Postdoctoral Researcher/Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, Translational Immunology

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher/Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher (Translational Immunology) position in Kuopio. The position will be filled for from 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2027 (or as agreed). Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 9 June 2025. 

Role and salary 

As our new Postdoctoral Researcher/Doctoral Researcher/Project Researcher in Translational Immunology, you will be working in the School of Medicine at the Faculty of Health Sciences on the Kuopio Campus.

Our research focuses on the immunological disturbances in autoimmune diseases, with a special emphasis on CD4+ T cells. We utilize state-of-the-art single cell methodologies to study clinical samples from children with type 1 diabetes and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

See more details about the research group and research interests from this link (web-page). 

The successful candidate will work on a project aiming to analyse longitudinal immune alterations in blood samples collected during the progression to type 1 diabetes using single cell multiomics, flow cytometry and plasma cytokine measurements. Our innovative research approach combining unique clinical samples and state-of-the-art research methodologies could allow us to identify important immune pathways that could be used as targets for developing efficient immunotherapy for the prevention of T1D. The research could also lead to the identification of novel biomarkers to better identify individuals at-risk of progressing to clinical T1D.

A person to be appointed to the Doctoral Researcher position shall be qualified to pursue postgraduate studies, i.e., they are 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 before starting in the position. Positions of doctoral researchers shall always be filled for a fixed term (UEF University Regulations, Section 31).

A person to be appointed to the Postdoctoral Researcher position is required to hold a suitable doctoral degree obtained less than five years ago. In this context, the 5 years refer to a net period of time, which does not include maternity leaves, parental leaves, or military service, etc. Positions of postdoctoral researchers shall always be filled for a fixed term (UEF University Regulations, Section 31). 

If the person does not have qualifications for either title, the position will be filled as Project Researcher.

The position will be filled from 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2027 (or 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 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.

For a Doctoral Researcher, the job-related salary element 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 personal salary element, the salary at the beginning of the employment is approximately EUR 2,585–2,720 /month.

For a Postdoctoral Researcher, the job-related salary element is based on level 5 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff and the personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. Depending on the personal salary element, the salary at the beginning of the employment is approximately EUR 3,530 – 4,020 /month.

For a Project Researcher, the job-related salary element is based on levels 1-5 (EUR 2,023.87-3,213.55 /month) of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. 

Our requirements and expectations 

• A PhD in immunology or a related discipline (Postdoctoral Researcher) or an MSc in biosciences or related discipline (Doctoral Researcher)
  • A doctoral degree in an applicable field by the time the employment begins. If the doctoral degree was awarded less than five years ago, the post will be one of a Postdoctoral Researcher. If the doctoral degree was awarded more than five years ago, the post will be one of a Project Researcher. In this context, five years refer to a net period of time, which does not include parental leaves or military service.
  • A person to be appointed to the Doctoral Researcher position shall be qualified to pursue postgraduate studies,  i.e., the Doctoral Researcher must be eligible to apply for and must have been granted the right to pursue postgraduate studies in some of the Faculty of Health Science’s Doctoral Programmes 
• A good knowledge of written and spoken English
• The ability to work independently and to supervise students
• Willingness to contribute to writing peer-reviewed publications and research funding applications

Previous experience in some of the following techniques is considered highly advantageous, particularly for post-doctoral Researchers:

• Multi-parameter flow cytometry with experience in panel design and analysis,
• Single cell multiomics,
• T-cell culture,
• Biostatistics/bioinformatics (e.g., FlowJo, Graphpad Prism, SPSS, R)

We offer you

• an opportunity to work in an interesting and diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community
• the opportunity for flexible multilocation work
• the staff benefits of the University of Eastern Finland, including comprehensive occupational health care, extensive provision of staff training, affordable lunch in our campus restaurants and Sykettä 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 9 June 2025 (by 24.00 hours Finnish time). 

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

• a resume or CV compiled in accordance with the template for researcher’s curriculum vitae of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (Template for CV, TENK web page)
• a complete list of publications compiled in accordance with the publication classification of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Instructions, Research Council of Finland web page) (if available)
• motivation letter
• 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
• recommendation letter(s) (if available)

Questions? 

For further information on the position, please contact: Professor Tuure Kinnunen, +358 29 4454980, [email protected]. 

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Controller Henna Miettinen, +358 29 445 4634,  [email protected].

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 17,000 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. Tuure Kinnunen, +358294454980