University Teacher, Mineral Processing, Oulu Mining School, Faculty of Technology

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 4000 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 19,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations. The University of Oulu is ranked in the top 3% of the world’s universities.

We are now looking for

University Teacher (mineral processing)

to join us in the Oulu Mining School at the Faculty of Technology for a permanent position.

The Oulu Mining School, an educational and research unit within the mining industry, has a strong role as an expert in northern natural resources and sustainable development in Finland and internationally. The Oulu Mining School covers the entire value chain of the mining industry, including geosciences, geophysics, mining engineering, and mineral processing. The unit educates bachelor's and master's degree students in geosciences, as well as offering degrees in engineering and doctoral programs in these fields.

About the job

The teaching responsibilities of the university teacher include courses in mineral processing, covering extractive metallurgy, beneficiation, comminution, flotation, hydrometallurgy, and related fields, depending on the applicant's experience. The role also involves supervising bachelor's and master's theses and participating in and conducting small-scale research, according to research interests and expertise.

The position involves contributing to teaching and research in the field of mineral processing and sustainable mining. The duties include covering the full mineral processing value chain—from comminution through to dewatering—and incorporating process simulation and contemporary industry practices into the curriculum. The role also encompasses activities related to sustainable mining, including themes such as critical raw materials recovery, circular economy approaches, tailings valorization, and stakeholder engagement. Work may additionally involve tasks connected to pilot‑scale facilities. 

What we offer

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team, where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits. 
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• We have an HR Excellence in Research -quality label, which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and close-ones in settling into Oulu.  
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

To succeed in this position, we expect you to have:

• A Master's degree in Mineral Processing, or a closely related field.
• Expertise in mineral processing, and the ability to teach courses in areas such as comminution, flotation, hydrometallurgy, extractive metallurgy, and process engineering, and experience in academic projects.  
• Potential for scientific research
• Good written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Ability to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary academic and industrial environments.

We also appreciate: 

• Finnish language skills or willingness to learn Finnish.
• Working experience or experience in applied research and collaboration with the mining or metallurgical industry.
• Experience in securing research funding and publishing scientific research.
• Having experience in mineralogy, process modelling, and flowsheet development, and being able to apply them in the context of the mining industry is considered an advantage.
• Competence in laboratory safety protocols.
• Pedagogical training and broad expertise in the relevant field are considered an 
  advantage. 

A university teacher is expected to complete at least 25 ECTS credits of university pedagogy or equivalent studies within two years of starting employment, unless these studies have already been completed at the beginning of the employment relationship. University pedagogy studies refer to the university-level pedagogical studies or studies included in teacher education.

Advanced pedagogy studies may be further developed alongside the position after commencement. 

Salary

The position is permanent and is expected to commence on 1 November 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.

The salary will be based on the levels 04-05 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Starting gross salary will be approx. 3400-4000 € per month (before taxes).  A trial period of 6 months is applied to the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 31.08.2026 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. Cover letter
2. CV
3. List of publications
4. Teaching portfolio (maximum 5 pages), including
   1.  Teaching philosophy, teaching strategies, and methods
   2. A description of oneself as a teacher and an implementer of educational work
   3. Practical experience in teaching and efforts to improve teaching, digital teaching skills and giving feedback, possible participation in continuous learning provision, and international educational collaboration
   4. Production and use of learning materials, including open educational resources
   5. Maintaining and developing one’s own teaching and supervision competence; description of one’s pedagogical training; the significance of research in maintaining and developing one's teaching and supervision competence
   6. Feedback received on teaching (student evaluations, peer evaluations, awards, and assessed test lectures)
   7. Vision for the development of one’s teaching 

The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview and asked to give a teaching demonstration as part of the assessment of teaching skills. All applicants will be notified during the selection process.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, such as people of different ages, genders, and linguistic, cultural, or minority groups. 

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact Professor Saija Luukkainen, [email protected], or the Chair of the recruitment committee, Kari Moisio, [email protected].