Project Researcher, Early-Life Microbial Exposures in Association with Asthma Risk

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Project Researcher position on the Kuopio Campus. The position will be filled for a 2-year term as from 1 August 2024 onwards (or as agreed). Please find more information below and submit your application by 15 May 2024. The application period has been extended and applications submitted earlier will be taken into consideration

Role and salary 

The University of Eastern Finland is seeking highly motivated applicants for a postdoctoral position in epidemiological analyses of microbial exposures and respiratory health.

As our new Project Researcher, you will be working at the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition in a consortium project focusing on identifying early-life microbial exposures affecting asthma risk. The project aims at facilitating the development of asthma preventive interventions. The work builds on our previous findings and existing data from a globally unique compilation of prospectively followed birth cohorts from different countries. The position is located in Kuopio, Finland.  

As our new Project Researcher, your main responsibilities will include:

• producing scientific publications, which primarily involves statistical analyses
• drafting manuscripts

The specific research topic and tasks may be adjusted to some extent depending on whether your expertise lies primarily in microbiome or health research.

The position will be filled for a 2-year term from 1 of August 2024 onwards (or as agreed). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to a specific project task. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.  

The salary of the position in determined in accordance with the salary system of the Finnish universities. The salary comprises two elements: a job requirement element and a personal performance element. In this position, the job requirement element is 3,213.55-3,714.44 euros/month, based on levels 5–6 of the job requirement chart for teaching and research staff. The personal performance element can be a minimum of 6 % and a maximum of 50 % of the above-mentioned sum.  Depending on the job requirement element and the personal performance element the salary will be approximately 3,530– 4,460 euros/month at the beginning of the employment relationship.
 
Our requirements and expectations 

Requirements 

• a PhD in a relevant field. In exceptional cases, a candidate with an MSc or an equivalent degree may be considered, if other requirements are fulfilled,
• a strong background in statistical modelling and health research,
• a proven track record of high-quality peer-reviewed publications as the main author,
• excellent comminication skills,
• proficiency in verbal and written English.

Expectations

• prior experience in microbiome and health research addressing immunological disorders especially in regard to respiratory and allergic diseases,
• a strong background in epidemiology,
• strong R and data illustration skills,
• a basic understanding of bioinformatics.

Advantages

• Fluency in Finnish is considered beneficial but not essential.

Your benefits 

You will have an opportunity to work in multi-institutional collaboration with experts in epidemiology, bioinformatics, statistics, data management and national and global collaboration networks. With dedication and enthusiasm, you will have a unique opportunity to address and solve intriguing scientific questions with high public health impact, produce high quality publications and to advance your research career in an innovative environment.

• 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.  

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 May 2024 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+3).

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

•  CV (Template for CV, www-page)  
• a list of publications (Instructions, www-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  
• other documents to demonstrate the applicant’s merits for the position   
• motivation letter for this position 

Questions? 

 For further information on the position, please contact Dr. Pirkka Kirjavainen, pirkka.kirjavainen@thl.fi.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR secretary Timo Perttunen, timo.perttunen@uef.fi, p. +358294454520

Haemme väitellyttä projektitutkijaa Itä-Suomen yliopiston kansanterveystieteen ja kliinisen ravitsemustieteen yksikköön määräaikaiseen tehtävään. Tehtävä sijoittuu Terveystieteiden tiedekuntaan Kuopion kampukselle ja alkaa 1.8.2024 ja se täytetään kahden vuoden määräajaksi. Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasolla 5-6. Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on aluksi 10-27 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävässä edellytetään erinomaista tai hyvää englannin kielen taitoa.​

​Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 15.5.2024. Hakuaikaa on jatkettu alkuperäisestä ilmoituksesta.

The Faculty of Health Sciences operates at the Kuopio Campus of the University of Eastern Finland. The Faculty offers education in medicine, dentistry, nutrition and pharmacy, as well as in some other central fields of the health care sector. The Faculty is research-intensive, and its internationally recognised research activities are closely linked to the strategic research areas of the University. There are approximately 3 090 degree students and about 580 PhD students in the Faculty. The faculty has 800 staff members.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 16,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en. Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.

1. Pirkka Kirjavainen, +358295246849.