Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Science / Digital Innovation (ERC Project: Blockchain for Biodiversity)

Duration: 2 + 2 years

Company Description

Hanken School of Economics is a prestigious, internationally triple-accredited university (EQUIS, AACSB, AMBA) with over 100 years of excellence in education and research in economics and business administration. Hanken is recognized for its high-quality research, which significantly informs and enhances its teaching programs. With strong connections to the business community and a global alumni network of over 13,000 professionals in more than 65 countries, Hanken provides a dynamic and collaborative environment. With campuses in Helsinki and Vaasa, Hanken attracts a diverse and international student body.

Role Description

This is a full-time hybrid role for a Postdoctoral researcher, based in or willing to relocate to Helsinki, and who has strong interest and ability to conduct extensive field work in India.

Hanken School of Economics invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Digital Systems Design, or related fields for the European Research Council (ERC) funded project Blockchain for Biodiversity.

The selected candidate will join an interdisciplinary team exploring how digital technologies, including blockchain, distributed data systems, and smart contracts, can support sustainable agriculture, agrobiodiversity conservation, and equitable benefit-sharing.

Position Focus

The postdoctoral researcher will take primary responsibility for designing, developing, and verifying the technical specification and technology stack (architecture) of a decentralized digital marketplace with the following key goals:

• Accessibility for smallholder farmers, including in low-connectivity and low-tech settings
• Robustness and scalability suitable for academic and institutional use (Technology Readiness Level 6)

The candidate will collaborate closely with legal, ethical, and socio-economic researchers to ensure that the digital tools are context-sensitive, co-designed, equitable, and ethically aligned.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct fieldwork in India, engaging with farmer communities and NGOs, together with the law and social sciences researchers of the team.
• Lead the technical co-design process with local stakeholders to prototype marketplace components for sharing, managing, and benefiting from traditional agricultural seeds, farming systems and associated knowledge.
• Conduct user studies and feasibility assessments across both rural and institutional settings (low-tech and high-tech environments).
• Evaluate and test technological solutions for:
• Decentralized data storage and sharing
• Traceability, smart contracts, and secure benefit-sharing mechanisms
• User interface design for low-connectivity/mobile-first environments
• Develop and document architecture (technical) specifications, testing protocols, APIs, UI/UX guidelines, and system documentation.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure legal compliance, ethical integrity, and sociotechnical robustness.
• Contribute to technical publications, system documentation, and stakeholder workshops.

Essential Qualifications (Postdoctoral Level Only)

• Completed PhD in Computer Science, Software/Data Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, Digital Innovation, or related technical discipline.
• Strong hands-on coding experience, with proficiency in one or more relevant languages (e.g. Python, Solidity, JavaScript, Java, or similar).
• Demonstrated experience in designing, building, or testing digital platforms, applications, or decentralized systems.
• Proven interest or experience in deploying technologies in field, low-tech, or rural development contexts, particularly in the Global South.
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.

Desirable Qualifications

• Experience with participatory or co-design methodologies, especially in cross-cultural contexts.
• Familiarity with blockchain technologies, smart contracts, decentralized applications (dApps), or distributed data management.
• Experience with CI/CD, version control, and containerization technologies (e.g., Git, Docker, Kubernetes, Selenium).
• Knowledge of Indian farming systems, biodiversity policy, or local language proficiency is an advantage, but not mandatory.

We Offer

• The opportunity to work on high-impact, real-world applications at the intersection of digital innovation, sustainability, and responsible technological development.
• A vibrant interdisciplinary research environment at Hanken School of Economics, with strong international networks and collaboration opportunities.
• Funding for fieldwork, technical prototyping, travel, and conference participation.

 Application deadline: 01 December 2025

For further information, please contact Professor Mrinalini Kochupillai at [email protected].

Applications must be submitted in English and include all required documents for a post-doc position as listed here: Applications and the selection process | Hanken

Please scroll down to the bottom of this page to upload all application documents on LAURA: Postdoctoral Researcher: Designing a Digital Marketplace for Agrobiodiversity and Traditional Agricultural Knowledge