Doctoral Researcher (Phd Student, 3 Positions), Peatland Ecology

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for three Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) positions in the field of Peatland Ecology to join the Centre of Excellence in Peatlands, Climate Change and Ecological Restoration (PeatResC) at the School of Forest Sciences on the Joensuu Campus. The positions will be filled for a fixed term as from 1 June 2026 (or as agreed) to 31 December 2028.

Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 22 April 2026.

Role and salary

We are looking for three highly motivated and research-oriented Doctoral Researchers (PhD Students) (Peatland Ecology) who in addition to independent working are eager to conduct research as part of an international research team. The research will be conducted within the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Peatlands, Climate Change and Ecological Restoration (PeatResC) (website) funded by the Research Council of Finland and led by Professor Eeva-Stiina Tuittila. The Doctoral Researchers (PhD Students) will work in the School of Forest Sciences within the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology on the Joensuu campus.

Read more about the three available Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) positions below. Please indicate in the application form which position you are applying for as your primary choice.

Position 1: Effects of Temperature, Water Table and Shading on Peatland Biogeochemistry

In this Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position, you will address, together with us, the following question: How do peatland functions (carbon sink strength, methane emissions, nitrogen cycling) and related processes respond to environmental change, such as warming, drying/drought events, or increased cloudiness? The work is based on experimental research conducted both in controlled conditions at the Biosphere Laboratory of Eastern Finland (website) and in field experiments, carried out in collaboration with another Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) (see Position 2).

Position 2: Effects of Temperature, Water Table and Shading on Peatland Biota and Functional Characteristics

In this Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position, you will address, together with us, the following questions: How do peatland biological communities (plant communities and their functional traits) respond to changes in environmental conditions, such as warming, drying/drought events or increased cloudiness? How do interactions between vegetation and microbial communities shape these responses? The work is based on experimental research in controlled conditions at the Biosphere Laboratory of Eastern Finland (website) and in field experiments, conducted as a pair with another Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) (see Position 1).

Position 3: Changes in Peatland Forest Structure in a Warming Climate

In this Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position, you will address, together with us, the following questions: How has tree cover in different peatland types developed under climate warming? Does climate change enable tree encroachment into open peatlands? The work is based on a regionally and temporally extensive dataset of recorded tree cover, remote sensing -derived information of land cover and its recent changes, and dendrochronological data collected within the project.

The main duty of the Doctoral Researchers (PhD Students) is to conduct research for their doctoral dissertation and to complete postgraduate studies. All three Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) positions may include supervising interns and Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis students. The positions may also include teaching duties (max. 5% of total working hours) within the discipline, in line with the candidate’s area of expertise.

The Centre of Excellence in Peatlands, Climate Change and Ecological Restoration (2026–2033) is a collaborative research initiative between researchers from the University of Eastern Finland, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, the University of Helsinki, and Aalto University. The Centre of Excellence offers training (e.g., Summer Schools), meetings and seminars, and has an extensive network of international collaborators. During the employment, research visits within the Centre are possible. In Joensuu, we offer an active and enthusiastic research community, as well as broad national and international networks. Information about the group’s research can be found on the Peat & Trees research group website (website).

The positions will be filled for a fixed term as from 1 June 2026 (or as agreed) to 31 December 2028. The positions will be filled for a fixed term due to the Doctoral Researcher’s (PhD Student’s) own doctoral dissertation work and studies. The continuation of the contract will be determined separately in accordance with the funder’s requirements. A trial period is applied to all new members of staff.

The salary of the positions is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. For a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), the job-related salary element is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff depending on the stage of the applicant’s doctoral research and postgraduate studies. The personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. At the beginning of the employment, the total salary will be approximately EUR 2,650 – 2,785 /month.

Our requirements and expectations

For all three Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) positions, the requirements include

• meeting the student admission criteria for the LUMETO doctoral programme (Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology, website)
• a good command of written and spoken English
• good knowledge of statistical methods, especially the basics of R programming.

Additionally, the requirements for Position 1 are

• eligibility for postgraduate studies; i.e., holding a Master’s degree in forest sciences, biology, environmental sciences or another relevant field, awarded by a university or a university of applied sciences, or having completed an applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding postgraduate education
• experience and knowledge of biogeochemical processes related to CO₂, CH₄, and/or N cycling.

Additionally, the requirements for Position 2 are

• eligibility for postgraduate studies; i.e., holding a Master’s degree in forest sciences, biology, plant ecophysiology, environmental sciences or another relevant field, awarded by a university or a university of applied sciences, or having completed an applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding postgraduate education
• experience and knowledge of ecosystem ecology and of vegetation-soil interaction dynamics.

Additionally, the requirements for Position 3 are

• eligibility for postgraduate studies; i.e., holding a Master’s degree in forest sciences, biology, environmental sciences or another relevant field, awarded by a university or a university of applied sciences, or having completed an applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding postgraduate education.

Students in the final stages of their degree may also apply provided that they complete their degree and deliver a copy of their degree certificate to the faculty by 31 May 2026.

Applicants who do not yet have the right to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Eastern Finland are not required to apply for study rights at the application stage. If the applicant is selected for the position and applies for postgraduate study rights, the selection will be conditional until the right to pursue postgraduate studies in the faculty’s doctoral programme has been granted. The application for postgraduate study rights is submitted through the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service.

For all three Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) positions, the following will be considered an advantage

• ability to work independently
• ability to formulate and solve research problems
• strong communication and teamwork skills
• a driver’s licence (category B) and driving experience
• scientific publications in relevant fields.

In addition, for Position 1 the following will be considered an advantage

• experience with greenhouse gas flux measurements and carbon flux data analysis
• knowledge of ecosystem ecology and vegetation-soil interactions
• familiarity with peatland ecosystem functioning.

In addition, for Position 2 the following will be considered an advantage

• plant species identification skills and plant physiology/ecophysiology knowledge
• familiarity with functional traits and functional diversity of plant communities
• knowledge of peatland ecology
• experience in soil property analyses
• experience with soil biotic communities (fungi, microbes).

In addition, for Position 3 the following will be considered an advantage

• experience in dendrochronology
• knowledge of forest and peatland ecology
• familiarity with remote sensing methods.

Your benefits

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including

• opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• excellent opportunities for professional development and continuous learning
• extensive occupational health care
• broad selection of staff training
• staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services
• affordable sports services.

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

You will have an opportunity to work in a meaningful role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

How to apply?

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 22 April 2026 by 23:59 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC +3).

Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application

• a CV (Template for CV, TENK website)
• a list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland website)
• copies of your academic degree certificates / diplomas, and copies of certificates / diplomas relating to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas
• a transcript of records
• a motivation letter (max. 1–2 pages) in which you describe your interest in the position and research project, your background, as well as your career aspirations and your motivation for engaging in doctoral-level research
• other documents to demonstrate your merits for the position.

If your degree certificate is not in English, Finnish, or Swedish, you must provide official English translations of your degree certificate documents. All translations must be issued by the awarding educational institution or an authorized translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator's stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by the applicants themselves will not be accepted.

Questions?

For further information on the positions, please contact Professor Eeva-Stiina Tuittila, tel.: +358 29 445 3535, e-mail eeva-stiina.tuittila@uef.fi, and Assistant Professor Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas, tel.: +358 29 445 3477, e-mail: anna.laine-petajakangas@uef.fi.

For additional information on Position 1, you can also contact Academy Research Fellow Maija Marushchak, tel.: +358 50 306 5244, e-mail: maija.marushchak@uef.fi.

For additional information on Position 2, you can also contact Postdoctoral Researcher Henni Ylänne, tel.: +358 40 076 3256, e-mail: henni.ylanne@uef.fi, and Senior Researcher Virpi Virjamo, tel.: +358 50 309 3875, e-mail: virpi.virjamo@uef.fi.

For additional information on Position 3, you can also contact Professor Tuomas Aakala, tel.: +358 50 351 1476, e-mail: tuomas.aakala@uef.fi and University Lecturer Teemu Tahvanainen, tel.: +358 50 442 3987, e-mail: teemu.tahvanainen@uef.fi.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Iiris Korhonen, e-mail: iiris.korhonen@uef.fi, tel.: +358 29 445 8161 and HR Specialist Noora Hämäläinen, e-mail: noora.hamalainen@uef.fi, tel.: +358 29 445 8302.

The Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology operates on the Kuopio and Joensuu campuses of the University of Eastern Finland. The mission of the faculty is to carry out internationally recognised scientific research and to offer research-education in the fields of natural sciences, forestry and technology. The faculty invests in all of the strategic research areas of the university. The faculty’s environments for research and learning are international, modern and multidisciplinary. The faculty has approximately 2,650 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and some 440 postgraduate students. The number of staff amounts to 650.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 17,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en. Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.

Työsopimuksen voimassaolo: määräaikainen työsopimus | Työsuhteen luonne: kokoaikainen | Paikkojen lukumäärä: 3 | Työllisyysaste: 100% | Paikkakunta: Joensuu | Maakunta: Pohjois-Karjala | Maa: Finland | Ilmoitusnumero: 508/01.01.03/2026 | Yhteys: Eeva-Stiina Tuittila +358294453535, Eeva-Stiina Tuittila +358294453535, Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas +358294453477, Anna Laine-Petäjäkangas +358294453477, | Julkaistu: 2026-04-01 | Haku päättyy: 2026-04-22