Institution: University of Helsinki

Faculty: Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Department: Department of Organismal and Evolutionary Biology

Application Deadline: 7 August 2026 (23:59 EEST / Europe-Helsinki time)

Start Date: Available from 1 September 2026 (start dates up to mid-2027 will be considered; earlier start preferred)

Duration: Up to 3 years (continuation dependent on obtaining additional funding)

About the University

The University of Helsinki is an international scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers. It is one of the leading multidisciplinary research universities and ranks among the top 100 universities worldwide, and 8th in the world in Ecology.

We are an equal opportunity employer and offer an attractive and diverse workplace in an inspiring environment with a variety of development opportunities and benefits.

The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences is Finland’s largest and most high-profile centre for research and teaching in the biological and environmental sciences. The Faculty educates experts for universities, research institutes, government, schools and industry.

The Positions

Up to three postdoctoral positions are available in the research groups of Prof. Craig Primmer and Dr. Tutku Aykanat as part of several related research consortia funded by the Research Council of Finland, the Kone Foundation, and the European Research Council (ERC).

The projects focus on using the well-studied Teno Atlantic salmon system as a model for adaptive management to assess the biological and societal effects of recent anthropogenic changes on Atlantic salmon metapopulations, together with a detailed genetic and ecological evaluation of Pink salmon invasion in the river basin and surrounding region.

More information about the research group:

http://www.helsinki.fi/evolution-conservation-and-genomics

Successful applicants are expected to have a strong background in one or more of the research themes below. The exact combination of expertise is flexible, with emphasis placed on creating a complementary research team.

Research Themes

1. Effects of Management and Ecosystem-Related Changes on Salmon Life-History Phenotypes and Genotypes

Research will involve evolutionary genomic approaches to assess the effects of:

• Recent fishing management changes.

• Invasive Pink salmon abundance.

• Life-history phenotypes and genotypes.

Relevant consortium publications:

• Erkinaro et al. (2019)

• Czorlich et al. (2018, 2022)

2. Assessing Sex-Specific Natural Selection at Key Life-History Loci

Research will use long-term reproductive fitness data from the Teno Atlantic salmon population to assess potential sex-specific effects of:

• Recent fishing management changes.

• Invasive Pink salmon abundance.

• Selection on Atlantic salmon life-history traits.

Relevant consortium publications:

• Czorlich et al. (2018)

• Mobley et al. (2019, 2020, 2024)

3. Pink Salmon Genetics: Determining the Genetic Basis of Successful Invasion

Research will use long-term datasets to identify:

• Genomic regions.

• Structural variation.

associated with successful Pink salmon invasion.

Relevant consortium publication:

• Erkinaro et al. (2026)

Eligibility and Qualifications

Applicants must:

• Hold a doctoral degree.

• Be capable of conducting independent scholarly research.

• Have a strong background in one or more of the listed research themes or methodologies.

• Demonstrate the ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.

Previous experience with salmonids is beneficial but experience with the specific species or study system is not essential.

Informal Enquiries

For further information, please contact:

Professor Craig Primmer

E-mail: craig.primmer(at)helsinki.fi

Dr. Tutku Aykanat

E-mail: tutku.aykanat(at)helsinki.fi

Application Instructions

Formal applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), including:

  • List of publications.

  • Names and contact details of at least two referees.

• Approximately one-page motivation letter, including:

  • The research theme (or themes) that interest you most.

Applications must be submitted through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system by clicking the Apply Now button.

For technical support regarding the recruitment system, contact:

E-mail: recruitment(at)helsinki.fi

Recruitment Schedule

• Application Deadline: 7 August 2026 (23:59 EEST)

• Remote Interviews: 17–21 August 2026

• Available From: 1 September 2026

• Latest Acceptable Start Date: Mid-2027 (earlier start preferred)

Salary

Depending on the funding source, successful applicants will receive either:

Salary

• Salary level based on Level 5 of the Finnish university salary system for teaching and research personnel.

• Expected starting salary:

  • Approximately €3,700–€4,300 per month, depending on previous relevant research experience.

• Additional salary component based on personal performance.

Tax-Free Stipend

Alternatively, candidates funded by the Kone Foundation may receive:

• A tax-free monthly stipend of €3,200, including compulsory pension and insurance payments.

• The stipend may be supplemented with an additional 10% salary.

• Grant-funded researchers will receive a grant researcher contract with the University.

Why Finland?

Finland offers:

• Membership in the European Union.

• High-quality free education (including English-language schooling).

• Affordable childcare.

• Generous family benefits.

• Comprehensive healthcare.

• Recognition as the world’s happiest country for six consecutive years.

• Recognition as one of the best countries worldwide for expatriate families.

• Helsinki consistently ranked among the world's most livable cities.

The University of Helsinki:

• Ranks among the world's Top 100 universities.

• Is ranked 8th globally in Ecology (Shanghai Subject Ranking).

• Continues major investments in life science research.

More information:

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/helsinki-institute-of-life-science

Research Environment

The research team currently includes:

• 4 Postdoctoral researchers.

• 4 PhD students.

• 4 Research assistants.

representing 9 different nationalities.

Recognising that salmonid fish research has historically lacked gender and cultural diversity, the research group strongly encourages applications from researchers from diverse backgrounds.

Successful applicants are expected to adhere to the University of Helsinki's and the research group's codes of conduct.

Relevant Publications

• Barson et al. (2015). Sex-dependent dominance at a single locus maintains variation in age at maturity in salmon. Nature, 528, 405–408.

• Czorlich et al. (2018). Rapid sex-specific evolution of age at maturity is shaped by genetic architecture in Atlantic salmon. Nature Ecology & Evolution.

• Czorlich et al. (2022). Rapid evolution in salmon life history induced by direct and indirect effects of fishing. Science.

• Erkinaro et al. (2019). Life history variation across four decades in a diverse population complex of Atlantic salmon in a large subarctic river. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.

• Erkinaro et al. (2026). Rapid increase in abundance and distribution of invasive pink salmon within a diverse, large Barents Sea catchment. Journal of Fish Biology.

• Mobley et al. (2019). Home ground advantage: Local Atlantic salmon have higher reproductive fitness than dispersers in the wild. Science Advances.

• Mobley et al. (2020). Time spent in distinct life history stages has sex-specific effects on reproductive fitness in wild Atlantic salmon. Molecular Ecology.

• Mobley et al. (2024). Sex-specific overdominance at the maturation vgll3 gene for reproductive fitness in wild Atlantic salmon. Molecular Ecology.

Position Information

• Position Title: Three Postdoctoral Positions in Salmonid Fish Ecological and Evolutionary Genomics and Conservation

• Faculty: Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences

• Department: Department of Organismal and Evolutionary Biology

• Position ID: 5068

• Application Deadline: 7 August 2026 (23:59 Europe/Helsinki time)

About Working at the University of Helsinki

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