Position Announcements
Researcher - optical modelling and monitoring techniques
The Marine Research Centre of the Finnish
Environment Institute (SYKE) conducts wide-
Ranging research on the open Baltic Sea and
Finnish coastal waters. Three research
departments focus on the state of the sea
environment, marine ecosystems, and ecology and
biodiversity. The SYKE laboratory and
headquarters are located near the centre of
Helsinki, Finland.
We invite applications for an experienced
researcher (see eligibility criteria below) in
the field of aquatic optical modelling and
instrument development. The position is for a 2-
year fellowship under the WaterS project funded
under the European FP7 Marie Curie Industry-
Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP)
programme. The researcher will work in our bio-
optics team, which has wide-ranging experience
in the fields of experimental and field-based
photobiological studies, instrument development
(including the use of automated measurement
platforms) and algorithm development for optical
remote sensing.
The researcher will contribute to ongoing
research and instrument development activities
and initiate new efforts that lead to scientific
publication. Activities will include the
optimization of an automated system to record
optical parameters related to water colour
(reflectance, absorption, backscattering,
phytoplankton pigments, turbidity) from ferries
that cross the Baltic Sea serveral times weekly.
An important part of the research will revolve
around optical modelling using the data
collected from the automated platforms and
during field campaigns in the Baltic Sea from
institute-owned research vessel Aranda. The
candidate will also act as contact person for
our activities within the WaterS project
consortium with partners from Estonia, Sweden,
Germany, and The Netherlands.
Eligibility
Only applicants who conform to the experience
and mobility criteria of the IAPP programme can
be considered. This implies that the applicant
must not have resided or carried out their main
activity (work/studies) in Finland for more than
12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to
the date of selection. Applicants must further
fit the description of an experienced
researcher: they have a PhD and up to 10 years
(including time spent on their PhD studies)
research experience, or they have research
experience equivalent to a PhD (from 4 and up to
10 years). Applications that do not clearly meet
the eligibility criteria are not entered into
the selection procedure.
Qualifications
Candidates should have experience in a relevant
field of research (environmental technology,
biophysics, oceanography), and have demonstrated
affinity with the subject. Any existing
experience with optical modelling, programming
(including Matlab, Labview), instrument
development, database management, in-situ
measurements in the aquatic environment, and
work with large datasets should be carefully
addressed in the application.
Salary
The researcher receives a full-time fixed term
employment contract for 24 months with SYKE and
full social security benefits. The salary is
according to the guidelines of the IAPP
programme, i.e. a monthly salary of
approximately EUR 4000, an additional mobility
allowance (EUR 560-896 depending on family
situation), a yearly travel allowance based on
the direct distance between the researcher’s
location of origin and the host institute and a
one-time career exploratory allowance of EUR
2000.
The starting date for the two-year appointment
is 1 January 2011, open to negotiation.
Applications must be received latest 30
September 2010. Electronic applications
consisting of a CV, list of publications, and
letter of interest in pdf format can be sent to
both Stefan Simis and Jukka Seppälä following
the format firstname.lastname@environment.fi -
e-mail is also preferred for any questions
regarding this vacancy.