Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), Doctoral Education Pilot for Mathematics of Sensing, Imaging and Modelling (DREAM), A.I. Virtanen Institute - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD) position at the A.I. Virtanen institute for Molecular Sciences on the Kuopio campus. The position will be filled for a fixed term with a starting date 1 January 2025.

Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 2 September 2024.

Role and salary

In 2024–2027, the Ministry of Education and Culture will fund a doctoral education pilot, which will test new doctoral education practices in Finland. The pilot will cover both fields connected to the flagships of research as well as other fields.

The doctoral education pilot Doctoral Education Pilot for Mathematics of Sensing, Imaging and Modelling (DREAM) offers one new full-time doctoral researcher position with the duration of a maximum of 3 years at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences.

The doctoral dissertation work will be carried out in accordance with a research proposal that contains work packages and sub-goals so that the doctoral dissertation will be in the preliminary examination phase within 3 years of full-time study. The research proposal will be drawn up in cooperation with the supervisor and partners.

Observing working life connections is a part of doctoral education, and each doctoral researcher draws up a career plan that supports their work as a doctoral researcher and aims to map career opportunities not only at the university but also in the service of the industrial sector, research institutes and other public and private organisations in Finland.

Research group at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences invite prospective Doctoral Researcher candidates to apply for the position, which will involve research in the following topic:

• Position at the Multiscale imaging group and Biomedical Image analysis group 
  • Thesis topic: Integration of multimodal imaging data to investigate the brain structure at multiple scales.

PhD project will aim to build new bridges over different spatial scales in brain imaging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a versatile and widely used technique in clinical settings. MRI provides variety of information about the brain tissue non-invasively; however, with a limited resolution. On the other hand, microscopy techniques, light and electron microscopy, can image the tissue at nanometer resolution, but are available only ex vivo.  

The project will aim to bring the information from microscopy to MRI to use versatility of MRI to increase the specificity of the MRI markers.  The project will require an enthusiastic candidate with electrical or biomedical engineering or related background to apply computational analyses to multiscale imaging data including advanced MRI, light and electron microscopy. It is envisioned that the project will impact neuroscience by providing biologically more specific MRI markers of specific conditions.

The position will be filled for a maximum of three years, starting from 1 January 2025 due to it pertaining to own doctoral research. 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 requirement level is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff, depending on the stage of the applicant’s doctoral research and postgraduate studies. The personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. Depending on the salary elements, the salary will be approximately EUR 2,580.00-3,380.00/month.

Evaluation

In the evaluation of applications, special attention will be paid to the following elements:

• degrees completed by the applicant and academic performance, as well as other qualifications supporting the topic of the dissertation
• the motivational letter
• the progress of the applicant’s research and postgraduate studies will also be taken into account for those applicants who are already registered as postgraduate students.

The assessment may include interviews with candidates. Interviews will be organized separately.

Our requirements and expectations 

Requirements 

• you are eligible for doctoral education, hold a suitable Master’s degree completed at a university or a university of applied sciences, or have suitable foreign education qualifying for equivalent university studies in the country concerned,
• you have sufficient English language skills for the task,
• you meet the student admission criteria for the doctoral programme,
• you are planning or working on your first doctoral degree,
• you are a postgraduate student currently registered with the University of Eastern Finland (the postgraduate study right granted on 1 November 2023 or after) or plan to complete your doctoral degree at the University of Eastern Finland.

Students in the final stages of a degree that makes them eligible to apply (e.g., a Master’s degree) may also apply provided that they complete their degree and deliver a copy of their degree certificate to the faculty by 30 September 2024.

The following will be considered an advantage:

• Strong interest in interdisciplinary scientific work
• Background in medical imaging, especially method or data analysis development
• Experience in mathematical modeling and related numerical methods, artificial intelligence, signal and image analysis, or inverse problems
• Programming skills with Matlab, C/C++ and/or Python.

Your benefits 

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/meaningful/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 2 Septeber 2024 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2). Only applications that contain all appendices specified in the call will be evaluated and taken into account in the selection.

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

• CV (Template for CV, www-page)  
• a list of publications (Instructions, www-page)
• A motivational letter (1 page) in which the applicant describes their motivation to pursue postgraduate studies and to conduct research or the progress of postgraduate studies that have already been started
• A copy of the degree certificate and a transcript of academic records that prove the applicant’s eligibility for postgraduate studies are required from persons who do not have an existing right to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Eastern Finland. 

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 Research Director Alejandra Sierra Lopez, +358 40 3552219, alejandra.sierralopez@uef.fi and Professori Jussi Tohka, +358 50 5757318, jussi.tohka@uef.fi

For further information on the student affairs, please contact Training Officer Annika Karvonen, +358 50 4526395, annika.karvonen@uef.fi

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Minna Leskinen, +358 50 5728376, minna.k.leskinen@uef.fi