Postdoctoral researchers in the MSCA COFUND NOVEL Postdoctoral Programme, University of Eastern Finland

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The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is one of the largest multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We offer education in nearly 100 major subjects, and we are home to approximately 15,500 students and 2,700 members of staff. In the international rankings, we are ranked among the leading universities in the world. www.uef.fi/en

The Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology are now looking for highly motivated and talented

Postdoctoral Researchers

to join us in the NOVEL Postdoctoral Programme co-funded by the Marie-Skłodowska-Curie-Actions COFUND of the EU funding programme Horizon Europe.

About the job

We have five (5) position open for three-year (36 months) postdoctoral researcher positions at the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus in the research areas of Prevention & Care and Methods & Data. The positions are fully funded by the programme. Please see NOVEL’s website for a description of the research areas.

Postdoctoral researchers will be working either at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences or School of Computing. All positions are located at the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus in Kuopio, Finland. Recruited researchers will live and carry out their research activities in Kuopio.

Postdoctoral positions are available in two research areas: Prevention & Care and Methods & Data. These research areas focus on understanding genetic, lifestyle, and environmental contributions to brain disorders, uncovering mechanistic pathways, and identifying therapeutic targets and disease predicting biomarkers. We develop and apply human-based disease models to advance understanding of brain disorders. By integrating iPSC-derived systems, clinical brain samples, and novel cellular models with cutting-edge methodologies—including electrophysiology, single-cell technologies, and multi-omics—we aim to bridge preclinical findings with clinical applications. Through advanced computational approaches, machine learning, and AI-driven neuroinformatics, we extract meaningful patterns from omics, imaging, electrophysiology, and behavioural data.

Please note that to be able to apply, you need to contact a research group leader to ensure technical fit with a chosen research group and ask for a Letter of Support. Please, familiarize yourself with the available host research groups on the NOVEL website and read instructions carefully from the Guide for Applicants (available here).

About the NOVEL MSCA Postodoctoral Programme

The NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme is a unique postdoctoral programme hosted in the international and multidisciplinary research environment of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). NOVEL pioneers merging diverse socio-cultural and scientific expertise to forge new brain health solutions, energizing regional, national and global development. NOVEL research groups have expertise in neuroscience, data science, innovation management, health economics and social and legal studies.

NOVEL addresses the need for novel research and innovation to address brain health challenges that impact individuals and society worldwide. Research is needed to support early prediction, personalized treatments, advancements in methods and technologies, and the development of responsible innovation and ethical approaches. NOVEL aspires to be a global benchmark in brain health research training. The aim of the Programme is to offer cutting-edge research, research training and career development for talented researchers of any nationality in fields associated with brain health.

NOVEL thrives on cooperation with companies, health organizations, patient groups, and universities, offering a rich training blend through compulsory non-academic secondments, mentoring, and dynamic summer schools.

The Programme is carried out within 3 faculties and 18 research groups of the University of Eastern Finland and in collaboration with partners committed to jointly supervising and providing secondment opportunities for the postdoctoral researchers. The Programme will employ altogether 14 postdoctoral researchers.

NOVEL is hosted by the multidisciplinary Neuroscience Research Community (NEURO RC) at the University of Eastern Finland. Combined with strong collaboration with intersectoral partners and the Kuopio innovation ecosystem with background in health, NOVEL provides excellent surroundings for interdisciplinary brain health research.

What we offer

• Cutting-edge research, research training and career development for postdoctoral researchers in fields associated with brain health. We have 5 positions open in the research areas of Prevention & Care and Methods & Data.
• An inspiring international and interdisciplinary research atmosphere in well-established research units, world-class guidance, cutting-edge infrastructures and mandatory intersectoral secondment opportunities with non-academic partners, with the opportunity for additional secondments and visits with academic and non-academic partners.
• During the mandatory intersectoral secondments (2-6 months), partner organisations will provide you with similar level working conditions ensured by being UEF employees.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Wide variety of support services at UEF are at your disposal, allowing you to focus on your research. Support for international staff is provided by the University of Eastern Finland.
• You will receive a competitive salary paid monthly, which includes paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. UEF Staff benefits are also available.
• You will receive university occupational health insurance. The Finnish government also provides benefits to residents and their families, for example access to the national healthcare system and high-quality, affordable childcare and school services.
• Finland has been chosen as the Happiest Country in the World, with a high quality of life, safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about working and living in Kuopio.

Who are you?

We are looking for excellent candidates that meet the following criteria:

• Doctorate degree: The applicant must have a doctoral degree (or equivalent, incl. a research-based thesis) by the end of the call.
• Experience: The applicant should have less than 7 years of research experience (full-time equivalent research work at a university or research institution, assessed from the date when the PhD study right ended)
• MSCA mobility requirements: The Applicant should fulfil the mobility requirement of the MSCA actions: at the date of the call deadline, the applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies) in the country of their host organization (Finland) for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the call deadline (February 28, 2026). Compulsory national service, short stays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered. Returning residents of Finland are eligible to apply.
• Nationality: Any
• Proficiency in English language: Proof of English language proficiency may be asked if it is not indicated in the academic degrees or diplomas.
• Applicants must use templates provided by NOVEL for submitting required documents. Applications not using required templates will not be considered as eligible.

Salary

Postdoctoral researchers selected for the NOVEL programme will by default be offered a three-year (36 months) fixed-term full-time employment contract by the University of Eastern Finland. The selected applicants are expected to start their project between August and November 2026.

The salary of the selected postdoctoral researchers will be paid monthly. The starting gross salary (before taxes) will be 3980 € per month for the fulltime employment, in accordance with the guidelines of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND action. In addition, the researchers are also entitled to

• A travel allowance (e.g. conferences, secondments, and visits), up to 4500 € per year
• Research costs (e.g. lab consumables, data collection costs, publication costs), up to 1113 € per year.
• Innovation costs (for supporting innovation activities, e.g. Proof of Concept), up to 2604 € per year.
• Family allowance (for applicants with a spouse and/or a dependent), €100 per month
• Mobility allowance, 28 € per month
• Special needs allowance and support are available, if needed

The employment contracts are based on a total working time of 1 612 hours per year, which gives the postdoctoral researchers freedom to plan their working hours.

A trial period is applied to new members of the staff.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please submit your application together with all relevant documents by February 28, 2026, at 23:59 (UTC+2 / Helsinki) through our recruitment system.

Guidance and detailed Instructions for applicants is available in the Guide for Applicants, available on our website. The Guide for Applicants is recommended to be read carefully together with this Call text.

All the documents must be written in English and named using the last name of the applicant and the document title. PLEASE NOTE THAT TEMPLATES PROVIDED BY NOVEL MUST BE USED FOR ALL THE DOCUMENTS!

All the documents needed for the application:

1. At least one signed Letter of Support from a NOVEL supervisor indicating technical fit of the proposal with the hosting research group. NOVEL template must be used.
2. Research proposal. NOVEL template must be used. The template includes a one-page summary of the proposal.
3. CV. NOVEL template must be used. The template includes a list of publications. Information on the length of your research experience must be clearly visible in your CV.
4. Certified copy of the doctoral degree diploma (PhD or equivalent) or other certified proof if the diploma is not yet available.
5. Ethical Declaration and Ethical Self-assessment including infrastructure table. NOVEL template must be used.
6. Preliminary Data Management Plan (one page). NOVEL template must be used.
7. Proof of English language proficiency may be requested if it is not indicated in the applicant’s academic degrees or diplomas. In other words, it may be required if the applicant has not completed any academic degree in a university programme taught in English.

Important: The information about the research groups in UEF with their research areas are described on the NOVEL web pages with contact details.

Ensure that you have included all the required attachments with your application. Only applications containing all relevant appendices and submitted through the online Varbi-recruitment system will be considered.

Please note that it's possible to edit and supplement your application until the end of the application period. After submitting the application, you will receive a reply message with a link to your application form. However, we recommend completing your application as early as possible.

An applicant can submit only one application per call. If one submits multiple, the application submitted first will be acknowledged.

Applications received after the deadline or incomplete applications will not be considered. For any inquiries regarding the submission of the application, it is recommended to contact NOVEL info desk (novel@uef.fi) as soon as possible and at least a week before submitting the application.

Evaluation

The applications meeting all the eligibility requirements will be sent for an external evaluation. Applications will be evaluated according to the excellence of a) the applicant, b) the research project, c) its impact and d) its implementation.

As the result of the evaluation process, up to 5 top candidates will be offered postdoctoral researcher positions.

Detailed information about the evaluation procedure is available from the Guide for Applicants and NOVEL’s webpage.

Further Information

The Guide for Applicants provides detailed information related to the NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme. If you cannot find the information you need from that document, please address your requests to novel@uef.fi and visit our website: www.uef.fi/novel

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