Postdoctoral Researcher

The Finnish Museum of Natural History LUOMUS at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher, IsoMuseomics (Stable Isotopes) for a fixed-term period of one year. Additional funding will be sought to extend the funding period. The work will be based at the Finnish Museum of Natural History, LUOMUS, at the University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. The postdoctoral researcher will join the IsoMuseomics project, and work under the supervision of Kyung Min Lee, the Head of DNA Laboratory and University Researcher. This position is part of Lee’s four-year Academy Project, funded by the Research Council of Finland. The preferred starting date is ideally from January 2027. About the position The IsoMuseomics project introduces a novel interdisciplinary framework combining genomic data from historical museum specimens (up to 200 years old) with stable isotope analyses and environmental data to explore the historical dynamics of currently at-risk species. The project focuses on Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) as a model system that serves as an important ecological indicator. By analysing stable isotope data from historical wing tissues, we can investigate how environmental signals are recorded in tissues, across both spatial and temporal scales, and how these relate to historical climate and environmental conditions. The postdoctoral researcher will be primarily responsible for: - Collect meteorological and phenological time-series data from open records of the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI), spanning from 1844 - Establish historical climate and environmental reference datasets - Analyse stable isotope data (e.g. nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen isotopes) - Interpret isotope patterns in ecological and environmental contexts using appropriate statistical methods - Contribute to manuscript writing Qualifications The position requires: - A doctoral degree relevant to the project (e.g., biology, ecology, environmental science, or related fields) - Proficiency in working with and interpreting stable isotope data - Ability to conduct independent scholarly work - Strong collaboration and communication skills - Excellent written and spoken English skills Highly valued qualifications: - Experience working with stable isotope data in insects, with understanding of tissue fractionation - Experience analysing isoscapes or spatial isotope patterns, including use of datasets such as precipitation isotope records (e.g. OIPC or IAEA databases) - Experience working with environmental or climate datasets (e.g. meteorological or phenological time series) - Strong quantitative and statistical skills (e.g. R or similar) Why conduct a postdoctoral project at the University of Helsinki? In the field of ecology, the University of Helsinki is the leading university in Finland and the Nordic countries, and the fifth-best in Europe, according to Shanghai Ranking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects in 2024. The University of Helsinki invests in the welfare of its employees by offering preventive occupational health services, general medical care, and sports facilities. The starting gross monthly salary of the postdoctoral researcher will be ca. 3400-3800 euros/month depending on the appointee's qualifications and experience, based on level 5 in the salary system of Finnish universities. A six-month trial period will be applied. The working hours of the postdoctoral researcher will be 1612 hours on a yearly basis as they will belong to the annual workload scheme of research and teaching staff. The postdoctoral researcher should reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The University of Helsinki assists employees from abroad with their transition to work and life in Finland. How to apply? Only online applications submitted through the recruiting system by 31 August 2026 (23:59 EEST) will be considered. The application must include the following documents written in English as a single pdf called “lastname_firstname”: - Motivation letter (max. two page), including research interests, relevant qualifications, and earliest possible starting date. - Curriculum vitae (max. three pages), including a list of relevant publications. - Contact information of three referees, who can provide a reference based on request and your relation to them. - Copy of doctoral degree certificate Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline, after which the top candidates will be invited for interviews. Selected candidates will receive a pre-assignment prior to the interview. The interviews will be held in September 2026 via Zoom.