Two Postdoctoral Researcher Positions in Coastal Marine Science

The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki recruits two three-year postdoctoral researchers for CoastClim, the Centre for Coastal Ecosystem and Climate Change Research run with Stockholm University, based mainly at Tvärminne Zoological Station. CoastClim combines marine ecology, biogeochemistry and atmospheric science to study how biodiversity and ecosystem state influence coastal carbon cycling, greenhouse gases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and climate feedbacks.

Position 1, in coastal sediment microbial ecology and biogeochemistry, investigates microbial controls of sediment carbon mineralisation, methane production and oxidation, redox-sensitive processes, sediment–water exchange and VOC turnover. Position 2, in experimental marine ecology and biodiversity–ecosystem functioning, uses SCUBA-based in situ disturbance and biodiversity manipulations, benthic chamber incubations and mesocosms to compare carbon stocks, organic-matter processing and ecosystem metabolism in altered and control communities.

Both postdocs develop independent research lines and work with a PhD collegium of five new doctoral researchers. The positions are available from early 2027 with a six-month trial period; salary follows level 5 of the Finnish universities' scale plus a personal performance component, typically about €3,700–4,200 per month. The application deadline is 7 December 2026 at 23:59 Finnish time.

Position 1: PhD in microbial ecology, marine biogeochemistry, environmental microbiology, aquatic ecology or a related field, with expertise in sediment processes or transferable microbial or biogeochemical methods (e.g. amplicon sequencing, metagenomics, qPCR, flux measurements, porewater chemistry, CH4 measurements). Position 2: PhD in marine, benthic or experimental ecology with demonstrated SCUBA or scientific-diving research experience. Both: strong quantitative skills (R, Python or Matlab), peer-reviewed publications and excellent written English; the PhD must be completed by the start of employment.