Doctoral Researcher, Neurosciences

We are looking for a motivated Doctoral Researcher with strong coding/signal analysis background to join the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland (Kuopio campus) for a Research Council of Finland–funded project developing a novel MRI method for measuring brain pulsations and studying the brain’s clearance system in Alzheimer’s disease. The position will be filled for a fixed term for 3 years from 15 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.

Funded by the Research Council of Finland, PulseZTE: mapping brain pulsations driving glymphatic flow in Alzheimer's disease, aims to develop a cutting-edge zero echo time (ZTE) MRI method to measure breathing- and heartbeat-related brain pulsations in both preclinical and clinical settings. Using advanced compressed sensing techniques and machine learning methods, PulseZTE will make it possible to image neural activations and vascular pulsations simultaneously. It will also enable studies of brain clearance system changes, providing a potential biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease.

The position will be filled for a fixed term for 3 years from 15 October 2025 onwards (or as agreed). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to the Doctoral Researcher’s own doctoral dissertation work and studies. 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 2,511 – 2,785 /month at the beginning of the employment relationship.

Your main responsibilities

As a doctoral researcher, your work will focus on

• developing and implementing PulseZTE method,
• performing advanced data analysis,
• (optionally) participating in clinical and preclinical imaging experiments,
• presenting your results at international conferences and publishing in top-tier journals,
• participating in the writing of funding applications.

You will join the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Kuopio campus — a diverse research environment with strong international collaboration.

Our requirements and expectations

• A Master's degree in a relevant discipline such as Applied Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, etc. Students in the final stages of their Master’s degree may also apply provided that they complete their degree by 1 December 2025 and deliver a copy of their degree certificate to the faculty by 1 December 2025.
• Eligibility for the Faculty's Doctoral Programme (the selected candidate must apply and be accepted).
• The successful candidate is expected to have demonstrated experience and skills in programming, signal analysis and algorithms.
• Excellent/good skills in spoken and written English.

Advantages

• Ability to work independently, formulate and solve research problems, and communicate effectively.
• Knowledge of inverse problems and/or medical imaging is considered as an advantage.

Your benefits

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

• 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

• a CV (Template for CV, website)
• a motivation letter (max. 1 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
• contact information for 1-2 referees
• 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.

Candidates selected for an interview might be given an additional assignment to complete before the interview.

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Ekaterina Paasonen, ekaterina.paasonen@uef.fi

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Controller Tarja Salmi, tarja.salmi@uef.fi