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Docent Keijo Viiri’s Intestinal Signalling and Epigenetics (ISE) group at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology  is focused on studying signalling mechanisms maintaining the tissue homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium in health and disease. Chiefly, molecular pathogenesis of the celiac disease and loss of oral tolerance to dietary gluten is pursued in our group. In the latter project we collaborate with international drug development companies. Our group also work as a work package leader in EU-funded HEDIMED consortium where our task is to generate organoid and cell models to identify exposome-associated signatures in celiac disease.

Read more:
Our publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=viiri+k&sort=date
Celiac Disease Research Center (CeliRes): https://research.tuni.fi/celires/

Job description

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow who will focus on generating organoid and cell models for studying exposome-associated signatures. Selected exposomes include enteroviruses, cytokines etc. You will identify the exposome-associated signatures with single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), perform and analyze RNAseq and spatial scRNA-seq data from intestinal biopsies collected in clinical drug trials for celiac disease.  

You will gain expertise in working with multidisciplinary and international research area and supervision of younger researchers and students. Our research group will also fully support you with the establishment of an independent research pathway in the Future.

Requirements

We are seeking outstanding candidates who have a track record of internationally significant research in molecular biology. Previous experience using human intestinal organoids, scRNA-seq as well as some bioinformatic skills to analyze the sequencing data would be an advantage.

The suitable candidate has:

• a doctoral degree from an applicable field (e.g. life sciences, molecular biology)
• an ability to independently conduct internationally significant research in the field with potential for excellence in research
• methodological experience in (or some of the following) single-cell RNA-sequencing, spatial scRNA-seq, bioinformatic analyses of the data, human intestinal organoids
• experience in collaborating with international scientific networks
• communication skills needed to successfully perform the duties and functions of the position
• proficiency in English

Please be prepared to provide proof of your merits when requested.

The position may also involve some teaching duties in the future. 

Tampere University is a unique, multidisciplinary and boldly forward-looking, evolving community. Our values are openness, diversity, responsibility, courage, critical thinking, erudition/ Bildung, and learner-centredness. We hope that you can embrace these values and promote them in your work.

We offer

We invite you to be a part of our research team as well as an active, internationally renowned research community at Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and part of the EU-funded HEDIMED consortium.  University and its higher education community offer a unique multidisciplinary environment for research and education. A probationary period of six months applies to all our new employees. The duration of this position is initially for two years (continuation depending on future funding). 

The funding of the position consists of a personal grant and a part-time salary that are comparable to a regular salary for starting postdocs. Typical starting salary for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tampere University is about 3500€ /month. Starting date is negotiable, but should not be later than October 2022.

Finland offers one of the most advanced and comprehensive social security benefits in the world, including personal and family health care and a variety of family benefits. The Finnish educational system is renowned worldwide. For more information on Finland, please check InfoFinland and This is Finland.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find more information about us and working and living in Tampere by watching Tampere Higher Education Community - our academic playground.

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system (link below). The closing date and time for applications is 15 August 2022 at 23:59 (EEST/UTC +3). 

Please write your application and all accompanying documents in English and attach them in PDF format. Applications should include the following documents: 

1. Curriculum Vitae (according to Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity guidelines) 
2. List of publications in international, peer-reviewed and indexed scientific journals  (according to the Academy of Finland guidelines). Please indicate your four most important publications and include hyperlinks to these publications. If the publications indicated are not found by link, please attach them to application as a separate PDF attachment.
3. Cover letter explaining why you are applying to the position and why you would be particularly suited to it.  
4. The names, positions and contact details (institutional email addresses) of two professional references who can support your application.

Candidates may be invited to a video interview during the recruitment process. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview. 

For more information about the position, please contact:

Docent Keijo Viiri, keijo.viiri@tuni.fi; +358 40 5549 648

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Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat yhdessä Suomen toiseksi suurimman monitieteisen, innostavan ja vaikuttavan tutkimus- ja oppimisyhteisön. Korkeakouluyhteisömme osaamiskärjet ovat tekniikka, terveys ja yhteiskunta. Lue lisää: www.tuni.fi

Haemme nyt tutkijatohtoria keliakian molekulaarisen patogeneesin tutkimukseen Suolen Signaloinnin ja Epigenetiikan (Intestinal Signalling and Epigenetics, ISE) tutkimusryhmään, joka tutkii suolen epiteelin homeostasiaa ylläpitäviä mekanismeja ja häiriöitä eri sairaustiloissa. Ryhmässämme tutkitaan mm. molekulaarisia mekanismeja, jotka johtavat ruokavalion gluteenin toleranssin menetykseen keliakian patogeneesin aikana. Näissä projekteissa teemme yhteistyötä kansainvälisten lääkekehitysyritystoimijoiden kanssa. Lisäksi ryhmämme on work package -johtaja EU:n rahoittamassa HEDIMED-tutkimuskonsortiossa (https://www.hedimed.eu/), jossa tehtävämme on kehittää organoidi- ja solumalleja, joilla voidaan tunnistaa mm. keliakiaan altistavia tekijöitä.

Julkaisuja: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=viiri+k&sort=date

Ryhmä: https://research.tuni.fi/cmp/intestinal-signalling-and-epigenetics/

Celiac Disease Research Center (CeliRes): https://research.tuni.fi/celires/

Tehtävänkuvaus

Tutkijatohtori tulee  kehittämään suoliorganoidi- ja solumalleja ja tutkimaan niillä keliakiaan altistavia tekijöitä (enterovirukset, sytokiinit etc.). Lisäksi tehtävä sisältää altisteiden aiheuttamien muutosten tunnistamista massasekvensointimenetelmillä, kuten scRNA-seq, käyttäen. Tehtävä edellyttää myös RNA-seq ja spatiaalisen scRNA-seq aineistojen analysointia, jotka on kerätty kliinisissä lääketutkimuksissa potilaiden ohutsuolibiopsioista.

Tehtävässä saa tutkimuskokemusta monitieteisessä kansainvälisessä tutkimuksessa sekä kokemusta nuorempien tutkijoiden sekä opiskelijoiden ohjauksessa. Tutkimusryhmä tarjoaa valitulle myös vahvan tuen oman tutkimusuran kehittämiseen tulevaisuudessa.

Edellytykset

Etsimme kilpailukykyisiä hakijoita, joilla on vahva näyttö kansainvälisesti korkeatasoisesta molekyylibiologisesta tutkimuksesta. Aiempi kokemus ihmisen suoliorganoideista, scRNA-seq tekniikoista ja sekvenssiaineistojen bioinformaattisesta analyysista katsotaan eduksi.

Hakijalta edellytetään:

• tohtorin tutkintoa soveltuvalta alalta (esim. biotieteet, molekyylibiologia)
• kykyä tehdä itsenäistä, kansainvälisesti merkittävää alan tutkimusta
• menetelmällistä osaamista (yhdestä tai useammasta) scRNA-seq, spatiaalinen scRNA-seq, bioinformatiikka, suoliorganoidit 
• kokemusta yhteistyöstä kansainvälisten tieteellisten verkostojen kanssa 
• viestinnällisiä taitoja, joita tehtävän menestyksellinen hoitaminen edellyttää
• hyvää englannin kielen taitoa

Hakuohjeet

Katso yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä sekä hakuohjeet. Hakuaika päättyy 15.8.2022 klo 23:59.