The Faculty of Law at the University of Lapland invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher position specializing in the regulation of critical minerals and other raw materials in the context of green energy transition. The position will be filled for a period of 18 months, starting in January 2025. A contract extension is possible depending on the extension of the 2IMATCH project. A requirement for employment as a Doctoral Researcher is that the applicant must have been admitted to doctoral studies at the University of Lapland.
The research is part of 2IMATCH project. The 2IMATCH consortium examines how green electrification can deliver a more resilient energy system and society in an uncertain world disrupted by several human-made disasters and seemingly persistent global confrontation. The legal component of the consortium analyses on how new regulations and policies in the USA and EU shape new energy geopolitics and in turn, Finnish choices in the area of critical minerals and other raw materials.
The 'Law, Technology and Sustainability Transitions' group works based on primary values of sustainability transitions and protection of fundamental rights. The group is especially interested in ways in which law can advance but also possibly slow down integrating sustainability into technological/digital transformation strategies to respond to persistent global and local problems such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and associated injustice.
The 'Law, Technology and Sustainability Transitions' research group is aiming at influencing policy discussions at national, EU (European Union) and international level, increasing international cooperation of University of Lapland researchers, as well as advancing theoretical thinking in law for sustainability transitions. This is done by increasing visibility and sharing research, collaborative projects, publications and events as well as making impactful sustainability transition research. Overall, the group aims at renewing law research and methodologies and positively changing sustainability policies and practices.

Your duties include

The duties of the Doctoral Researcher include conducting high-level scientific doctoral research, building and managing cooperation networks in Finland and internationally. The Doctoral Researcher specializes in the international and EU regulation of critical minerals and other raw materials in the context of green energy transition and increasing geopolitical competition. Your research examines how regulatory and market design choices in the EU and the USA affect the choices for resilient infrastructure in Finland and northern Europe.

We offer

• Interesting work tasks as part of an international university community
• Opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• Modern work equipment and facilities
• Extensive occupational health services
• Sport, culture and wellbeing benefits.

We expect

To successfully attend to the duties of the Doctoral Researcher and to contribute to the performance-oriented activity of the University, the appointee must have a strong commitment to the overall scientific operations of the Faculty as well the research community at large at the University, in particular the activities of the research groups at the Faculty of Law, in particular at the Focused Research Group on Law, Technology and Sustainable Transitions. We value a research-oriented mindset and solid academic background that enable expanding existing research and creating new openings in legal research on the regulation of critical minerals and other raw materials in the green energy transition.

• Proficiency in analyzing and applying pertinent international, European, and national regulatory frameworks concerning critical minerals, considering also environmental and social legislative and policy perspectives
• Eager engagement in international activities
• Competence in comprehending and communicating in the language(s) pertinent to the 2IMATCH project (English)
• Aspiration to publish scholarly articles internationally and to author a dissertation
• Enthusiasm for collaborating within interdisciplinary research team
• Excellent communication skills.

Application

The following documentation must be submitted along with the application:

• Application / Motivation letter
• Résumé / CV
• List of publications compiled according to the instructions of Academy of Finland List of publications - Research Council of Finland (aka.fi)
• Up to ten of your most relevant publications related to the position applied for
• Research vision related to the position applied for (max. 3 pages).

Further information on the position

Further information on the position is available through Associate Professor in Law and Sustainable Transitions Sirja-Leena Penttinen , tel. +358 40 198 5047, firstname.lastname@ulapland.fi
Address: Yliopistonkatu 8, 96300 ROVANIEMI
Duration: 1.1.2025 - 30.6.2026
Working time: full time
Trial period: 6 months
Salary: The salary will be competitive and based on the standard salaries for teaching and research staff at Finnish universities, with the he task-specific salary component set at demand level 3. Additionaly a personal performance component is paid. The starting salary for this position is about 2900 - 3050 € / month.

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