Professor or Tenure Track Assistant/Associate Professor in Animal Science

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry invites applications for the position of

PROFESSOR OR TENURE TRACK ASSISTANT / ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN ANIMAL SCIENCE

The position may be filled as a full professor or tenure track assistant professor or tenure track associate professor depending on the candidate’s merits and career stage. Information about our tenure track system: University of Helsinki tenure track. The goal of the tenure track is to advance to a permanent professor position.

The duties of the professor or assistant/associate professor include research and teaching in ruminant nutrition and production physiology, focusing on species such as cattle and sheep, as well as the associated environmental and production systems. Key areas of research and teaching include ruminant feeds and nutrition, nutrient utilization, the quality of animal-derived products, and the sustainable development of ruminant production, including its environmental, climate, and biodiversity impacts. An essential aspect of the position is examining ruminants as part of a sustainable and responsible food system.

Successful performance in the position requires a broad understanding of agriculture and livestock production. Knowledge on Finnish livestock production sector is considered an advantage. In filling the position, consideration will also be given to the candidate’s expertise in the application of emerging technologies, data analytics, and circular economy solutions.

Applicants are expected to conduct high-quality scientific research in one or more of the following areas:

• ruminant nutrition and nutritional physiology
• nutritional value of ruminant feeds, particularly grassland-based forages
• environmental and production system aspects of ruminant production
• precision nutrition and data analytics

Animal Science is taught at the university level in Finland exclusively at the University of Helsinki. In this position, the appointee will collaborate closely with other animal science researchers and teachers within the faculty, as well as with external stakeholders in the field.

The appointee will teach and supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in the discipline within the Bachelor's Programme in Agricultural Sciences and the Master's Programme in Agricultural Sciences (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/degree-programmes/maataloustieteiden-kandiohjelma and https://www.helsinki.fi/en/degree-programmes/agricultural-sciences-masters-programme). In addition, the appointee will supervise doctoral theses and contribute to doctoral training in their field. The appointee will participate in the development of teaching within the faculty and is expected to serve on the steering boards of degree programmes.

REQUIREMENTS

An appointee to the position of assistant professor or associate professor in the tenure track system shall have

• a doctoral degree
• the ability to conduct independent scholarly work
• the teaching skills required for the position
• the ability and motivation to pursue an academic career, as demonstrated by publications and other means

An appointee to the position of professor shall have

• a doctoral degree
• high-level academic qualifications
• experience in leading scientific research
• the ability to provide research-based teaching and supervise dissertations and theses
• evidence of international cooperation in the research field they represent
• academic leadership skills

The degree requirement (doctoral degree) must be met by the end of the application period.

When considering the candidates’ qualifications, attention shall be given to scientific and teaching merits. In addition, the candidates’ leadership and interaction skills, as well as activity in the scientific community and public engagement shall also be taken into account.

Scientific merits include

• scientific publications and other research results of academic value
• success in obtaining external research funding
• international research experience
• other international experience

Teaching merits include

• teaching experience
• pedagogical training
• the ability to produce learning material
• other teaching merits
• a teaching demonstration
• participation in doctoral education

Successfully performing the duties of the position requires good spoken and written proficiency in Finnish or Swedish and satisfactory proficiency in the other national language.

If you do not yet speak Finnish or Swedish, we expect you to achieve intermediate language proficiency within a reasonable time after being selected for the position in either language. The University provides support for language learning and time for language studies can be included in annual work plan.

To successfully attend to the duties of the position, the appointee must have good English skills as it includes teaching in an English-language master's programme as well as active participation in international research collaboration.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer an interesting opportunity to work in a diverse research environment. At the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry you will carry out research-based teaching at the highest education level in the field in Finland and have the opportunity to take part in internationally valued, first-class research activities. The position is also an opportunity to develop your own professional skills in a multidisciplinary work community of the faculty. Your work will be supported by the research and teaching staff of the department and the faculty as well as the administrative and technical staff at Viikki campus. Furthermore, the university takes care of your well-being by flexible work arrangements, comprehensive occupational health care and wide-ranging, low-cost UniSport services. Professional development is supported in different ways, i.e. by offering versatile staff training, mentoring etc.

The professor’s gross annual salary varies between 70 000 and 96 000 euros and the assistant/associate professor’s between 55 000 and 72 000 euros, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience.

There is a six-month trial period in the position. The appointee is expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. International staff are supported in relocating to Finland.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications a SINGLE PDF file that includes the following documents in English:

1. CV

2. A short motivation letter and report on how the applicant intends to develop his or her research and focus his or her activities, if appointed (1-2 pages)

3. Report on the applicant’s research activities (including activities in scientific communities, the acquisition of research funding and international scholarly work) (max. 5 pages)

4. A numbered list of publications

5. A report on pedagogical expertise (see the instructions via the link below under University portfolio – Teaching and supervision)

For more detailed instructions on the application documents, please see

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/open-positions/instructions-applicants-teaching-and-research-positions

Applications with the above attachments must be submitted in a single PDF file, which is named: animal science_lastname_firstname. Other attachments are not required.

The faculty may request shortlisted applicants to submit 5-10 publications of their choice to be sent to the assessors via the electronic recruitment system after the application deadline. In the case of shortlisted applicants, aptitude evaluation may be used as part of the recruitment process.

External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now link.

Applicants who have a helsinki.fi username and a valid employment contract, a grant researcher's contract, a visiting researcher's or visiting professor's contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the Employee login.

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders and linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

The closing date for applications is 19.10.2026 at 23:59 EEST.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• About the position: Department Head Leena Rantamäki-Lahtinen, leena.rantamaki-lahtinen(at)helsinki.fi, tel +358 2941 58279

• Recruitment process and the recruitment system: HR Specialist Mirkka Juntunen, recruitment(at)helsinki.fi, tel. +358 2941 57583

ABOUT US

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is located on the Viikki campus. The mission of the faculty is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources through scientific research and research-based teaching. We focus on agricultural and forest sciences, food and nutrition, microbiology, as well as on economics and management. We cover the full natural resource chain from farm to fork, the entire field of forest sciences from soil chemistry to marketing, as well as the environmental effects of related activities. Graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry are versatile experts in biosciences and business, able to meet the needs of both the business sector and society at large.

www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-agriculture-and-forestry

The Department of Agricultural Sciences is one of the units of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. The department conducts internationally recognized research, related to agricultural sciences and the bio-economy, and provides the highest-level education based on the research. The aim is to carry out research and teaching on plant production in agriculture and horticulture, animal production, and technologies and environmental effects pertaining to them, as well as to yield societal impact through research. The main research fields of the department are agrotechnology, animal science, plant production sciences, and soil and environmental science. The number of Department’s personnel is about 100 and the department provides BSc and MSc study programs. The Department is active in society, and has strong collaboration with companies, government agencies, research institutes and other Universities, nationally and internationally.

www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-agriculture-and-forestry/research/agricultural-sciences

WHY UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI, CITY OF HELSINKI AND FINLAND

• Why should you choose University of Helsinki: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-university-helsinki

• Why Finland is a great place to live and work: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-finland

• 10 reasons to work in Helsinki: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-helsinki

• Support for international staff: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/welcome

• International House Helsinki: https://ihhelsinki.fi

• Welcome to Helsinki: https://welcome.hel.fi/

A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to us. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for our positions.

Click this link to read about accessibility and inclusivity at our University.

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