Postdoctoral researcher - Hydroeconomic modeling for managing nutrient and carbon cycles in the catchment area

Are you interested in developing new solutions to water and marine management challenges? Join us in creating a sustainability transition through digital twins and hydroeconomic modeling.

The postdoctoral researcher will study, develop, and apply hydroeconomic modeling for managing nutrients and carbon in catchment areas, and co-develop a digital twin to support sustainable water resource management. The researcher’s tasks include modeling and optimizing the costs and benefits of measures in the catchment area, simulating and evaluating the effectiveness of impact-based policy guidance and financing instruments aimed at water protection, and participating in scenario work for the sustainability transition. Additionally, the tasks include writing scientific articles, communicating research results, and collaborating with various stakeholders.

This postdoc position is part of Postdoctoral Programme for Research Institutes. The Programme has been granted 40 million euros in funding based on the Finnish government's multi-annual research and development (R&D) funding plan. This funding enables recruitment of 85 PhD-level experts to 12 Finnish government research institutes between 2025 and 2028. The aim of the Programme is to strengthen RDI competence in areas important to society. Postdoctoral researcher will conduct goal-oriented high-level research at the interface between the academic community, industry and administration. The Programme supports postdoctoral researcher’s networking and mobility between sectors.

The task will be positioned to Marine and freshwater solutions unit. Syke maintains offices in Helsinki, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, and Oulu, providing flexibility for the location of this role. You can express your wish concerning the office location. We work in an open space office and activity-based environment, but flexible remote working is our working standard today.

Our expectations of the applicant

A successful applicant will have a a doctoral degree in environmental economics, environmental sciences, economics, engineering, or another relevant field. The applicant must have experience with hydroeconomic modeling and research methods. Strong skills and demonstrated expertise in computational, statistical, machine learning or optimization methods, or decision support models, are considered an advantage. The position requires an understanding of catchment-based ecosystem management and the ability to apply modeling to environmental policy and economic analyses. Building scenario analyses to understand the impacts of different measures, policy guidance, and economic solutions is central. This requires the ability to evaluate various measures from a cost-benefit perspective. Broad collaborative networks and business collaboration in the research theme and an understanding of the importance of networks for research impact are considered advantageous for success in the position.

A Post Doc level researcher has completed their PhD within the last 10 years and has a minimum of 5 years of research work experience (including prior to completing the PhD and after it). They master research methods in their own field and have an ability to work as a researcher relatively independently.

A person who has received permission to defend their dissertation before submitting the application can also be selected for the position. A person already working at the research institute can also be selected for the position. Due to the scope and requirements of the task, it is best suited for more experienced researchers. A person's experience affects the determination of salary.

The applicant is expected to be analytical, enthusiastic, and cooperative. The applicant should have the skills and desire to work in interdisciplinary research groups and with applied research. The applicant adapts to various group work situations and takes responsibility for achieving the group’s goals. Good time management skills, even with changing schedules, and an understanding of the importance of one’s role in promoting workplace well-being are considered advantageous.

You need excellent English skills in the task.

Language skills needed in the position

• English
  • Speaking: Excellent
  • Writing: Excellent
  • Understanding: Excellent

We offer you

Syke has a culture that supports learning and offers the opportunity for versatile competence development. We have flexible working hours and flexible remote working practices in Finland. In addition to a collective ways of doing research and supervision from the manager. We offer sports and culture benefits, a subsidised lunch in contract canteens and comprehensive occupational health care.

Clarifications

The person selected for the position might need to undergo concise security clearance vetting with the applicant’s consent (Security Clearance Act 726/2014). More detailed information on the procedure and the subject's rights is available at www.supo.fi.

Contact Information

Niina Kotamäki, Group manager
+358 400 148 573
niina.kotamaki@syke.fi
(Available at November 11th 10-12, 19th 11-13 and 26th 13-15)

Anna-Stiina Heiskanen, Unit director
+358 40 825 8188
anna-stiina.heiskanen@syke.fi

How to apply

Primarily, we request applicants to submit their applications electronically via the Valtiolle.fi service. However, you can also apply for this job by delivering your application to the Registry Office’s postal address. Both the application and the envelope must feature the ID number of the position applied for. The letter must be delivered by the end of the application period.

Organisation

The Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) supports the building of a sustainable society with research, information, and services. We bear global responsibility and ambitiously seek to make an impact. Our objective is sustainability transformation! The society needs immediate decisions to build a better world fairly and cross-generationally. We offer our expertise for this change.

We are working to stop biodiversity loss and climate change. We promote a sustainable circular economy and urban structure, as well as a good state of the seas and inland waters. Our search for new, research-based solutions is creative and enthusiastic. We value constructive teamwork and the diversity of our work community: we invest in equality. Syke is a state research institute with 700 experts and researchers working in Helsinki, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, and Oulu. Our research is largely funded through competitive research funding instruments.

Location
Oulu, Helsinki, Joensuu, Jyväskylä