Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, Molecular Physiology

Euraxess; Kuopio; Hybrid; EUR 37,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

The Molecular Physiology research group at the A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, invites applications for a Project or Doctoral Researcher position, which will be filled for a fixed term of 3 years from 1 January 2027 onwards (or as agreed).

Please find more information below and submit your application by 29 October 2026. The Project or Doctoral Researcher will work on a Research Council of Finland funded project entitled “Deciphering and Targeting Dysregulated

Qualifications

• MSc degree in a relevant discipline from a recognized higher education institution.
• Does not have a doctoral degree at the time of the call deadline.
• High motivation and desire to succeed in fast-paced research environment.
• Ability to conduct independent research, including hands-on laboratory work.
• Excellent skills in spoken, read and written English.

Responsibilities

• Generate loss-of-function hiPSC-derived 2D and 3D models using CRISPR approaches and bioengineering.
• Generate knock-in hiPSC lines and hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for proteomics and ChIP-seq experiments.
• Characterize cardiomyocytes from modified cell lines by gene expression analyses and imaging.
• Develop in vitro hiPSC-CM models and test candidate inhibitors in validated models.
• Perform protein biochemistry and molecular biology experiments to elucidate mechanisms.
• Collaborate with physiologists to characterize cell phenotypes.
• Work onsite in an international environment during normal hours and weekends.
• Collect and analyse data, prepare manuscripts, and present at meetings.

Skills

Excellent English skills

Education

MSc degree in a relevant discipline

No doctoral degree at time of call deadline

Tools

CRISPR

BioID

ChIP-seq

Immunocytochemistry

Immunoblotting

Microscopy

hiPSC

Job description

The Faculty of Health Sciences, A.I. Virtanen Institute

Organisation/Company Itä-Suomen yliopisto Department The Faculty of Health Sciences, A.I. Virtanen Institute Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 29 Oct 2026 - 22:59 (UTC) Country Finland Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Molecular Physiology research group at the A.I. Virtanen Institute, University of Eastern Finland, invites applications for a Project or Doctoral Researcher position, which will be filled for a fixed term of 3 years from 1 January 2027 onwards (or as agreed). Please find more information below and submit your application by 29 October 2026.

Role and Salary

The Project or Doctoral Researcher will work on a Research Council of Finland funded project entitled “Deciphering and Targeting Dysregulated Transcription in Cardiovascular Disease” together with the members of the research group and international collaborators.

Our research group seeks to understand fundamental mechanisms underlying cardiomyocyte function and leverage this knowledge in the context of disease. We have recently identified a transcriptional regulator of aging-associated cardiovascular disease processes, and the successful candidate will contribute to ongoing efforts to understand and therapeutically target this regulatory protein by:

• Generating loss-of-function human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived 2D and 3D models using CRISPR-mediated approaches and bioengineering.
• Generating knock-in hiPSC lines and hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for conducting proximity proteomics (BioID) and Chromatin Immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) experiments.
• Characterizing cardiomyocytes generated from genetically modified cell lines by gene expression analyses, immunocytochemistry, immunoblotting, and microscopy.
• Developing in vitro hiPSC-CM models relevant to target function and testing candidate chemical inhibitors in validated models.
• Performing protein biochemistry and molecular biology experiments to elucidate novel mechanisms of action.
• Closely collaborating with physiologists to characterize cell phenotypes.
• Working onsite in an international environment during normal working hours and occasionally on weekends.
• Collecting and analysing data, preparing manuscripts, and presenting results at lab meetings and scientific conferences.

As a Doctoral Researcher, you will work in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Eastern Finland on the Kuopio campus. The position will be filled as from 1 January 2027 (or as agreed). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to the Doctoral Researcher candidate’s own doctoral degree. If the title is a Project Researcher, the position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to specific project tasks. A trial period is applied to all new members of 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 2,331,67/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 2,560 – 2,820 /month at the beginning of the employment relationship.

Our requirements

We require that the candidate to be appointed as a Doctoral Researcher is qualified to pursue postgraduate studies, i.e., the selected candidate must be eligible and apply for and be accepted to the faculty’s Doctoral Programme after the start of employment. At the beginning of the employment relationship, the title will be “Project Researcher”, which can be changed to “Doctoral Researcher” after acceptance to the faculty’s Doctoral Programme.

Specific requirements

• An MSc degree (or a degree qualifying for doctoral studies in the awarding country) in a relevant discipline from a recognized higher education institution.
• Does not have a doctoral degree at the time of the call deadline.
• A high motivation level and desire to succeed in a fast-paced research environment.
• Ability to conduct independent research, including hands‑on laboratory work.
• Excellent skills in spoken, read and written English.

Advantages

• Practical experience in laboratory work, cell culture, standard molecular biology methods, and live‑cell imaging techniques.
• Robust knowledge of biochemistry, physiology, and biophysics pertaining to the topic.
• Experience in protein chemistry, gene‑editing methods, and iPSC‑derived models.
• Strong knowledge of and interest in cardiac function, including specific areas of development, physiology, and pathology.

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 and

You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting, meaningful and diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive research environment.

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.

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Pasi Tavi, [e-mail]

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Controller Tarja Salmi, [e-mail]