Postdoctoral Researcher, Space Physics and Astronomy

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 4000 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 19,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations. The University of Oulu is ranked in the top 3% of the world’s universities.

We are now looking for

Postdoctoral Researcher

to join us in the Space Physics and  Astronomy Research Unit at the Faculty of Science.

In the Ionospheric Physics research group we study the effects of solar storms and space weather on the ionosphere-thermosphere system. We utilize a comprehensive set of measurements from ground-based instruments and satellites in our research, supported by advanced numerical simulations. The research group consists of one professor, three senior researchers, four postdoctoral researchers and about eight doctoral researchers, and has a wide national and international network of collaborators.

About the job

As a postdoctoral researcher you will be a member of the newly established Finnish Centre of Excellence in Space Resilience, where your task is to study global changes in the ionosphere-thermosphere system induced by geomagnetic storms.

Your work will focus on applying existing first-principles global numerical simulations of the near-Earth space environment to study the effects of geomagnetic storms on the ionosphere-thermosphere system. Both nominal storms and extreme storms, encountered once per century, will be studied. The simulations will be compared with thermospheric neutral mass density variations measured by low-Earth orbit satellites (e.g., Swarm, GRACE, GOCE).    

What we offer?

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team of about twenty people at University of Oulu and the large nation-wide Space Resilience Center of Excellence community distributed to University of Helsinki, Aalto University, Finnish Meteorological Institute and University of Turku, where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits here.
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• We have a HR Excellence in Research -quality label which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and close-ones in settling into Oulu.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu

 Who are you?

You must hold a PhD degree in Space Physics or a closely related field. The degree must have been completed before the end of the application period. The degree must be obtained no more than 10 years ago.

Ability to pursue independent research, fluency in English and good communication skills are expected. We expect good programming (e.g., Matlab or Python) skills and prior experience in space physics research. Prior experience in using data from low Earth orbit satellites or ground-based instruments and experience in numerical simulations are considered a merit.

Salary

The position is fixed-term for 3 years starting on 01.10.2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. The salary will be based on demand level 5 of the national salary scale for the teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid. Starting gross salary will be approx. 3900 € per month (before taxes).  A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 01.09.2026 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. Cover letter describing your motivation for the position, prior knowledge, research interests and career plans (2-3 pages)
2. Complete CV. A recommended CV template can be found on the webpage of Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. List of publications following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland
4. Contact information of two persons ready to provide recommendations.

The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position may be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified when the selection process is completed.

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact
Dr Heikki Vanhamäki
Space Physics and Astronomy Research Unit
[email protected]