Scholarship Overview
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Overview
The University of Helsinki invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher in Climate Democracy, a fixed-term position beginning January 2027. This role is embedded in a major Finnish Research Council Profi9-funded project led by Professor David Schlosberg, examining how communities can develop democratic innovations to respond to climate crisis.
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The position spans two faculties—Biological and Environmental Sciences and Social Sciences—reflecting the project’s interdisciplinary nature. For researchers from Zimbabwe and the SADC region, this represents a significant opportunity to join one of Europe’s leading research universities while contributing to globally relevant climate governance research.
Research Focus Areas
The successful candidate will investigate community-based democratic experiments across multiple domains:
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- Deliberative assemblies and participatory climate governance
- Food and energy systems transformation
- Disaster response and climate adaptation
- Ecological urban design
- Environmental justice approaches to climate crisis
The role emphasizes collaborative research with academic and community partners, requiring both independent scholarship and coordination of multi-researcher teams.
Position Responsibilities
Beyond core research, the postdoctoral researcher will:
- Design and execute assessments of democratic climate processes
- Manage project workflows and coordinate research tasks
- Publish peer-reviewed articles and develop competitive grant applications
- Produce documentation for academic and public audiences
- Lead seminar and workshop organization (logistics, communications, finance)
- Build research-practitioner networks across Finland and internationally
- Teach 10–20% of annual working time
Eligibility Requirements
Candidates must demonstrate:
- Completed PhD in climate democracy or related field (humanities, social sciences, or natural sciences) by employment start date
- Emerging research profile in climate crisis responses and political/public engagement
- Track record of independent research and project completion
- Published academic work with potential for further development
- Project management experience
- Collaborative working ability
- International and/or multidisciplinary research background
- Excellent written and spoken English
No Finnish language requirement is stated. The position explicitly welcomes diverse applicants and promotes inclusive research culture.
Funding and Employment Terms
The position offers:
- Duration: 3 years fixed-term, with possible extension contingent on funding
- Salary: €3,700–4,000/month (Level 5 of Finnish university salary scale, plus performance component)
- Start date: January 2027 (preferred)
- Trial period: 6 months
- Residency requirement: Must reside in Finland during employment
- Campus: City Centre or Viikki campus, Helsinki
The salary is competitive for Finnish living standards, though applicants from lower-cost regions should budget carefully for Helsinki housing.
Application Process
Submit as single PDF in English via University of Helsinki Recruitment System:
- Motivation letter (maximum 2 pages)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Relevant certificates/transcripts (including doctoral diploma)
- Contact information for 2 references
Current University of Helsinki employees with valid contracts should apply via Employee Login.
For technical support with the recruitment portal, email recruitment@helsinki.fi with the position title in the subject line.
For African Applicants
While this is not Africa-specific funding, several factors may interest Zimbabwe and SADC researchers:
- The environmental justice focus aligns with Southern African climate vulnerability and adaptation research
- Professor Schlosberg’s work on climate justice has global relevance including African contexts
- International and multidisciplinary experience requirements favor candidates with diverse research backgrounds
- The University of Helsinki has active research partnerships with African institutions
Applicants should emphasize any experience with community-based climate governance in African contexts, as this directly supports the project’s comparative research goals.
Contact Information
Position inquiries: Professor David Schlosberg (david.schlosberg@helsinki.fi)
Technical support: recruitment@helsinki.fi
Official scholarship page: https://jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki-Postdoctoral-Researcher-in-Climate-Democracy/1372554457/?feedId=350602&utm_source=CareerSite_UniversityOfHelsinki
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships