Short-term postdoctoral researcher, senior research fellow or part-time clinical researcher in the HEALTH-DIMENSIONS research programme

We are now seeking talented scientists for

Several short-term postdoctoral researcher, senior research fellow or part-time clinical researcher positions

in the HEALTH-DIMENSIONS research program.

The positions can be placed in a relevant faculty. Possible duration is from three to seven months per position. A total of approximately 30 person months will be awarded to five or more candidates, and the reserved funding is to be used by the end of 2025. 

HEALTH-DIMENSIONS research program

HEALTH-DIMENSIONS - Multidimensional big data and life-course health: from molecules to society - is a multidisciplinary research program supported by the Research Council of Finland PROFI8 funding from 2025 to 2030. HEALTH-DIMENSIONS explores the complex multidimensional nature of human health. It focuses on the fundamental causes of diseases and multimorbidity during the life course and adds a new dimension towards the use of big data in building future health as well as social and health care.

The four themes of HEALTH-DIMENSIONS aspire to the prevention of multimorbidity through a new level of understanding and acting on these dimensions - lifelong molecular, physiological, environmental, behavioral, and societal mechanisms. They are as follows:

• Multidimensional mapping of health and diseases (HD1)
• Longitudinal models of multimorbidity (HD2)
• Molecular level mechanistic validation (HD3)
• Clinical and societal implementation and ethical implications (HD4)

Health Dimensions advocates that multimorbidity is not a problem restricted to clinical, biomedical, and molecular research. There are strong social, environmental, psychological, ethical, and technical dimensions to consider. We welcome and encourage applicants from all academic disciplines to increase the opportunity for collaboration and join us.

About the job

We are seeking excellent scientists for all four above-listed themes HD1-HD4. A successful applicant can have a background in a wide range of scientific disciplines and is expected to have competence and planned or already ongoing research in at least one of the areas linked to multimorbidity. We appreciate innovative visions for interdisciplinary approaches and new collaborative research initiatives across faculties or the continuation of established ones.

As a postdoctoral researcher, senior research fellow or clinical researcher, your primary duties may include:

• Carrying out research leading to high-quality academic publications
• Contribution to writing and submitting research funding proposals
• Activity in the academic community
• Supervision of MSc students or doctoral researchers
• Participation in teaching tasks, subject to faculty needs and your own teaching capabilities and interests (maximum of 15% of the working hours

Who are you?

You are the person we are looking for if you have:  

• Doctoral degree in an applicable research field
• High motivation and good aptitude to work efficiently both independently and as part of a team and develop strong productive collaborations
• Potential and activity in acquiring external research funding
• History of or plans for research mobility
• Experience in local, national, and international networking
• Good communication, writing, and presentation skills
• Fluency in both written and spoken English

For a full-time postdoctoral researcher position, your doctoral degree has been completed no more than 10 years ago (at or later than 2015, excluding career breaks). If your doctoral degree has been achieved earlier, you can apply for a full-time senior researcher position. For more details about the career levels at the University of Oulu, see the four-stage research career requirements.

Those eligible to apply for a part-time (20–50% of working hours) clinical researcher position are healthcare professionals with a doctoral degree engaged in clinical practice. The applicant must agree to the working-time arrangements in advance, particularly if aiming to conduct research and clinical work at different sites.

What we offer?

We offer you an interesting and supportive research framework to solve globally significant research problems in an international environment and the possibility to develop professionally with the help of experienced colleagues. You will have access to excellent research infrastructure and services.

Additionally, as an employee at the University of Oulu, you will benefit from:

• Development and career options of the big organization.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.

Salary

The positions are subject to a fixed-term contract starting 1.6.2025 or as agreed. All positions will end at the latest on 31.12.2025.

The salary will be based on the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities (postdoctoral researcher at levels 5-6 and senior research fellow at levels 6-7). In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (a maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Gross salary will be approx. 3600-4200 € for a postdoctoral researcher, and 4000-5500 € for a senior research fellow per month (before taxes). The salary of a clinical researcher is determined by the career level (postdoctoral or senior researcher) and part-time percentage.

How to apply?

Are you interested? If yes, please apply through our recruitment system by April 16^th, 2025 (23:59 Finnish local time). Applications sent by email or deficient applications will not be considered.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. Cover letter (max. 2 pages), including:
   • Contact information
   • Which position are you applying for: full-time postdoc/ full-time senior research fellow/ part-time clinical researcher including applied percentage of working hours
   • How many months are you applying for and desired start date
   • Hosting faculty and research unit, if you are already able to identify it (optional)
   • Description of your motivation, including a brief account of research interests and merits linked to this position
2. CV, following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 
3. List of publications, following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland 
4. Research and action plan, including the applicant’s vision how to renew the field of science in HEALTH-DIMENSIONS, with the following sections (max 3 pages, including bibliography):
   • Title of the research
   • Which theme(s) HD1-HD4 does your research fit in?
   • Background, aim and objectives
   • Implementation, timetable and funding plan
   • The role of the applicant in the research project
   • Ethical issues
   • Expected outcomes and impact
5. Contact information of 2 persons available for recommendation
6. Certificate/Diploma: Scanned copy of the original doctoral degree certificate

Evaluation and selection process

A selection committee will carry out the process, and the eligible candidates are subjected to document-based evaluation. 

Evaluation will be based on the following criteria:

• Fitting of the research plan and aims in the thematic scope of HEALTH-DIMENSIONS and in the call; multi- and interdisciplinary aspects; impact
• Scientific level and feasibility of the research and action plan, including the research environment and collaboration
• CV, publications, ongoing or planned MSc or PhD supervision (considering career stage)
• Applicant's motivation, capacity to perform the planned research project; potential to attract outside funding and become or be an independent researcher
• Applied and received research funding (Note: Besides received funding, specific attention will be paid to the history of writing funding proposals and contributing to EU applications, especially at senior research fellow positions. High scores (5/6) from RCF evaluations or submitted ERC proposals are to be considered a significant asset.)
• Research mobility
• Multidisciplinarity and potential for interdisciplinary collaboration in the planned research
• Potential additional merits relevant for the position, following the principles of responsible assessment of research and individual researchers by the University of Oulu

All applicants will be notified during the selection process.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, such as people of different ages, different genders and members of different language, cultural or minority groups.

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please get in touch with the HEALTH-DIMENSIONS coordinator Ritva Saastamoinen, ritva.saastamoinen@oulu.fi.  

We are looking forward to your application!