Careers

Postdoctoral Researcher in Data Stewardship, Knowledge Exchange and Training in Environmental Research Infrastructures, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Finland (deadline 15th September 2026)

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a fixed-term position as a Postdoctoral Researcher in the areas of data stewardship, research data management, and FAIR/Open Science practices, as well as in research infrastructure-related training and knowledge exchange.

The position is linked to two Horizon Europe-funded projects — ST4RIS (Strengthening and Training for Research Infrastructure Staff) and STARDAST (Stewardship and Recognition for Data Science Talent) — starting in autumn 2026.

The successful candidate will join the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) at the Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki, and contribute to activities connected to the Finnish eLTER (Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological Research) community.

The position is initially offered for one year, with the possibility of extension depending on project funding and continuation.

About the projects

ST4RIS

ST4RIS focuses on strengthening training opportunities, mobility, recognition, and career development for technical staff working in European environmental research infrastructures. The project develops modular training activities, supports interoperability across infrastructures (in particular eLTER and ICOS - Integrated Carbon Observation System), and promotes collaborative learning and professional development.

STARDAST

STARDAST focuses on advancing data stewardship practices in science by supporting FAIR and Open Science implementation, strengthening data steward competencies, and developing institutional and cross-sectoral approaches to research data management and EOSC-related practices.

Tasks and responsibilities

The selected candidate will contribute to the implementation and coordination of project activities across both projects, including:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on data stewardship, FAIR/Open Science implementation, and competence development in distributed environmental observation networks.
• Design and carry out training-needs assessments with research infrastructure staff, researchers, data specialists, and project partners.
• Define learning outcomes and develop modular courses, workshops, webinars, digital resources, and openly reusable materials.
• Deliver training, and peer learning, and evaluate participation, learning, and uptake to improve training.
• Prepare and support project documentation, reports, and communications for technical and scientific audiences.
• Contribute to practical data stewardship, FAIR implementation, and interoperability work.
• Participating in activities linked to the Finnish eLTER community and related European research infrastructure initiatives.
• Depending on the candidate’s background and expertise, the emphasis of the role may vary between data stewardship, training development, communication, coordination, and project implementation activities.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a proactive and collaborative person with strong communication skills and demonstrated interest in FAIR/Open Science practices, research infrastructures, and international collaboration.

The successful candidate is expected to contribute to training and knowledge exchange, coordination, interoperability, data stewardship implementation, and community-building activities across European research infrastructure networks.

We expect the successful candidate to have:

• A relevant doctorate, for example in environmental science, data science or informatics, information studies, or education. (The doctoral degree must be granted before the beginning of employment.)
• Scientific contributions to environmental observation networks, research infrastructures, data stewardship, research data management, or FAIR/Open Science, demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications or other academic outputs.
• Knowledge of research data management and FAIR/Open Science, together with the ability to formulate research questions, select suitable methods, analyse evidence, and communicate findings independently.
• Experience in designing, developing, delivering, and evaluating training for technical or academic audiences, demonstrated through practical experience, pedagogical training, learning materials, or other teaching merits.
• Ability to translate complex scientific, technical, and organisational topics into effective learning experiences.
• Strong facilitation and collaboration skills, experience in international or multidisciplinary settings, and excellent written and spoken English

The following are considered an advantage:

• Experience with environmental research infrastructures, long-term observation networks, or scientific services.
• Experience with data management plans, metadata standards, semantic interoperability, or FAIR assessment tools.
• Experience with training-needs analysis, learning evaluation, competence-based education, or digital learning environments.
• Formal pedagogical training and familiarity with EOSC-related practices.
• Knowledge in written and spoken Finnish language.
• Applicants who are motivated to further develop their expertise in data stewardship, Open Science, and research infrastructure support are encouraged to apply as well.

Deadline for applications is 15th September 2026.

Read more and apply here.

Executive Director, CERIC-ERIC (the Central European Consortium for Research Infrastructure), Trieste, Italy (deadline 20th September 2026)

CERIC-ERIC, the Central European Consortium for Research Infrastructure, is searching for candidates for the position of Executive Director as defined in article 13 of its Statute.

Executive Director Profile and Duties

The Executive Director (ED) is the executive body of CERIC-ERIC and the legal representative of CERIC-ERIC responsible for the day-to-day management. The qualifications of the ED should integrate a strong scientific and research background with proven managerial capabilities. The ED works closely with the Board of Directors (BoD) and the Chair of the General Assembly (GA) and has the specific powers to commit the Consortium based on his/her coordination tasks. The Executive Director is expected to perform a significant portion of their work in person at the premises of the Statutory seat.

More details on the job and particular tasks are in CERIC-CERIC internal regulation n.5.

Selection and Contractual Arrangements

The selection will be performed by a Committee set up by the BoD and approved by the GA. The selection committee will invite shortlisted candidates for an interview. The proposal of the selected candidates will be submitted to the GA for approval and final selection.

Upon decision of the GA, its Chair will define with the selected candidate the stipend, the contractual arrangements, including in working time at the CERIC-ERIC Statuary Seat and agile work percentage, and the detailed tasks for the final approval by GA.

The call closes on September 20th 2026 at 17:00.

Read more and apply here.

Post-Doc in Atmospheric Science and Machine Learning, Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON), Leiden, Netherlands (deadline 1st September)

Your position
You will contribute to the newly funded COGNITO project (carbon monoxide (CO) Global aNalysis, source Identification and emission quantification using TROPOMI Observations). COGNITO aims to develop the first global, satellite-based system for detecting and quantifying carbon monoxide emissions from major urban areas and industrial facilities, with a particular focus on the iron and steel sector. By using TROPOMI observations with advanced machine learning techniques, the project will provide independent information on emission patterns and support efforts to improve emission inventories and evaluate decarbonization strategies worldwide.

Your team
You will become part of the Earth Science Group (ESG) at SRON. The ESG consists of approximately 40 scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students working on the interpretation of satellite observations, atmospheric modelling, data science, and the development of future Earth observation missions. You will join a research team specializing in the detection and quantification of atmospheric emissions using satellite observations, atmospheric transport modeling, and machine learning. The team has pioneered the use of satellite observations for identifying methane super-emitters and quantifying emissions from industrial and urban sources worldwide.

Your project
Within the COGNITO project, you will apply novel machine learning approaches to detect CO plumes in global satellite observations from TROPOMI and possibly complemented by Sentinel-5. Building on successful methodologies previously developed for methane super-emitter detection, you will create a global database of CO emission events and investigate the emission source rates from hundreds of industrial facilities and urban regions worldwide.

Your work will include:

• Apply existing machine learning algorithms for automated detection of CO plumes in satellite observations
• Building a global catalogue of CO emission events from 2018 onwards
• Quantifying emissions from cities and iron and steel production facilities using inhouse quantification tools
• Evaluating temporal variability in emissions, including seasonal cycles, operational changes, and potential signatures of industrial decarbonization efforts
• Assessment of emission quantification tools using atmospheric transport modeling
• Comparing satellite derived emissions with bottom up inventories and reporting systems
• Publishing results in leading international scientific journals and presenting your work at conferences and stakeholder meetings

The project offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of atmospheric science, machine learning, satellite remote sensing, and climate policy.

Position requirements
We are looking for an ambitious, highly motivated, and result driven scientist with a PhD in atmospheric sciences or a similar degree, with experience in the interpretation of atmospheric (e.g. satellite, aircraft etc.) observations and machine learning applications. Strong programming and data analytics skills are also expected. Experience with research on atmospheric CO, transport modelling and/or flux inversions is considered an asset. A highly developed proficiency in written and oral English is essential, and the candidate should be capable of working both independently and in a team.

What we offer
The position we offer at SRON is full-time for a period of two years with the possibility of a two-year extension in which you will be employed by NWO-I, The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research Institutes. The salary will be in accordance with NWO salary scale 10, commensurate with your education and experience, be for a maximum of €5.758,- gross per month on a full-time basis.

NWO-I has good secondary employment conditions such as:

• An end-of-year bonus of 8,33% of the gross yearly salary;
• A holiday allowance of 8% of the gross yearly salary;
• 42 days of vacation leave per year on a full-time basis;
• Compensation for commuting expenses;
• An excellent pension scheme;
• Options for (additional) personal development;
• Excellent facilities for parental leave;
• Ample training opportunities;
• Possibility of flexible working hours;

Due date for first selection of applications is September 1st 2026, after which the position remains open until filled.

Read more and apply here.