Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, Biomedicine

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher position on the Kuopio Campus. The position will be filled as from 1 March 2026, or as agreed. Please find more information below and submit your application by 6 February 2026.

Role and salary

As a Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, you will be working in the A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences on the Kuopio campus. The institute is part of the Faculty of Health Sciences. We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with good basic laboratory skills. The person to be appointed to this position will work in a project related to malignant brain cancer, particularly glioblastoma. The work is linked to the research topics of the GeneCellNano flagship and involves picking up fresh samples from the hospital. The project will utilize mainly patient material, and investigations will include, for example, characterizing novel patient derived cultures via various cell and molecular biological assays. Later, the modelling and therapeutical studies of glioblastoma will be extended to animal experiments, in which, for example, surgical operations and imaging will be applied. The main responsibilities of the researcher will include laboratory work, data analysis, scientific reporting and writing, as well as participating in applying for external funding.

The position will be filled for a fixed term until 31 December 2026. The Project Researcher position will be filled for a fixed term due to working in tasks related to the on-going glioblastoma project. The position can be extended to conduct studies towards a PhD degree. To work under the title of Doctoral Researcher, the applicant must have been granted the right to pursue doctoral studies, and the position will be filled for a fixed term due to doctoral studies. A trial 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 level 2 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal performance component can be a minimum of 6 % and a maximum of 50 % of the above-mentioned sum.  Depending on the salary elements, the salary will be approximately EUR 2,646-2,783/month at the beginning of the employment relationship.

Our requirements and expectations

• An MSc degree in a relevant discipline, such as biomedicine, cell and molecular biology or biochemistry.
• Experience in laboratory work, particularly cell culture.
• Competence to carry out procedures on animals (at least mouse) or the possibility to complete a competence course during the spring semester 2026.
• Fluent proficiency in English.

The following will be considered an advantage

• A flexible attitude to working and collaboration skills.
• Experience in translational research.
• Skills in the Finnish language.

We offer

• An interesting, diverse and meaningful position as part of an international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.
• The opportunity for flexible multi-location work.
• Staff benefits of the University of Eastern Finland, including extensive occupational health care, broad selection of staff training, staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants and affordable sports services.

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.  

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 6 February 2026 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2).

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

• a CV (Template for CV, TENK web page)
• a list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland Web page) , non-mandatory
• A motivation letter (1 page), in which the applicant describes motivation to conduct research and pursue doctoral studies
• A copy of your academic degree certificate/diploma and copies of certificates/diplomas related to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas
• Any other documents with which you wish to demonstrate your competence for the position and/or letters of reference 

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact University Researcher Minna Niittykoski, email minna.niittykoski@uef.fi, tel. +358 40 355 3812.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Controller Tarja Salmi, tarja.salmi@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 445 8220.

Haemme väitöskirjatutkijaa/projektitutkijaa Itä-Suomen yliopiston A.I. Virtanen -instituuttiin Kuopion kampukselle. Tehtävä alkaa 1.3.2026 (tai sopimuksen mukaan) ja se on voimassa 31.12.2026 saakka. Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasolla 2. Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6-50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävässä edellytetään maisterin tutkintoa soveltuvalta alalta ja hyvää englannin kielen taitoa.

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta.  Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 6.2.2026.