1-2 Research Assistants (Summer Position), Sport and Health Sciences
We are seeking 1-2 RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (summer position) for the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä, starting 4 May 2026 or as agreed thereafter, for a maximum of four months. This position is part of a Research Council of Finland-funded research project examining the associations between physical activity and health in older adults.
The work includes:
- preprocessing, quality control and archiving of research data
- basic analysis of physiological signals such as respiration and heart rate
- documentation of data analysis procedures
- tasks related to research data management
- literature searches and reading of relevant scientific literature
- assisting in preparation and execution of laboratory or field measurements using wearable sensors, depending on skills and interest
Required qualifications:
- near‑completed or recently completed Master’s degree in a relevant field, such as exercise physiology, gerontology, public health, sports and exercise medicine, health technology, biomedical engineering, or health‑focused data science
- interest in research on ageing, physical activity, wearable technology, and health
- thorough and independent working style
- ability to follow rigorous and transparent research practices, including careful documentation, data handling accuracy, and adherence to ethical and data‑protection guidelines
- demonstrated ability to handle quantitative data, including cleaning and organising datasets, computing basic descriptive statistics (e.g., means, SDs, correlations), and producing data summaries and simple visualisations using Excel, Python, R, or similar tools
- good command of English (written and spoken)
Considered an advantage:
- experience with laboratory measurements and physiological data analysis
- understanding and analysis experience of metabolic thresholds
- programming skills (Matlab, Python, R or similar)
- experience in research data management workflows
- interest in pursuing doctoral studies in the Doctoral Programme in Sport and Health Sciences (https://www.jyu.fi/en/doctoral-education/doctoral-programme-in-sport-and-health-sciences ) on a project‑related topic
Benefits
At the University of Jyväskylä, we offer an opportunity to develop your research skills in a high-quality research environment. You will be part of our international and multidisciplinary community where the wellbeing of each individual is important. Our lively campus provides excellent opportunities for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.
The salary is based on the university salary system for teaching and research staff and will be approximately 2500 - 2600 euro/month (gross income). A holiday bonus is paid to all employees.
How to apply?
The following documents must be attached to the application in English and in PDF format:
- A Curriculum vitae (CV), composed according to good scientific practice and considering the template for researcher´s curriculum vitae by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
- A short application/cover letter (maximum length: 2 pages)
- Degree certificate or transcript of records
Shortlisted applicants may be asked to provide a brief example of data analysis or programming work during the interview stage.
We look forward to receiving your application in our recruitment system as soon as possible, by 15th April 2026 at the latest. We will be interviewing candidates already during the application period.
For further information, please contact Associate Professor Laura Karavirta: laura.i.karavirta@jyu.fi.
Our application process is transparent and professional. We communicate openly with the applicants throughout the recruitment process. We value equality and diversity in our work community and encourage qualified applicants, regardless of background, to apply for this position.
Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences
Education and research in sport sciences in Finland are concentrated at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä. There are two main lines of study at the Faculty: Sport Sciences and Health Sciences. Links between physical activity and health as well as promotion of exercise and health are viewed from a multidisciplinary perspective with the improvement of health, functional ability, and wellbeing across the human lifespan as the key aim.
The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centred environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and wellbeing for us all. It is essential that each member of the community thrives and has opportunities to develop and grow. We cherish openness of thinking as well as the balance between research and education. Our naturally beautiful campus is located at the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.
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