Maria Ojala

The University of Oulu, a leading multidisciplinary research university in Finland, is seeking a Doctoral Researcher to join the Faculty of Education and Psychology for a project focused on how young people relate to the climate-change crisis from psychological, educational, and multidisciplinary perspectives. The successful candidate will work within the Teacher Education, School, and Society (TESS) unit and be affiliated with the Profi7 research program Frontiers of Arctic and Global Resilience (FRONT), which addresses human-environment relations and adaptation challenges in the Arctic and globally. The doctoral researcher will also participate in activities organized by the Eudaimonia Institute. The position is part of the three-year project "Climate-change hopelessness among emerging adults: Sources of hopelessness, outcomes, and resilience factors (ClimHope)," funded by the University of Oulu Eudaimonia Institute. The project aims to explore the types and patterns of climate hopelessness and related emotions among emerging adults, investigate the relationships between hopelessness and outcomes such as climate-change engagement, civic engagement, and mental wellbeing, and identify resilience factors that support engagement and mental health. The research will employ both qualitative (analysis of written stories and interview data) and quantitative (cross-sectional and longitudinal survey data) methods. The doctoral researcher will contribute to three substudies for their thesis: (1) analyzing longitudinal survey data on climate-hopelessness, (2) conducting qualitative research on open-ended survey data from Spain and Finland regarding climate hope and hopelessness, and (3) analyzing written stories about the future and climate change. The specific tasks can be tailored to the candidate’s skills and interests. The researcher will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team, including a postdoctoral researcher, international co-supervisors from Denmark and Sweden, and the principal investigator, Professor Maria Ojala. The project is embedded in the new Socio-ecological Resilience and Sustainability (SERSUS) research group and benefits from a scientific advisory board of leading international experts. The University of Oulu offers a supportive, international, and multidisciplinary research environment, with staff benefits such as wellness programs, career development opportunities, and support for settling into Oulu. The position is full-time, fixed-term for three years, with a starting gross salary of approximately 2600-3200 € per month, and includes a 6-month trial period. Applicants should have a completed master’s degree in psychology, social psychology, or education, with demonstrated experience in both quantitative and qualitative research methods, and a strong interest in climate change and sustainability. Fluency in English and good collaborative skills are required. Additional assets include research experience in emotions, resilience, education, and mental wellbeing, as well as Finnish language skills. Applications must be submitted online by 2 December 2025 and include a cover letter, CV, certificates, thesis abstract, and referee contacts. For further information, contact Professor Maria Ojala ([email protected]).

The University of Oulu, a leading multidisciplinary research university in Finland, is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Faculty of Education and Psychology, specifically within the Teacher Education, School, and Society (TESS) unit. The position is part of the 'Climate-change hopelessness among emerging adults: Sources of hopelessness, outcomes, and resilience factors (ClimHope)' project, funded by the University of Oulu Eudaimonia Institute. The project aims to explore the psychological and educational dimensions of how young people relate to the climate-change crisis, focusing on types and patterns of climate hopelessness, their relationship to engagement and mental wellbeing, and identifying resilience factors. The postdoctoral researcher will work with both qualitative (interviews, written stories) and quantitative (longitudinal and cross-sectional surveys) data, including developing new survey scales and leading a survey study with Finnish high-school students. Depending on language skills, the researcher may also conduct qualitative interviews in Finnish or analyze English-language stories. The role involves writing scientific articles, collaborating with an international team (including researchers from Denmark and Sweden), and participating in regular project meetings. The researcher will be affiliated with the Profi7 research program 'Frontiers of Arctic and Global Resilience (FRONT)' and the Eudaimonia Institute, and will join the 'Socio-ecological Resilience and Sustainability' research group led by Professor Maria Ojala. The position offers a supportive, multidisciplinary environment, staff benefits (including wellness and relocation support), and opportunities for professional development. Applicants must have a recent doctoral degree (within 10 years) in psychology, social psychology, education, or a related field, with strong quantitative skills and experience in survey research. Additional merits include qualitative research experience and Finnish language skills. The position is full-time, fixed-term for up to three years, with a starting salary of approximately 3700-4300 € per month. Applications are due by 2 December 2025 via the university's recruitment system. For further information, contact Professor Maria Ojala at [email protected].

The University of Oulu is offering a fixed-term Postdoctoral Researcher position in the FRONT research programme (Frontiers of Arctic and Global Resilience), based in the Faculty of Education and Psychology and linked to the SERSus (Socio-Ecological Resilience and Sustainability) research group led by Prof. Maria Ojala . The project explores critical emotional awareness (CEA) as a possible resilience factor against disinformation/propaganda and for civic engagement among young people in a time of polycrisis, including climate change and war. The research focuses on children, adolescents, and young adults, and is designed to combine qualitative and quantitative approaches in a transdisciplinary resilience context. The postdoctoral researcher will collaborate with the project leader to conduct interviews, analyze and publish findings on young people’s emotions and views about emotions in relation to societal problems, and co-develop a survey scale measuring CEA. The project also includes testing the scale with youth groups and publishing the resulting articles. In addition to the core research, the appointee will contribute to FRONT, the faculty, and the university, take part in the development of the Resilience Academy of Oulu , engage in funding applications, and participate in teaching where appropriate. Eligibility highlights include a doctoral degree awarded within the last ten years, strong quantitative and statistical skills, experience with survey studies and preferably scale development, and qualitative interview experience. Excellent English communication skills are required, and the selection will also value transdisciplinary orientation, multidisciplinary experience, and prior research related to emotions, climate change, or sustainability. The appointment is for two years , starting at the latest on 1 January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. The gross starting salary is approximately €3,700–€4,300 per month before taxes, with an additional performance-based salary component of up to 50% of the job-specific part. The University of Oulu offers flexible working hours, occupational healthcare, staff benefits, and support for settling into Oulu. Applications must be submitted through the university recruitment system by 30 September 2026 at 23:59 Finnish local time. Required materials include a cover letter, CV, list of publications, PhD certificate or equivalent notification if the doctorate is still pending, and contact details for two referees. Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed online or onsite, and references and diplomas will be checked during selection.