The Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a a Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher position on the Kuopio Campus. The position will be filled  from 1 February 2024 onwards (or as agreed). Please find more information below and submit your application by 15 January 2024.

Role and salary 

As our new Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, you will be working in the School of Pharmacy at the Faculty of Health Sciences within the EU-funded NEMESIS consortium that aims to develop “novel effect biomarkers for metabolic disruptors: evidence on health impacts to answer science and policy needs”. The position is located in Kuopio, Finland.  

You will develop, prevalidate and use nuclear receptor (NR)-based reporter assays to measure the detailed dose-response activation of key NRs by metabolism-disrupting compounds (MDCs), relevant microbiome-derived compounds and their mixtures with human, mouse and zebrafish reporter gene assays. The effects of MDC biotransformation will be studied in stable cell lines expressing cytochrome P450 enzymes. Effects of MDCs and their mixtures on hepatic NR target gene expression will be analysed in select cases by RNA sequencing.

More information about the principal investigator:  https://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/person/paavo.honkakoski/

The position is filled for a fixed term until 31 December 2026, with a preferable start date in February 2024 or as agreed.  The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to a specific project. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.  

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of the Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job requirement component and a personal performance component. In this position, the job requirement component is 3150,54 euros/month, based on level 5 of the job requirement chart for teaching and research staff. The personal performance component can be a minimum of 6 % and a maximum of 50 % of the above-mentioned sum.  Depending on the personal performance component, the salary will be approximately 3 460 – 3 850 €/month at the beginning of the employment.
 

Our requirements and expectations 

Requirements

• A doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and solid training and expertise in molecular biology, cell culture and gene expression methods appropriate for this project
• The doctoral degree may not have been completed more than five years ago at the time of accepting the position (a net period of time, which does not include parental leaves, military service etc.). If the person to be appointed has received a doctoral researcher more than five years ago, the position will be filled as a Project Researcher.
• Solid experience in the use of hepatic and intestinal cell models (e.g., primary hepatocytes, HepG2, HepaRG, Caco-2) and reporter gene assays or RNA sequencing will be considered an advantage. Please indicate the specific use of these models and techniques in your application by citing a publication or manuscript in your motivation letter.
• Excellent skills in oral and written English. English is used as the language of instruction and supervision in this position
• Proficient computer and data management skills
• An independent approach to doing research  

Expectations/advantages

• experience in project management   
• experience in the supervision of academic theses  
• verbal and written presentation skills
• grant funding received

Your benefits 

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including  
•    opportunity for flexible multi-location work
•    extensive occupational health care  
•    broad selection of staff training
•    staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services  
•    affordable sports services and tax-free bike benefit 

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.  

You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting/meaningful/diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.    

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.    

How to apply? 

 
Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 15 January 2024 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2)

Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application: 

• CV (https://tenk.fi/en/advice-and-materials/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae) 
• a list of publications (https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/how-to-apply-for-funding/az-index-of-application-guidelines2/list-of-publications/)
• copy of the applicant’s highest academic degree certificate 
• an Appendix listing experience in e.g. academic teaching, grant funding obtained and other research merits not present in the CV
• motivation letter
• other documents to demonstrate the applicant’s merits for the position   

In addition, attaching at least two reference letters is highly encouraged.

Questions? 

 For further information on the position, please contact Professor Paavo Honkakoski, +358 29 445 4302, email. paavo.honkakoski@uef.fi

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Secretary, Sari Palviainen, email. sari.palviainen@uef.fi , +358 29 445 4324

The Faculty of Health Sciences operates at the Kuopio Campus of the University of Eastern Finland. The Faculty offers education in medicine, dentistry, nutrition and pharmacy, as well as in some other central fields of the health care sector. The Faculty is research-intensive, and its internationally recognised research activities are closely linked to the strategic research areas of the University. There are approximately 3 090 degree students and about 580 PhD students in the Faculty. The faculty has 800 staff members.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 experts, and our community includes approximately 16,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en. Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.

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