Assistant/Associate Professor, Tenure Track, in early childhood education
The Department of Education is seeking to recruit an Assistant/Associate professor (tenure Track) in early childhood education with a focus on child development and learning, starting on January 1, 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. According to the tenure track model at the University of Jyväskylä, the position of assistant professor is filled for a fixed term of three to five years, and the position of associate professor is filled for a fixed term of five years. At the end of each fixed-term appointment, an evaluation is conducted to assess the employee’s qualifications for promotion to the next level (associate professor or full professor).
Who should apply
The successful candidate is expected to have broad expertise in early childhood education and strong evidence of research in early years child development, learning and well-being. The position includes strengthening the research capacity of the field and actively seeking complementary national and international funding. Responsibilities include teaching and supervising theses and dissertations. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate readiness to participate in the faculty’s interdisciplinary research teams.
The position of assistant/associate professor requires a doctoral degree in educational sciences or another relevant field, an excellent record of conducting and publishing scientific research in early childhood education, a demonstrated ability to build national and international networks, success in securing external funding and experience in teaching and supervising theses.
Expertise in a range of research methodologies relevant to the field, evidence of multidisciplinary collaboration, leadership in research projects, and demonstrated societal impact, are considered assets. Pedagogical education and familiarity with developing early childhood teacher education, as well as experience in the field, are also regarded as advantages.
The duties and qualification requirements of an Assistant/Associate Professor are stipulated in the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. Candidates are expected to have an excellent record of conducting and publishing scientific research, establishing international networks, acquiring external funding, and teaching. Please see the general requirements for appointing an assistant professor or associate professor (tenure track). The qualification requirements should be met before this call for applicants ends. At the beginning of the employment there is a trial period of six months.
Benefits
Come to Jyväskylä, Finland, and join our vibrant and inspiring community!
At the University of Jyväskylä, you will be a valued member of our community with a unique opportunity to contribute to international research. You will become part of our international and multidisciplinary community that prioritizes the wellbeing of each individual. Our lively campus provides excellent opportunities for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.
Finland, named the world’s happiest country for consecutive years since 2018, offers a high standard of living with free education (also in English), affordable childcare, generous family benefits, and comprehensive healthcare. Work–life balance is highly valued in Finland, and employees enjoy four to six weeks of annual holiday. Jyväskylä is located in central Finland, just three hours by train from the capital Helsinki. Part of the Finnish Lakeland, the city offers easy access to nature and a range of outdoor, sports and exercise activities. As a major centre of education with a large student population, it also features a vibrant cultural scene. For more information about the University of Jyväskylä, the city of Jyväskylä, and living in Finland, see the University's International Staff Guide.
After signing the employment contract, a personal career plan is prepared for you. The career plan specifies the objectives, intermediate milestones and evaluation criteria of the tenure track period. Your personal career plan helps you clarify your goals, and you will receive regular feedback on your work in the initial and follow-up discussions. You have the opportunity to apply for the Rector’s start-up funding to support the initiation of your research. Application will be assessed and funding is granted on a discretionary basis, see more details on page. We will also support your progress through mentoring, training and other support activities. Progression along the career path is based on an overall assessment of a person’s development. If you are relocating from abroad, we will support your move to Jyväskylä and Finland.
Salaries are based on job demands and employees’ performance following the Finnish University Salary System. The starting gross salary will be between 4200—4800 EUR/month at the assistant level and between 4800–5500 EUR/month at the associate level depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate. A holiday bonus is paid to all employees.
How to apply?
To apply, your ORCID profile (https://orcid.org) must be up to date and your publications must be visible to the public (Set visibility: Everyone).
The application documents that should be included in English and in PDF format:
- A Curriculum vitae, 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 and free-form motivation/cover letter (max 2 pages), including your research interests, career goals and previous experience and merits in relation to the qualifications for this position.
- A numbered list of all scientific publications and other publications showing the applicant's ability and merits for the position using the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland.
- A maximum of five publications, which must be numbered according to the list of publications (as one PDF file) or a PDF file with public links to the 5 chosen publications.
- Research plan: a short written description (max 4 pages) of the applicant's research merits, leadership in research, and experience in obtaining research funding, as well as a research plan related to the position and a vision of how the applicant's current and future work will support the research and international collaboration at the University of Jyväskylä.
- A teaching portfolio prepared according to the guidelines, i.e., a written description of pedagogical training and teaching merits (Instructions on the JYU Work with us website).
- Evidence of societal interaction (max 2 pages).
We look forward to receiving your application in our recruitment system by 31 May 2026.
For further information, please contact Vice dean Taru Feldt, taru.feldt@jyu.fi and Dean Marja-Kristiina Lerkkanen, marja-kristiina.lerkkanen@jyu.fi .
We offer good working conditions for researchers and promote the principles of HR Excellence in Research, HRS4R. The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is based on the values of the European Charter for Researchers & The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter & Code). JYU is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions, and undertakes the recommendations for the responsible evaluation of a researcher in Finland. JYU has signed the DORA Declaration. By signing the agreement, JYU is committed to complying with the CoARA principles.
Our application process is transparent, professional and international. We communicate openly with the applicants throughout the recruitment process. All appointment decisions are based on careful consideration within the faculty as well as reviews by external experts. We value equality and diversity in our work community and encourage qualified applicants, regardless of background, to apply for this position.
A personal security clearance may be conducted on the selected candidate with their consent (Security Clearance Act 726/2014). More information about the security clearance process and the rights of the subject can be found here.
Department of Education
The Faculty of Education and Psychology is a research and education unit that uses its strong traditions as a foundation for building a sustainable future. The mission of the faculty is Learning and wellbeing in building a sustainable future society. The faculty is among the top units in Finland in teacher education and psychotherapy training.
The strengths of the faculty’s internationally renowned high-quality research are learning, teaching and interaction. The faculty has five focus areas of research: Education, teaching and interventions; The psychological and neurocognitive basis of learning; Interactive and technology-enhanced learning environments; Childhood, family, interaction and wellbeing; and Wellbeing, learning and interaction at work. The faculty coordinates a number of infrastructures and networks, including the Centre for Interdisciplinary Brain Research (CIBR), the Methodology Centre for Human Sciences (IHME), the Psychotherapy Training and Research Centre, Multidisciplinary Research on Children and Families, and the Centre for Research on Learning and Teaching (CLT). The faculty coordinates a Finnish Academy funded Center of Excellence on Learning dynamics and intervention research (Iwww.interlearn. fi).
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.
The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, you have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout. After submitting your application, you can return to edit it via the link you receive by email until the application deadline.
