The Department of Social Sciences and Philosophy is seeking to recruit a Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) to join a European Research Council funded project "COHAB – Environmental Landscape Ethics: A Theory of Cohabitability" led by Assistant Professor Teea Kortetmäki.

The 3.5-year position will start by 17.3.2025 or as agreed, yet by 16.6.2025 at latest.

Project description

COHAB (see project description) is an interdisciplinary project with a philosophical orientation and thematic focus on landscapes, land use and the design of human-used areas such as urban and agricultural environments.

Because land use for human purposes covers most of Earth’s habitable land, there is a pressing need to develop ethical theory to address human activities that use land. Yet, the present environmental ethics is ill-equipped for addressing land use, management, and related planning, because it builds on the legacy of wilderness orientation. COHAB will establish environmental landscape ethics and theory of cohabitability by creating interdisciplinarily constructed, ecology-informed theoretical argumentation, methods, and conceptual tools. Cohabitability, land’s suitability for simultaneous co-habiting by many species, is an anchoring concept that connects the key research questions:

RQ1: What are the theoretical-conceptual requirements for environmental landscape ethics?  

RQ2: What does cohabitability mean and what is it made of? 

RQ3: What are the normative implications of cohabitability? 

RQ4: Who can and should promote cohabitability and how?

Tasks and responsibilities

The recruited Doctoral Researcher will engage in cutting-edge research in the project with a role that is negotiated to complement other research in the project but also fit in the best possible way in the interests of the Doctoral Researcher. The work should contribute especially to RQ2+RQ4 or RQ3+RQ4. The doctoral thesis should result in an article-based dissertation, comprising three research articles, or a monograph alongside two research articles based on the monograph. The dissertation should be accepted to be defended by the end of 2028 due to the project schedule (the defend can take place in 2029).

Research work will include:

• Doctoral research, theoretical and/or empirical, based on the agreed contents of the doctoral dissertation.
• Undertaking coursework related to the subject field as part of doctoral studies.
• Collaborating with other team members within the project and related research areas. Co-authoring articles with different team members is possible.
• Supporting the project PI and other team members in project management, in applying for external research funding, and other activities related to the project or the JYU.Wisdom sustainability research community, with a maximum share of 15 % of the working time for these activities.

Who we are looking for

The recruited candidate will contribute to pioneering research in environmental landscape philosophy or related fields. Requirements for the position:

1. Educational background:

• Suitable background is e.g., philosophy, landscape architecture, sustainable design, social sciences, or ecology, with an interdisciplinary orientation. Other related fields may also be suitable – please don’t hesitate to apply if the topic sparks you!
• Strong foundation in multispecies / coexistence / cohabitability related knowledge from one’s earlier training or work experience.

2. Research experience and skills:

• The recruited person is expected to conduct excellent doctoral research. Master’s thesis or other earlier achievements should demonstrate the capacity for this and a recommendation statement from the earlier thesis supervisor is critical.
• Capacities for interdisciplinary collaboration and work are expected.

3. Other skills and experience:

• Experience about interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary collaboration is needed. This can be demonstrated by earlier education or work experience.

• The candidate must have excellent written and oral communication skills in English and good skills for collaboration with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Capacities for independent work are needed, even if the project and collaborators will provide a strong support for the Doctoral Researcher by supervision and mentoring.

• Capability to conduct doctoral research in 3.5 years and related organizational or time management skills. Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

• A strong motivation in multispecies and more-than-human thinking and the development of related cutting-edge research.

The tasks of a Doctoral Researcher focus on research aiming at the completion of a doctoral thesis, doctoral studies, assisting teaching tasks, and other related tasks to these. The duties, qualification requirements, and the language skills of Doctoral Researchers are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines (Doctoral Students). A trial period of six months will be used in the beginning of the employment.

The eligible candidate needs to have a suitable Master's degree before starting in the position. A permission for doctoral studies at the University of Jyväskylä will be applied in spring 2025.

Benefits

At the University of Jyväskylä, you are a recognized member of our community with a unique opportunity to influence international research. You get to participate in our international and multidisciplinary community where the welfare of each individual is important. At the University of Jyväskylä, we offer a great and lively campus area with opportunities to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.

Finland has a high standard of living, with free schooling (also in English), affordable childcare, good family benefits, and healthcare. Jyväskylä is located in central Finland in the Finnish lakeland and has excellent opportunities for different nature, outdoor, and sports activities. The city of Jyväskylä is a major educational center and the city has a large student population. As such there is a vibrant cultural scene in the city. To find useful information about the University of Jyväskylä, the City of Jyväskylä and living in Finland, see the University's International Staff Guide.

This position is for a Doctoral Researcher starting their doctoral thesis. The monthly salary (gross income, excluding holiday bonus) will be approximately 2 400 EUR in the beginning of the employment.

How to apply

Please attach the following documents in English as PDF files to your online application:

1. 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.
2. A short and informal 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.
3. Degree certificate (highest degree).
4. A free-form preliminary research plan where you draft the type of research questions and/or research approach that you would be interested in the dissertation (the suggested template for a research plan.) (1-3 pages). The plan does not need to be at a detailed level since it will be discussed in the interview.
5. Letters of recommendation from at least one academic referee, preferably supervisor of the previous thesis (“other attachment” on the online application form).

Applications sent via email won’t be considered.

Interviews for selected candidates will be held on 31 January / 4 February.

For further information, please contact Assistant Professor Teea Kortetmäki, teea.kortetmaki@jyu.fi.