Postdoctoral Researcher in snow and microclimate processes of cold-climate ecosystems University of Oulu in Finland

The University of Oulu is recruiting a Postdoctoral Researcher in snow and microclimate processes of cold-climate ecosystems for a 3-year fixed-term appointment in the Faculty of Technology, Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Unit.

The position sits within a strong and expanding research environment focused on hydrology, cold-climate water processes, remote sensing, and ecosystem interactions across Arctic, boreal, and alpine systems. The postdoctoral researcher will study how snow, hydrology, and microclimates change over space and time, and how these changes influence ecological processes, biodiversity, vegetation, and ecosystem functions in cold regions.

Applicants may align with one of two equally valued profiles. Profile A emphasizes snow, climate, and remote sensing, with a technical and modelling focus using satellite imagery, microclimate data, mechanistic models, and deep-learning or hybrid approaches. Profile B emphasizes snow, microclimate, and ecosystems, connecting environmental patterns to ecological responses in tundra and boreal forests. The role is therefore suitable for candidates with backgrounds in hydrology, remote sensing, data science, physical geography, environmental science, ecosystem science, or ecology.

The project is linked to research led by Assistant Professor Pekka Niittynen and to the broader digital water and biodiversity research landscape at the University of Oulu, including DIWA - Digital Waters and SAFIRE, a Research Council Finland-funded profiling programme focused on scientifically excellent and actionable knowledge for habitat restoration, especially in Arctic regions. The role is also connected to the Arctic, Antarctic and Mountain initiative, a large international network working on microclimate datasets and cross-disciplinary research.

Shared responsibilities include integrating remote sensing, climate reanalysis, and microclimate observations to reconstruct historical snow, hydrological, and microclimate trends; collaborating with ecologists, hydrologists, and modellers; publishing high-quality research; contributing to open-source tools; and potentially taking part in fieldwork in northern Finland, Sweden, and Norway. The position also includes participation in doctoral supervision and education.

Required qualifications include a relevant doctoral degree completed by the closing date and awarded no more than 10 years ago, strong numerical modelling and data analysis skills, experience with programming languages such as R, Python, Julia, Fortran, or C/C++, excellent English, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively. The university especially values experience with satellite remote sensing, drone imagery, ecological or hydrological field measurements in cold regions, high-performance computing, scientific writing, supervision, and proposal writing.

The appointment starts on 1 December 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter, and includes a six-month trial period. The salary is based on Finnish university salary levels 5-6, with a typical monthly salary of €3,700–€4,800 before taxes, plus a performance-based component. The application deadline is 15 October 2026 at 23:59 Finnish time. Applications must be submitted online in English and should include a motivation letter with a brief research proposal, a CV, up to 10 key publications, and a description of teaching and supervision experience.

For further information, contact Assistant Professor Pekka Niittynen or Associate Professor Hannu Marttila by email.