Project researcher, UEF Bioinformatics Center

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is inviting applications for a Project Researcher position in the field of Bioinformatics. The position is hosted by Institute of Biomedicine and located on the Kuopio Campus. The position is a fixed-term role starting as soon as possible and ending at the end of 2027. Please, find more information below and submit your application by 23 February 2026.

Role and salary 

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Bioinformatician or Computational Biologist (PhD) interested in a career path as a core facility expert to join the UEF Bioinformatics Center. The goal of the UEF Bioinformatics Center is to contribute to research excellence through standard and customized omics data analysis, as well as to implement innovative machine learning, data integration and multimodal solutions. The Center is located in the School of Medicine of the University of Eastern Finland's, Faculty of Health Sciences, on the Kuopio campus. The Center is also part of Biocenter Finland.

The Project Researcher will specialize in single-cell and multiomics analyses and will develop biomedical and multimodal data analysis solutions for partner companies and UEF Research Communities focusing on common public health diseases, such as cancer, metabolic and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. The Project Researcher will participate in two projects. The first is the Living Biobank – Cancer Laboratory SYLI project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The SYLI project aims to establish a novel and comprehensive research and service infrastructure in which biobank cancer samples are studied using state-of-the-art single-cell sequencing and high-resolution microscopy imaging. The second project focuses on providing service packages for single-cell and and multimodal data analysis. This project is funded with roadmap funding granted by the Research Council of Finland for Biocenter Finland.

As part of these two projects, the Project Researcher will play an important role in developing advanced data analysis services. The position offers a chance to work across diverse data modalities and to build expertise in integrating omics data with imaging, clinical, and other measurement data.

The Project Researcher will join the growing local network of bioinformaticians and collaborate closely with professionals from other UEF core facilities. They will have access to the local high throughput computing environment of the UEF Bioinformatics Center and CSC - Finland’s national computing infrastructure.

The main responsibilities of the Project Researcher include:

• pre-processing and analyzing single-cell and other omics data,
• developing state-of-the-art workflows, and
• reporting results and collaborating with medical and biomedical experts.

The position will be filled for a fixed term starting as soon as possible and ending on 31 December 2027. The position will be filled for a fixed term due to them pertaining to a specific project task. 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 for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two elements: a job requirement component and a personal performance component. In this position, the job requirement-based component is 3,293.89 euros/month, based on level 5 of the job requirement chart for teaching and research staff. The personal performance-based salary component can be a maximum of 50 % of the job requirement-based element. Depending on the personal performance component, the salary will be approximately 3,620 – 4,020 €/month at the beginning of the employment relationship.

Our requirements and expectations 

We welcome highly motivated applicants with a bioinformatics or data science background and a strong interest in biomedical data analysis.

Requirements 

• A doctoral degree in a field in bioinformatics, computational biology, data science or a related field. Applicants with a degree from other fields must have substantial demonstrated experience in bioinformatics data analysis.
• Several years of experience in omics data analysis.
• A good understanding of data science methods used in the single-cell data analysis.
• Experience or extensive studies in the analysis of single-cell transcriptomics or epigenetics datasets.
• Strong skills in R programming, Linux shell scripting and Python or another relevant scripting language.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills.
• Good communication skills and a high degree of independence and initiative.

Advantages

• Experience in multimodal data analysis.
• Experience in performing bioinformatics workflows, the use of containers and version control.
• Experience in developing research services or infrastructures or the commercialization of research services.
• Familiarity with cancer research.

We offer

• A unique opportunity to play a key role in developing cutting-edge research and service infrastructure.
• Excellent opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.
• The support of skilled and dedicated team of experts.
• A fixed-term position for the duration of the project, with the possibility of extension depending on future funding.

Your benefits 

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including 

• opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• excellent opportunities for professional development and continuous learning
• 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

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 23 February 2026 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2)

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

• CV, please include the contact information of at least two referees who can vouch for your professional skills and experience. (Template for CV, TENK web page).
• A list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland Web page)
• Copies of your academic degree certificates/diplomas and copies of certificates/diplomas relating to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas.
• A motivation letter (1 page)

If your diploma is not in English, Finnish or Swedish, an official English translation must be provided. All translations must be issued either by the awarding educational institution or an authorised translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator’s stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by the applicants themselves are not accepted.

Questions? 

For further information on the position, please contact Research Manager Virpi Ahola, virpi.ahola@uef.fi, +358 50 5687597 or visit UEF Bioinformatics Center

For further information on the application procedure, please contact hrbiomed@uef.fi