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

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is one of the largest multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We offer education in nearly 100 major subjects and are home to approximately 17,000 students and 3,200 members of staff. In 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, which is co-funded by the Marie-Skłodowska-Curie-Action COFUND of the EU funding programme Horizon Europe.

About the job

The NOVEL MSCA Postdoctoral Programme is a unique postdoctoral programme hosted at the international and multidisciplinary research environment of the University of Eastern Finland (UEF). NOVEL pioneers in merging diverse socio-cultural and scientific expertise to forge new brain health solutions, energizing regional, national and global development. 

NOVEL integrates neuroscience, data science, innovation management, and social and legal studies across four synergetic research areas: 1) Prevention and Care, 2) Methods and Data, 3) Innovation in Society, and 4) Ethics and Wellbeing. The first two research areas are now open for Call 1. Please see the NOVEL website for a description of the research areas.

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. Our research groups combine expertise in neuroscience, data science, innovation management, health economics, and legal studies.

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. 

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. 

The positions are located on the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus in Kuopio, Finland. The recruited researchers will live and carry out their research activities in Kuopio.  

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 14 postdoctoral researchers. This first call of NOVEL includes nine (9) three-year (36 months) postdoctoral researcher positions on the University of Eastern Finland’s Kuopio campus. The positions are fully funded by the programme. The positions are open in the research areas of Prevention and Care and Methods and Data.

Please, familiarize yourself with the research groups of the NOVEL postdoctoral programme and read the instructions contained in the Guide for Applicants carefully. The research groups that the applicants may propose their host can be found in the NOVEL website. Please note that you need to contact a research group leader and ask for at least a Letter of Support to be able to apply. The Letter of Support must be attached to the application. 

The Programme’s second call will open in December 2025 and will include five (5) postdoctoral researcher positions in the research areas of Innovation in Society and Ethics and Wellbeing.

What do we offer?

•    Cutting-edge research, research training and career development for postdoctoral researchers in fields associated with brain health. For this call, we offer positions in the research areas of Prevention and Care and Methods and 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 as you have as a UEF employee.
•    Work that matters and a workplace that promotes work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
•    A wide range 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 a paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. UEF’s staff benefits are also available.
•    You will be covered by the university’s health insurance policy. The Finnish government also provides benefits to residents and their families, including 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:

•    A doctoral degree: The applicant must have a doctoral degree (or equivalent, incl. a research-based thesis) by the time the call closes. 
•    Experience: The applicant should have less than 7 years of research experience (full-time equivalent of research work at a university or research institution, calculated from the date on which the right to pursue doctoral studies ended)
•    MSCA mobility requirements: The Applicant should fulfil the mobility requirement of MSCA actions: on 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 reference date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays, or the time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account. I.e., researchers coming to Finland should not have resided or carried out activities in Finland for more than 12 months in the 36-month period preceding the end of the call (31 May 2025). 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 the templates provided by NOVEL for submitting the required documents. Applications not using the 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 December 2025 and February 2026.

The selected postdoctoral researchers will be paid a monthly salary. The starting gross salary (before taxes) will be EUR 3,980 per month for full-time employment, in accordance with the guidelines of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND action. In addition, the researchers are also entitled to travel expense reimbursements (e.g., conferences, secondments, and visits) of up to EUR 4,500 per year. Family and special needs allowances are available.

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 probationary period of 4 months is applied to the positions.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please send your application together with all the relevant attachments by 31 May 2025 at 23:59 (UTC +3/Helsinki) through our recruitment system.

Guidance and detailed instructions for applicants are available in the Guide for Applicants. 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 THE TEMPLATES PROVIDED BY NOVEL MUST BE USED FOR THE CORRESPONDING DOCUMENTS! The templates to be used you will find on the website https://sites.uef.fi/novel/how-to-apply/#theguide 

All the documents needed for the application:

1.    At least one signed Letter of Support from a NOVEL supervisor indicating the technical fit of the proposal with the hosting research group. The NOVEL template must be used.
2.    A Research Proposal including a Summary. The NOVEL template must be used.
3.    A Curriculum Vitae (CV). The CV should include a full list of your publications. The CV must indicate the length of your research experience. The NOVEL template must be used.
4.    A certified copy of your PhD Diploma in English (accompanied by a non-certified English translation if the initial document is not in English) OR a statement on headed paper from their supervisor/academic institution confirming that the thesis has been submitted and will be defended before 31st May 2025 (in English)
5.    An Ethical Declaration and Ethical Self-assessment including an infrastructure table. The NOVEL template must be used.
6.    A Preliminary Data Management Plan (one page). Follow NOVEL’s instructions given available in the NOVEL template, which must be used. Guide for Applicants and on the NOVEL website (www.uef.fi/novel).
7.    Proof of English language proficiency may be asked if it is not indicated in the academic degrees, certificates/diplomas or in the CV, i.e., if the applicant has not completed any academic degrees in university programmes taught in English.

Important: You can read more about the research groups at UEF, including their research areas and contact details, on the NOVEL website.

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

Please note that it is possible to edit and supplement your application until the end of the application period. If the appendices exceed the defined maximum length, only the pages specified in the instructions are taken into account in the assessment. 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.

Applications received after the deadline and incomplete applications will not be considered. For any inquiries regarding the submission of the application, it is recommended to contact the NOVEL info desk (novel@uef.fi) as soon as possible and no later than one week before submitting the application.

Evaluation

Applications that meet all eligibility requirements will be submitted to an external evaluation. The applications will be evaluated according to the excellence of a) the applicant, b) the research project, 3) its impact, d) its implementation and e) overall quality.

As the result of the evaluation process, up to 9 top candidates will be offered a Postdoctoral Researcher position.

Detailed information about the evaluation procedure is available in the Guide for Applicants and on the NOVEL website.

Further Information

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

Questions? 

 For further information on the position, please contact Programme Manager Paula Inkeroinen, +358 50 367 5236, paula.inkeroinen@uef.fi

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Controller Sanna Partanen, sanna.partanen@uef.fi or HR Specialist Nina Miinalainen, nina.miinalainen@uef.fi