Doctoral researcher / Project researcher in pro-environmental behaviour University of Turku in Finland

University of Turku is inviting applications for a Doctoral researcher / Project researcher in pro-environmental behaviour within the Department of Biodiversity Sciences and the ERC-funded NATURETIME project.

The position is based in the Biodiversity and Sustainability Solutions (BISONS) Lab, an international and interdisciplinary research group focused on human-nature interactions, biodiversity conservation, and sustainability solutions. The successful candidate will join a collaborative environment with the PI and around ten other researchers, including MSc and PhD students, postdocs, and project researchers, as well as international collaborators.

The project examines how nature experiences influence human time perception and how time perception, in turn, affects pro-environmental and sustainable behaviours. The work will include virtual-reality experiments, validation using citizen science data, landscape-scale modelling, behavioural experiments, and Big Data analytics. The research is intended to generate actionable knowledge for designing cities and living environments that support well-being and more sustainable behaviours.

The ideal background is in psychology or behavioural science, though related fields may be considered. The role requires strong quantitative data analysis skills and understanding of experimental design. Experience with behavioural experiments, serious games, programming in R or Python, reproducible research workflows, and communication of research to academic or public audiences is advantageous. The selected researcher will also be responsible for participant recruitment, experiment planning, data analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, and transparent, reproducible workflows.

This is a fixed-term full-time contract for 48 months. Employment starts no earlier than 1 January 2027 and no later than 1 April 2027. The salary is approximately €2,500–2,800 per month, depending on qualifications and experience, in accordance with the Finnish university salary system. The role is based in Turku, Finland, and requires either a doctoral study right at the University of Turku or an application for one in Autumn 2026.

Applicants must hold an MSc or equivalent in psychology, behavioural science, or a related field; be motivated to conduct dissertation research; demonstrate quantitative and experimental research skills; and have excellent English. Finnish language skills are desirable. The university also values teamwork, strong organization, interdisciplinary curiosity, and willingness to develop new methods. Teaching and supervision support may be included to a limited extent.

Application deadline: 31 August 2026 at 16:00 (Europe/Helsinki). Apply via the university’s online recruitment system and include a motivation letter, CV, research statement, degree certificates, and any other relevant documents.

Contact: Associate Professor Ricardo Henriques Correia ([email protected]) for the position; HR Specialist Saija Marjasto ([email protected]) for application process questions.