Doctoral student position for Biochemistry and Structural Biology, 4-year position 2020-2023 in Biocenter Oulu and Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular medicine, University of Oulu

The University of Oulu (http://www.oulu.fi/english/) is one of the largest universities in Finland, with approximately 15 000 students and 3 000 employees. The University of Oulu Graduate School (UniOGS) (http://www.oulu.fi/uniogs/) provides the framework and conditions for high-quality, research-driven doctoral education at the University of Oulu, and field-specific doctoral training is provided by its multidisciplinary doctoral programmes. Biocenter Oulu (BCO) (http://www.oulu.fi/biocenter/) offers a high-level international multidisciplinary environment supplied with cutting-edge infrastructures.  Under this framework, the Health and Biosciences Doctoral Programme (HBS-DP) (http://www.oulu.fi/uniogs/dp/hbsdp) offers doctoral training in clinical medicine, biomedicine, biochemistry, molecular medicine, dentistry, health sciences, medical technology.

Applications are invited for a full-time PhD student position for a maximum of four years, starting at the earliest on 01.01.2020 in a Biocenter Oulu research project headed by Professor Lari Lehtiö in the Structural and Chemical Biology research unit, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine.

Our team focuses on structure, function and selective inhibition of proteins involved in signaling through ADP-ribosylation – a post translational modification affecting protein stability, function and interactions in multiple cellular pathways.  We use X-ray crystallography, small angle X-ray scattering, cryoEM and other biophysical techniques to study the structure and function of these, often multidomain proteins, work. We develop assays suitable for high-throughput screening of inhibitors and use structural information for more rational design to develop specific inhibitors that can be used as chemical probes to study the functions of the proteins and in some cases to validate them as drug targets. Protein X-ray crystallography is our main tool used to understand structure-activity relationships of compounds. More information can be found on our web pages: https://www.oulu.fi/biocenter/groups/lehtio

The position is supervised by professor Lehtiö and is focused on structural and functional characterization of human ADP-ribosyltransferases (PARPs/ARTDs) as well as in development of small molecule inhibitors for the enzymes as tools and as potential future drug leads.

Requirements

To successfully occupy the position of a doctoral student, the candidate must possess a Master’s degree or an equivalent degree (e.g. licentiate) preferably in biochemistry. Degree must have been completed with good grades by 31.8.2019. Ability to pursue independent research and excellent writing and fluency in English is expected. The doctoral student position is intended for an Early Stage Researcher (ESR) who, according to the ”European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers”, is defined as a researcher in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of his/her research activity, including the period of research training. Applicants will be either starting their doctoral training, or will have completed no more than two full years of training (adjusted for possible previous part-time status) at the time the position is filled. The selected candidate will carry out his/her doctoral studies in the Health and Biosciences Doctoral Programme of the University of Oulu Graduate School (UniOGS) and must meet the minimal requirements to receive doctoral study rights as defined in http://www.oulu.fi/uniogs/requirements_for_admission.

Salary

The salary of selected doctoral students will be initially set on level 2, and later on levels 2 – 4 of the national salary scale for the teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a supplementary remuneration is given for personal achievement and performance (max. 50 %). In practice, the salary is roughly 2200 – 2700 € per month for an early stage researcher, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and progress of the doctoral thesis.

Since this call is for starting doctoral researchers, the positions are filled for a four-year period, beginning on 1 January 2020. A six-month trial period is applied in the positions.

Application

Applications must be submitted using the electronic application form by 31.8, 2019, 24:00 (Finnish local time), with the following attachments:

1. Complete CV containing contact information of at least two referees (Max. size limit of the attachment: 5 Mbytes)
2. Motivation letter (maximum 1 page) describing prior knowledge and research interests and career plans (1-2 pages; max. size limit of the attachment: 2 Mbytes).
3. Certificates/Diplomas: Scanned electronic copies of diplomas and transcripts of the records of relevant previous degrees. If the original documents are not in English, Finnish or Swedish, each document must be accompanied by an official certified translation into English or Finnish. (Max. size limit of the attachment: 2 Mbytes)

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Other relevant information

The eligible applicants fitting best in the research profile expected for the position may be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified when the selection process is completed.

Contact

-        Prof. Lari Lehtiö, e-mail: lari.lehtio (at) oulu.fi