The University of Helsinki is an international scientific community of 40,000 students and researchers. It is one of the leading multidisciplinary research universities in Europe and ranks among the top 100 international universities in the world. We are an equal opportunity employer and offer an attractive and diverse workplace in an inspiring environment with a variety of development opportunities and benefits.

The internationally esteemed and highly successful Faculty of Educational Sciences is Finland’s leading unit of research and teaching in Educational Sciences and Teacher Education. For more information, please see the Faculty website at https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-educational-sciences

The research group HiPerCog (High Performance Cognition), funded by Nordforsk and the Academy of Finland, is now inviting applications for the position of

Postdoctoral Researcher

for fixed-term employment until September 30th 2023.

The HiPerCog group, at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, is led by associate professor in AI for Learning and Education, Benjamin Cowley. This group studies higher cognition using computational, cognitive science, and neuroscience methods, aiming to develop a theory of how High Performance Cognition arises in highly demanding dynamic cognitive tasks due to tuning of attention systems in the brain.

Description of work duties

The successful candidate will investigate cognitive processes in learning and decision-making during dynamic task performance, using computational and cognitive science approaches. The work duties of the selected candidate include:

• Collaboration in running experiments
• Machine learning and statistical analyses of experimental data
• Teamwork within the multidisciplinary group (including data -, cognitive, and computer scientists), and with national and international collaborators
• Publishing results in top quality scientific journals
• The duties include (without separate compensation) supervision of thesis and dissertation writers and teaching associated with the research, covering 5% of annual working hours.

We hope for the chosen candidate to be able to start as soon as possible, but at latest on September 1st 2021.

Qualification requirements

• Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in computer science, cognitive science, or an adjacent field
• Excellent command of English, both written and spoken
• Prior international publications in renowned journals
• Previous experience in human experimental research and data collection
• Experience in machine learning, signal processing, and data mining
• Proficiency in programming (primarily R, MATLAB, and Python)
• Beneficial: Experience in time-series analyses, background knowledge of decision-making literature, independent capability with multivariate and probabilistic statistical methods

Salary and benefits

Salary is based on level 5 in the requirement scheme for teaching and research positions in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee is paid a salary component based on personal performance. The gross monthly salary will be approx. 3 150 € - 3 880 € depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. A 6-month probation period is applied.

The Faculty of Educational Sciences is a dynamic, inspiring and international working and studying environment that has invested in state-of-the-art research and teaching infrastructure. We encourage our staff to make bold and creative decisions while exercising high standards of ethical conduct in research, teaching and community relations.

The faculty’s administrative and technical staff, as well as your expert colleagues will support you in your role. 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.

How to apply

Please send your application via the university’s recruitment portal (see button below). Helsinki university employees submit their application via the SAP HR -portal at https://saphr.it.helsinki.fi/irj/portal.

Please attach the following documents in your application:

• CV
• cover letter
• motivational statement referring to all aspects of this call
• contact information of two referees
• academic certificates
• a prior publication that illustrates suitability

Closing date for applications: June 14th 2021.

Our university is committed to advancing equality and equity as well as preventing discrimination throughout its operations. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply.

Contact information

Should you have any questions about the position, please contact:
Associate professor Dr. Benjamin Cowley, ben.cowley@helsinki.fi

In questions related to the recruitment process, kindly contact:
HR Specialist Linda Ylönen, p. 050 530 2481, linda.ylonen@helsinki.fi

The University of Helsinki is Finland’s largest university, seeking solutions to global challenges and creating new ways of thinking for the best of humanity. We are one of the best multidisciplinary universities in the world and our community of c. 8 000 employees offers wide ranging career development opportunities in teaching and research as well as in specialist and other support positions. www.helsinki.fi/en

Due date

14.06.2021 23:59 EEST