Research Professor in Climate, Nature and Resilience Economics

We seek a Research Professor in Climate, Nature and Resilience Economics at Luke to advance research on climate change, biodiversity loss, natural resources, food systems, land use and the bioeconomy through economic modelling.

Job description

Global environmental and economic changes such as climate change, biodiversity loss and pressures on natural resource use require societies and value chains to adapt. Environmental, geopolitical and market shocks increasingly disrupt food systems, land use and the bioeconomy. A central question is the form and magnitude of public interventions given the inherent uncertainty of the global economic system: resilient systems need less anticipation; irreversible changes in environmental, market and institutional structures must be anticipated in policy design.

The research analyses multi-objective decision-making in which climate, biodiversity and economic viability objectives interact, developing approaches that identify and quantify trade-offs and synergies, supporting coherent policy across environmental, climate and economic domains. It applies economics to these challenges, formulating problems in a context of uncertainty, making the most of weak data and signals, and applying dynamic, stochastic and other quantitative methods to yield new insights into welfare-maximising coherent policies at national, EU and international levels.

The workplace is located in Helsinki, Oulu or Joensuu.

Please note that the call closes on 28 September 2026 at 4 pm (EEST). Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

Our expectations of the applicant

The Research Professor (tenure track: associate or full professor) leads high-level research on the economics of climate change, biodiversity loss and natural resource use, with a focus on food systems, land use and the bioeconomy. You will examine how environmental, geopolitical and market shocks affect sustainable resource use, and how policy, investment and governance can strengthen adaptation and resilience in conditions of uncertainty. A key part of the work is the development and application of advanced economic modelling using dynamic, stochastic and other quantitative approaches to analyse trade-offs, policy coherence and welfare impacts. The research generates policy-relevant knowledge to support climate- and nature-resilient transitions at national, EU and international levels, integrating environmental, economic, social and geopolitical perspectives.

You will hold a doctoral degree in economics. Extra merit is awarded for a resource and/or environmental economic focus, and for expertise relevant to climate change, biodiversity, natural resource use, food systems, land use or the bioeconomy. You should have a profound understanding of analytical economics and related methodology. Advanced economic modelling skills are especially appreciated, including dynamic, stochastic and other quantitative approaches in conditions of uncertainty. Experience in machine learning and other AI methods is a benefit, as is familiarity with the bioeconomy, its core policies and stakeholders.

Additional information

Jani Lehto

Vice President, Bioeconomy and Environment

+358 29 532 2370

jani.lehto@luke.fi

Antti Asikainen

Executive Vice President, Research

+358 29 532 3250

antti.asikainen@luke.fi

Apply by 28.9. at 4 pm (16.00 EEST)