Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, Computational Neuroscience

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher position at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences on the Kuopio Campus. The position will be filled for a fixed term until 31 August 2028  from 1 October 2025 onwards (or as agreed). Please find more information below and submit your application by 15 September 2025.

Role and Salary 

The A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland addresses global health challenges arising from the aging of the population and changes in lifestyle by focusing on the research of brain and cardiovascular diseases.

This project, funded by the Research Council of Finland, synergizes modern computational methods for analyzing large histological image volumes, new magnetic resonance imaging techniques, and statistical physics to understand noninvasive markers of brain microstructure.

In particular, three-dimensional high-resolution imaging techniques, such as electron microscopy, allow accessing brain tissue at nanoscales; hence, imaging even several cubic microns of brain tissue yields large image volumes. A key focus of this project is the development of innovative computational methods for the segmentation and geometric processing of brain tissue microstructures within such image volumes. The scientific responsibilities of the new doctoral researcher lie within this domain. As our new Doctoral Researcher or Project Researcher, you will work in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio campus. 

Your main responsibilities will include: 

• conducting research in accordance with the aims of the project, 
• reporting and creating high-quality scientific publications, 
• may involve participating in grant writing.

The position will be filled for a fixed term from 1 October 2025 onwards (or as agreed). For a Doctoral Researcher, the position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to the candidate’s own doctoral degree; for a Project Researcher, the position will be filled for a fixed term due to it 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 components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. In this position, the job-related salary element is EUR 2,281.48/month, based on level 2 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal salary element can be a minimum of 6% and a maximum of 50% of the above-mentioned sum. Depending on the personal salary element, the salary will be approximately EUR 2,510 –2,784 /month at the beginning of the employment relationship.
 
Our requirements and expectations 

• A Master´s degree in a relevant discipline such as electrical engineering, computer science, mathematics, or physics,   
• For a PhD position, we expect you to be qualified to pursue postgraduate studies and to be a postgraduate student registered with the University of Eastern Finland (the Faculty's Doctoral Programme, webpage) or to plan to complete your doctoral dissertation at the University of Eastern Finland.  Otherwise, the position will be filled as a Project Researcher.
• Excellent/good skills in oral and written English: English is used as the language of instruction and supervision in this position.
• The successful candidate is expected to have demonstrated experience and skills in engineering, mathematics, and programming.
• A track record of scientific publications (if any).

Advantages

• The candidate can work independently, formulate and solve research problems, communicate proficiently, and have collaboration skills
• Knowledge of 3D computer vision, tomography reconstruction, electron microscopy, and MRI is a plus.

Your benefits 

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

• the opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• extensive occupational health care  
• a 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 a 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 and 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 September 2025 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+3). 
     
Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application 

• CV (Template for CV, webpage)  
• a list of publications (Instructions, webpage)
• a motivation letter   
• 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
• any other documents with which you wish to demonstrate your merits for the position

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 the Principal Investigator, Dr. Ali Abdollahzadeh, ali.abdollahzadeh@uef.fi. 
 
For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Controller Sanna Partanen, +35829 445 8002, sanna.partanen@uef.fi