often presented as opportunities for economic renewal – but what happens when a new industry arrives in a place already transformed by previous waves of industrial development? DATAVOID explores this question through research in Finland and Canada, complemented by comparative cases in the Nordic countries. It examines how data centres interact with the physical and social legacies of earlier industries and how local communities, companies and other actors imagine the futures associated with them. Funded by the Research Council of Finland (2026–2030), DATAVOID is led by Dr Anna Niia Varfolomeeva at the University of Oulu and combines ethnographic and archival research with artistic collaboration. Working across different northern locations allows us to examine both common patterns and important local differences. Further information about the project is available on the DATAVOID website . About the job The Postdoctoral Researcher will contribute to DATAVOID by developing a comparative strand of research on data centre development and industrial transformation in the Arctic. The position is expected to focus primarily on Canada, while contributing to the project's broader comparative work across northern regions. The position is based at the University of Oulu and requires periods of residence and active participation in the research environment in Oulu. At the same time, the position includes extended periods of fieldwork and research stays in Canada. The timing and duration of these periods will be planned together with the successful candidate, taking into account the needs of the research project. The position is primarily research-focused, with a small proportion of working time allocated to teaching and supervision (approximately 5%). These activities will be aligned, where possible, with the successful candidate's expertise. As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you will design and conduct qualitative research on data centre development in northern communities in Canada, with Alberta and Saskatchewan among the potential areas of focus. You will conduct fieldwork using qualitative methods, which may include interviews, ethnographic observation, archival research, and analysis of media and policy materials. You will develop your own research within the broader framework of DATAVOID and produce high-quality peer-reviewed publications, both independently and in collaboration with the PI and other project members. You will contribute to comparative analysis across the project’s case studies and participate in project meetings, workshops and other collaborative activities. You will collaborate with DATAVOID’s research partners in Canada and with relevant researchers and research communities at the University of Oulu. You will contribute to research communication, stakeholder and community engagement, and other outreach activities related to the project. What we offer The opportunity to join a new international research project and work closely with the PI and DATAVOID’s collaborators in Finland, Canada, and other Northern regions, while developing your own research profile within the project. An interdisciplinary research environment, with opportunities to engage with DATAVOID’s international research network and collaborate with research groups at the University of Oulu working on environmental social sciences, more-than-human research, and transdisciplinary approaches. 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 liva