Doctoral Researcher, Tissue Engineering – University of Eastern Finland
12.2.2023https://rekry.saima.fi/certiahome/open_job_view.html?did=5600&jc=16&id=000014509&lang=en
Doctoral Researcher, Tissue Engineering
The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher position in Tissue Engineering at the Department of Technical Physics on the Kuopio campus. The position will be filled for a fixed 2-year term from 1 March 2023 (or starting date as agreed). Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 23 February 2023.
Role and salary
We are seeking for a highly motivated and talented Doctoral Researcher to work full-time on an Academy of Finland funded research project entitled ‘A novel infrared spectroscopic and modelling approach for online monitoring and control of cartilage tissue growth in a bioreactor’.
The project will be conducted at the Biomedical Spectroscopy Laboratory (BSL) and Biophysics of Bone and Cartilage (BBC) research groups, Department of Technical Physics, University of Eastern Finland, under the supervision of Academy Research Fellow Isaac Afara and other senior members of the research team. BSL is a highly multidisciplinary team of more than 15 researchers with background in engineering, physics and mathematics, applying biophotonics principles for tissue characterization and diagnostics. The BBC group is a global leader in the biophysics of bone and cartilage, and consists of more than 50 researchers applying experimental, computational and clinical approaches for understanding and development of innovative techniques for diagnosis of joint diseases.
The primary aim of this project is to combine cutting-edge knowledge on infrared spectroscopy with state-of-the-art paradigm in cartilage tissue engineering (functional tissue engineering) for in situ live monitoring and control of cartilage tissue engineering process. This will be achieved via a multi-disciplinary approach that combines tissue engineering, biophotonics, data science and bioprocess control, and nano-spectroscopic imaging through active national and international collaboration. The project involves active collaboration with the Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Body-On-Chip Research (Professor Minna Kellomäki and Associate Professor Susanna Miettinen). The primary tasks of the PhD student will include, but not limited to, tissue engineering laboratory experiments involving, but not limited to, creation of cell-hydrogel scaffolds and monitoring of tissue growth using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy during tissue engineering of articular cartilage. The PhD student will also be actively involved in preparation of personal grant applications, and other tasks assigned by the supervisor.
Candidates who are currently completing or have recently completed a Master’s degree or equivalent are invited to apply. However, a person to be appointed as a Doctoral Researcher shall be qualified to pursue postgraduate studies, i.e. she/he is required to have completed a suitable higher university degree or an equivalent education abroad, which in the country in question would qualify the person for similar academic studies.
A person to be appointed as a Doctoral Researcher shall be qualified to pursue postgraduate studies, i.e. he or she is required to have completed or is currently completing a suitable higher university degree or an equivalent education abroad, which in the country in question would qualify the person for similar academic studies (UEF University Regulations, Section 31).
The position will be filled from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2025 (or starting date as agreed). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to a specific project. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.
The position of Doctoral Researcher shall always be filled for a fixed term (UEF University Regulations, Section 31).
The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of the Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job requirement component and a personal performance component. In this position, the job requirement level is based on levels 2–4 on the job requirement chart for teaching and research staff. The personal performance salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. Depending on the personal performance component, the salary will be approximately 2,448.00 – 3,210.00 €/month.
Our requirements and expectations
Requirements
- the person to be appointed in the position shall hold a suitable higher university degree, e.g. Master’s in biochemistry, biomaterials, tissue engineering, or related biological fields. Candidates who are currently completing or have recently completed a higher university degree are invited to apply.
- potential candidates should have a good command of the English language.
Expectations
- background in biomedical/biological sciences, biochemistry, biomedical engineering with strong biological background or related fields.
- previous experience in laboratory experiments working with biological samples
- prior experience in preparation of biological assays
- basic knowledge of tissue engineering
- basic knowledge in spectroscopy, especially infrared spectroscopy
- good publication track record
- strong experience in statistical analysis and
- Intermediate programming skills, in Python, C, R, MATLAB etc. (the more the better)
Your benefits
You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including:
- extensive occupational health care
- 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 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 23 January 2023 (by 24 hours Finnish time).
Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application:
- CV (http://www.tenk.fi/en/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae, but also other styles will be accepted)
- a list of publications https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/how-to-apply-for-funding/az-index-of-application-guidelines2/list-of-publications/
- motivation letter (max two pages). In the letter, please indicate your motivation for this position and your earlier research experience.
- 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
Questions?
For further information on the position, please contact Academy Research Fellow Isaac Afara, email: isaac.afara@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4453305.
For further information on the application procedure, please contact Executive Assistant Satu Turunen, email: satu.turunen@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 445 3031
University of Eastern Finland and the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology in brief
The University of Eastern Finland, UEF, is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We have a staff of 3,200 members, and our academic community comprises around 16,000 degree students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and in Kuopio. Our research is ranked among the best in the world in several fields. We generate research-based knowledge and make it openly accessible for the benefit of all. To learn more about our university please visit our website at www.uef.fi/en. On our website, you’ll also find information about the university as a work community and as an employer (https://www.uef.fi/en/article/one-university-a-thousand-stories), as well as our employees’ career stories (https://www.uef.fi/en/career-stories).
The Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology operates on the Kuopio and Joensuu campuses of the University of Eastern Finland. The mission of the faculty is to carry out internationally recognised scientific research and to offer research-education in the fields of natural sciences and forest sciences. The faculty invests in all of the strategic research areas of the university. The faculty’s environments for research and learning are international, modern and multidisciplinary. The faculty has approximately 4,400 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and some 460 postgraduate students. The number of staff amounts to 630. http://www.uef.fi/en/lumet/etusivu