Senior Lecturer in Health Sciences, with a focus on Sports and Exercise Medicine

The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences is seeking to recruit a Senior Lecturer in Health Sciences, with a focus on Sports and Exercise Medicine starting on 4 January 2027 or as soon as possible after that. The position is in effect until further notice.

At JYU, Sports and Exercise Medicine examines how physical activity and exercise relate to health, disease, functional capacity and performance across the life course. Teaching in the discipline is informed by current research and scientific evidence and covers topics such as exercise in disease prevention, treatment and rehabilitation; safe and effective exercise prescription; exercise-related health risks; athlete health; the assessment of physical activity and functional capacity; cardiovascular and metabolic physiology; and research methods.

The position includes teaching, research and administrative duties. The Senior Lecturer will teach and supervise students mainly in the Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes in Health Sciences, particularly in Sports and Exercise Medicine. The duties also include curriculum development and collaboration in teaching and research with colleagues from other disciplines within the Faculty. The Senior Lecturer is expected to apply for external research funding, conduct and publish high-quality research, and supervise doctoral dissertations in areas relevant to Sports and Exercise Medicine.

Who should apply

We welcome applicants from a broad range of academic and professional backgrounds. A relevant doctorate may be in Sports and Exercise Medicine, Health Sciences, Sport and Exercise Sciences (including Clinical Exercise Physiology or Kinesiology), Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Sciences, Medicine, Public Health, Epidemiology, Clinical Research, Biomedical Sciences or another related field. The relevance of the applicant's expertise to teaching and research of Sports and Exercise Medicine is more important than the exact title of the degree. A clinical qualification is welcome but not required.

Applicants are required to have:

• a relevant doctoral degree;
• evidence of independent research work in an area related to Sports and Exercise Medicine:
• the ability to provide high-quality research-based teaching and to supervise theses and dissertations;
• a good command of Finnish and English, including the ability to teach and supervise in both languages;
• excellent interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills, together with a collaborative, proactive and committed approach to academic work.

The following are considered as advantages:

• university pedagogical training or equivalent, and evidence of curriculum or programme development, course coordination and educational innovation;
• practical experience in healthcare, rehabilitation, health promotion, or sport settings;
• competence in quantitative research methods and statistical analysis, particularly experience in applying and/or teaching these methods;
• experience in supervision of doctoral dissertations 
• a strong and relevant publication record and, experience in obtaining external research funding
• experience in multidisciplinary and/or international collaboration, societal interaction and partnerships with external organisations 

The duties and qualification requirements for a Senior Lecturer are stipulated by the University of Jyväskylä Regulations and language skills guidelines. A trial period of six months will be used at the beginning of the employment.

What we offer

Come to Jyväskylä, Finland, and join our vibrant and inspiring community!

At the University of Jyväskylä, you will be a valued member of our community with a unique opportunity to contribute to international research. You will become part of our international and multidisciplinary community that prioritizes the wellbeing of each individual. Our lively campus provides excellent opportunities for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.

Finland, named the world’s happiest country for consecutive years since 2018, offers a high standard of living with free education (also in English), affordable childcare, generous family benefits, and comprehensive healthcare. Work–life balance is highly valued in Finland, and employees enjoy four to six weeks of annual holiday. Jyväskylä is located in central Finland, just three hours by train from the capital Helsinki. Part of the Finnish Lakeland, the city offers easy access to nature and a range of outdoor, sports and exercise activities. As a major centre of education with a large student population, it also features a vibrant cultural scene. For more information about the University of Jyväskylä, the city of Jyväskylä, and living in Finland, see the University's International Staff Guide.

Salaries are based on job demands and employees’ performance following the Finnish University Salary System. The salary for a Senior Lecturer is determined based on the task-specific demand level 6–7 for teaching and research staff. The salary range will be approximately 4300-5700 €/month (gross income), depending on the qualifications and experience of the candidate. A holiday bonus is paid to all employees. If you are relocating from abroad, we will support your move to Jyväskylä and Finland.

We offer good working conditions for researchers and promote the principles of HR Excellence in Research, HRS4R. The Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) is based on the values of the European Charter for Researchers & The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (Charter & Code). JYU is committed to fairness, consistency and transparency in selection decisions, and undertakes the recommendations for the responsible evaluation of a researcher in Finland. JYU has signed the DORA Declaration. By signing the agreement, JYU is committed to complying with the CoARA principles.

How to apply?

To apply, your ORCID profile (https://orcid.org) must be up to date and your publications must be visible to the public (Set visibility: Everyone).

The application documents that should be included in English and in PDF format:

1. A Curriculum vitae (max. 3 pages), 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. A numbered list of all scientific publications and other publications showing the applicant's ability and merits for the position using the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland.

4. A maximum of five selected publications, which must be numbered according to the list of publications (as one PDF file) or a PDF file with public links to the 5 chosen publications.

5. Research plan: a short written description (max. 3 pages) of the applicant's research merits, leadership in research, and experience in obtaining research funding, as well as a research plan related to the position and a vision of how the applicant's current and future work will support the research at the University of Jyväskylä.

6. A teaching portfolio prepared according to the guidelines (max. 3 pages), i.e., a written description of pedagogical training and teaching merits (Instructions on the JYU Work with us website).

We look forward to receiving your application in our recruitment system by 23 September 2026.

For further information, please contact Professor Timo Hinrichs: [email protected], tel. +358504415644.

Our application process is transparent, professional and international. We communicate openly with the applicants throughout the recruitment process. We value equality and diversity in our work community and encourage qualified applicants to apply for this position. 

A personal security clearance may be conducted on the selected candidate with their consent (Security Clearance Act 726/2014). More information about the security clearance process and the rights of the subject can be found here.

Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences

Education and research in sport sciences in Finland are concentrated at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä. There are two main lines of study at the Faculty: Sport Sciences and Health Sciences. Links between physical activity and health as well as promotion of exercise and health are viewed from a multidisciplinary perspective with the improvement of health, functional ability, and wellbeing across the human lifespan as the key aim.

The University of Jyväskylä is a human-centred environment of 2,500 experts and 14,500 students. Our goal is to create wisdom and wellbeing for us all. It is essential that each member of the community thrives and has opportunities to develop and grow. We cherish openness of thinking as well as the balance between research and education. Our naturally beautiful campus is located at the heart of the city of Jyväskylä. JYU is the third largest employer in Central Finland.

Phone: (014) 260 1211

Email: [email protected]

Location: Seminaarinkatu 15

The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, you have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout. After submitting your application, you can return to edit it via the link you receive by email until the application deadline.