Project Researcher, Pharmacoepidemiology/Data analysis (two positions)

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for two project researcher positions in the Real4Reg-project at the School of Pharmacy, Kuopio campus. The positions will be filled from 1 March 2025 (or as agreed) to 31 December 2026. The positions are located in Kuopio, Finland. Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 29 January 2025.

Role and salary

You will be working in Professor Anna-Maija Tolppanen’s group and contribute towards the successful completion of the “Development, optimisation and implementation of artificial intelligence methods for real world data analyses in regulatory decision-making and health technology assessment along the product lifecycle” project, which is funded by the Horizon Europe Programme through Real4Reg (web page). This project will run between 2023-2026 and aims to provide solutions for the data analytics needs of health regulatory and health technology assessment bodies across the EU in the field of real-world data and synthetic data. The project is a collaborative effort of European regulatory agencies, academic research institutions and patient organisations.

We are looking for two project researchers, one to work with antibiotics use and related outcomes and the other to work with SGLT-2 inhibitors and associated outcomes to support the achievement of project aims. You will be working as part of a multidisciplinary research group at UEF, developing study protocols, and conducting analyses with Finnish data. In case of multi-country studies, you are expected to facilitate the conducting of these analyses in other participating countries, and submitting the results to scientific publications, with the support of other group members. We are supportive of starting a PhD degree during the project.

The project requires excellent statistical analysis skills, a good command of or willingness to learn statistical analyses by using R or Python and a knowledge of epidemiological study designs. In addition, you are expected to have good communication skills and an ability to communicate with professionals from different scientific backgrounds, ranging from clinicians to computing scientists in English.

More information about the principal investigators and the group:

Real-world Evidence Team (web page)

Professor Anna-Maija Tolppanen (web page)

The position is filled for a fixed term due to project related tasks from 1 March 2025 (or as agreed) until 31 December 2026. The position is a full-time position, and a probationary period of 6 months 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. The job requirement component is dependent on the candidate’s academic qualifications and expertise. A project researcher position is based on level 2-4 (2 225,83 – 2 775,28 €/month). With personal performance component the indicative salary is between 2 440-3 360 €/month. The salary depends on the experience as well as personal performance and will be regularly evaluated during the project. The starting salary is based on experience and qualifications.

Expectations

• experience in data management and statistical analyses with R 
• excellent project management skills and commitment to timelines
• ability to communicate in written and spoken English, with experts from different scientific and professional backgrounds
• adaptability to work both independently and as a member of a team
• an MSc degree in an applicable discipline (e.g. statistics, pharmacy, epidemiology) 

Additional (non-mandatory) strengths of the applicant include prior experience in processing Nordic register data, a track record in scientific writing and prior experience in working with secure remote access environments.

Your benefits 

You will have an opportunity to work as an integral part of multidisciplinary group with strong track record in international collaborations and real-world evidence research. The project will provide you interesting analytical tasks, opportunities for improving the utilisation of real-world data in regulatory use as well as excellent collaboration and networking opportunities with the other consortium members including European regulatory agencies and research institutes. 

• 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 and meaningful 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 29 January 2025 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2).

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

• motivation letter describing your experience in statistical analysis, epidemiology and project management and other merits relevant for the position
• CV (Template for CV, TENK web page) including complete list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland web page)
• copy of the applicant's highest academic degree certificate
• contact information of at least two reference persons other documents to demonstrate the applicant’s merits for the position

In addition, attachment of reference letter(s) is highly encouraged.

Questions? 

For further information on the position, please contact  Professor Anna-Maija Tolppanen,
tel. +358 29 445 4014, email. anna-maija.tolppanen@uef.fi

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