Doctoral Researcher, NUTRIOME project, Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

We are now looking for a

Doctoral Researcher

to join us at the Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine.

About the project and task

We are looking for a doctoral researcher to join the research group of Professor Karl-Heinz Herzig at the Biomedicine and Internal Medicine Research Unit in a project on data-driven precision nutrition through human intervention studies, omics-technologies and advanced data analyses, in order to evaluate personal responses to foods and diets – particularly with special emphasis on understanding the impact of physical activity on individual’s immune response of fish, meat and plant-based meals with emphasis on circulating inflammatory markers and metabolites.

The project is within the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA). The position is for 36 months and is funded by Horizon Europe; the remaining year (four year term for PhD in the University of Oulu Graduate School) would need to be applied via foundations during the three year term.

NUTRIOME - Precision nutrition and postprandial immune responses is a MSCA Doctoral Network. The NUTRIOME network involves academic partners at nine European academic institutions and six associated partners from industry across Norway, Poland, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The purpose of the NUTRIOME network is to train 10 doctoral researchers in data-driven precision nutrition through human intervention studies, omics-technologies and advanced data analyses, in order to evaluate personal responses to foods and diets.

The project and network

NUTRIOME combines excellence in science with high societal relevance by engaging policy makers in the training programme to explore their plans for best route of personalised nutrition delivery in Europe. NUTRIOME will apply a dual training strategy:

• Use available dietary interventions and omics data: The doctoral researchers will learn how to manage, share and utilize open data, many of which are derived from available high-quality dietary intervention projects of NUTRIOME partners. This creates added value, since these studies are time-consuming and costly to perform and are on their own often small and underpowered for identification of responders/non-responders. In this way, the doctoral researchers will learn to harmonize and integrate different type of data and subsequently handle large-scale data, make extra sense of them and realize the challenges and limitations.
• Perform a proof-of-concept precision nutrition meal intervention study: The NUTRIOME intervention study will be performed at three dedicated centres and via secondments, all doctoral researchers in the network will be able to participate in the data collection phase and in the data analysis phase. In addition to its scientific value, this study will constitute a hands-on international joint training project, which will expose the doctoral researchers to all elements of conducting forefront multi-disciplinary research at the intersection of nutrition and food science, medicine, omics technologies and data science.

During the project the doctoral researcher will perform three secondments to an industry partner and research institute/university, each of two months duration. NUTRIOME aims to recruit a balance between male and female RDCs.

Research projects within NUTRIOME network: University of Oulu, Finland

RDC 8

Understanding the impact of physical activity on individual’s immune response of fish, meat and plant-based meals with emphasis on circulating inflammatory markers and metabolites

What we offer?

• We offer a research environment with excellent technological facilities and a motivating and supporting international community at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu.
• We can also offer access to state-of-the-art methods and facilities located at Oulu, Finland, for doing cutting-edge research in the field of obesity and metabolic diseases.
• We offer you a place in a highly talented research group, working to solve globally significant research problems.
• The University´s wide variety of support services are at your disposal, allowing you to focus on research work.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits. 
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and close-ones in settling into Oulu.
• We have a HR Excellence in Research -quality label which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers. 
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

We seek highly motivated scientists who has the ability to work independently as well as in a group with a drive to excel in research.

In order to succeed and enjoy the position, we expect from you:

Required qualifications of the doctoral researcher:

• must not have a doctoral degree at the date of their recruitment
• can be of any nationality
• excellent communication skills in both spoken and written English
• should be enrolled in a doctoral programme during the project
• should comply with the mobility rules: in general, they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date

Expected qualifications of the doctoral researcher:

• excellence of a master degree
• specialization and additional knowledge
• quality of previous research studies and reports
• authorship in scientific publications
• analytical skills and motivation and attitude toward carrying out the individual training/mobility project

Terms of employment

Start date is expected to be as soon as possible and not later than 01.04.2024. Employment of the doctoral researcher is full time for 3 years.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the specific country and university of the partners in NUTRIOME.

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision of Oulu University
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments including external research stays at other research teams (secondments)
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a doctoral thesis on the basis of your project

The skills and competences listed below will also be valued:

• Collaboration/Team work
• Goal-oriented
• Good IT and teaching skills
• Multitasking skills

Recruitment procedure

A shortlist of the top ten candidates to each of the PhD positions will be distributed among partners in NUTRIOME. Then the partners agrees upon which candidate to invite for an interview at each of the host institutions. To make sure that each partner recruit a qualified student and to ensure gender balance, a candidate may be transferred to another project depending on their qualification.

Salary

The EU provides support for each recruited researcher in the form of:

• a living allowance*
• a mobility allowance
• if applicable, family, long-term leave and special needs allowances

* The living allowances are adjusted to align with the cost of living in each respective country.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 27rd of November (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

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

1. Cover letter
2. CV
3. List of publications
4. Certificates/Diplomas
5. Contact information of two persons available for recommendation

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

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

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact

Professor Karl-Heinz Herzig, karl-heinz.herzig@oulu.fi

Text edited 22.11. Application deadline extended to November 27th, 2023.