Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our universities community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society. www.tuni.fi/en

The Doctoral School of Industry Innovations (DSII) at Tampere University (TAU) explores research questions that are directly relevant to industry and business. Tampere University hires a Doctoral Researcher in the field of Biotechnology to complete a four-year dissertation project under the joint supervision of a university professor and a company representative. The position is located at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University.

DSII offers Doctoral Researchers a unique opportunity to undertake dissertation research, gain a thorough understanding of product development, tackle real-world business challenges and expand their professional networks.

The partner company for this position is AMYRA Biotech AG, a Swiss company pioneering innovative digestive enzyme supplements and therapeutics that support the digestive capabilities of the intestinal brush border membrane (BBM). The BBM is one of the body’s primary producers of digestive enzymes. Chronic inflammation, disease, and/or environmental factors can damage the small intestine resulting in brush border enzyme insufficiencies (reviewed by Bonner et. al. 2025) that may compromise digestive function. AMYRA’s Brush Border Enzyme Supplementation Technology (BBEST) is being developed to supplement the digestive capabilities of the small intestine to address general health and nutrition, food sensitivities, and gastrointestinal diseases.

The purpose of this project is to develop a platform that companies such as AMYRA can leverage to assess their compounds in high-throughput and cost-effective preclinical models.

This project is part of a larger Enteropathy Research Consortium, led by AMYRA Biotech AG, with the goal of spearheading cross-functional, collaborative research projects investigating how BBM enzyme production varies in health, disorders, and disease. AMYRA is co-supervising 2-3 PhD researchers at universities across Europe, including projects at University of Oxford and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW).  The PhD student at Tampere University has the opportunity to benefit both academically and professionally from participation in this cross-functional and international collaboration network.  

Job description

We are seeking a Doctoral Researcher for a project to develop, optimize, and validate a high-throughput preclinical model of the small intestinal epithelium in conditions of enteropathy. Specifically, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) will be differentiated into small intestinal epithelial cells (SIECs), and the efficacy of iPSC-SIECs for modelling celiac disease and non-celiac enteropathy will be assessed. iPSC-SIECs will be used to characterize brush border enzyme expression, activity, and nutrient handling, and will be benchmarked against intestinal organoid models and/or patient biopsy sequencing data to validate the use of iPSC-SIECs as clinically relevant disease models. 

Ultimately, this position will create new knowledge for academia and industry in the fields of digestion, nutrition, and gastroenterology. The goals are:

1. To define brush border enzyme insufficiencies and their functional consequences in iPSC-SIEC models of celiac disease.
2. To extend the iPSC-SIEC platform to model non-celiac enteropathies and identify shared patterns of BBM dysfunction.
3. To benchmark iPSC-SIECs against existing intestinal organoid models and/or human tissue to assess their fidelity as enteropathy models. 

As a Doctoral Researcher you will gain expertise in working with multidisciplinary and international research area in a stimulating environment. 

The applicant selected for the position will pursue a doctoral degree in Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering at the Tampere University. The expected duration of full-time studies is four years.

The terms of the dissertation work are defined in the Doctoral Researcher’s personal study and supervision plan. The results will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed journals, international conferences, doctoral network events and events with industry. Annual progress reports are required. The personal study and supervision plan includes a detailed annual work schedule. 

In addition to the dissertation work, Doctoral Researchers are expected to teach or perform other duties, such as teaching, related to their studies. These duties may not exceed five (5) per cent of their annual working hours, unless there are justified reasons to the contrary.

At the university, the work will be supervised by Docent, PhD Kati Juuti-Uusitalo. PhD Sulayman Mourabit and PhD Erin Bonner are the supervisors from Amyra Biotech AG. You will also be supported by practitioners in the steering group, including company representatives. 

By participating in DSII events, excursions, meetings and training sessions with your fellow doctoral students, you will both get and provide peer support and make your own contribution to the development of DSII.

Requirements

You need to have a completed applicable master’s degree in life sciences, biotechnology, cell biology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. High motivation in persuing doctoral degree is very important. 

Suitable candidate has:

• Methodological experience in laboratory work, especially aseptic work
• Has previous experience in cell culture, and preferably in stem cell culture and differentiation
• Communication skills needed to successfully perform the duties and functions of the position
• A good command of both spoken and written English

You also need to have an enquiring mind, enjoy problem-solving and be able to think independently while also being able to work in a team. 

Please note that before commencing the position, the selected candidate must be accepted to have study rights for the Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering (DPMBBE) at Tampere University, unless they already have one. Please visit the admissions webpage for more information on eligibility requirements.

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

We offer

The position will be filled for a fixed-term period of four (4) years, commencing in December 2025 or as soon after that as possible. A trial period of six (6) months applies to all our new employees. Remote work opportunities are agreed separately when needed.

The salary will be based on both the job requirements and the employee's personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. According to the criteria applied to teaching and research staff, the position of a Doctoral Researcher is placed on level 2-4 of the job requirements scale. A typical starting salary for a Doctoral Researcher is approximately 2700 EUR per month. The salary increases based on experience and the progress of doctoral studies.  

We invite you to participate a vibrant, active and truly international research community. Our Celiac In Vitro Models research group aims to develop physiologically relevant induced pluripotent stem (iPSC) cell based preclinical models for celiac disease, and other enteropathies. The group is part of Celiac Research Centre.

Our university has a strong commitment to the highest level of scientific research and the provision of high-quality doctoral education. The faculty as well as the Doctoral School of Industry Innovations support the doctoral students by offering training and peer support. Doctoral students in DSII develop vital skills, enabling them to conduct agile, customer-oriented research, development and business.The University offers a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus, and several on-campus restaurants and cafés with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University. 

Tampere is one of the major academic hubs in the Nordic countries and offers a dynamic living environment. Tampere region is one of Finland's three most rapidly growing urban areas and home to a vibrant knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial community. The city is an industrial powerhouse that enjoys a rich cultural scene and a reputation as a centre of Finland’s information society. For more information on Tampere, please visit here.

How to apply

Please submit your application through the Tampere University´s online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 18th of August, 2025 (at 23:59 EEST / UTC+3). Please write your application and all the accompanying documentation in English and attach them in PDF format.

Please attach only the following documents to your application: 

• A letter of motivation and description of your research interests (max. 1 A4 page)
• Curriculum vitae according to the TENK template  (including the contact details of two referees).
• List of publications
• Degree certificates
• Transcript of records (master's degree studies).

For further information, please contact:

Senior Reserach Fellow Kati Juuti-Uusitalo, email: kati.juuti-uusitalo@tuni.fi; tel +358 401904292 

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Haemme Väitöskirjatutkijaa, alana bioteknologia (DSII)

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

Teollisuuden innovaatioiden tohtorikoulu (DSII) on ainutlaatuinen tapa yhdistää väitöskirjatutkimus, yritysten liiketoimintahaasteiden ratkaiseminen, ammatillisten verkostojen luominen ja innovaatiotyöhön perehtyminen. Tampereen yliopisto palkkaa väitöskirjatutkijan neljäksi vuodeksi projektiin, jonka rahoitukseen yritys osallistuu.

Tehtävänkuvaus

Haemme väitöskirjatutkijaa Tampereen yliopiston Teollisuuden innovaatioiden tohtorikouluun (DSII – Doctoral School of Industry Innovations) tutkimukseen, jonka tavoitteena on kehittää ja validoida prekliininen ohutsuolimalli, jossa voidaan tutkia mikrovilluksen tuottamien entsyymien toimintaa keliakiassa, ja muissa yleisimmissä enteropatioissa. Tampereen yliopistossa tehtävä sijoittuu lääketieteen ja terveysteknologian tiedekuntaan.

Väitöskirja tehdään yhteistyössä Tampereen yliopiston ja Amyra Biotech AG:n kanssa.

Tutkimus toteutetaan Tampereen ylioipston Lääketieteen ja terveysteknologian tiedekunnassa, FT, dosentti Kati Juuti-Uusitalon johtamassa Keliakian in vitro mallit - tutkimusryhmässä, joka on osa Keliakiatutkimuskeskusta. Projektissa teemme yhteistyötä sekä kansallisesti että kansainvälisesti muiden tutkijoiden kanssa.

Hakuohjeet

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta.

Jätäthän hakemuksesi yliopiston sähköisellä hakulomakkeella (linkki löytyy tämän ilmoituksen alta).

Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 18.8.2025 klo 23.59.