Doctoral Researcher or Postdoctoral Researcher, Global Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

We are now looking for

Doctoral of Postdoctoral Researcher

to join us in Clinical Medicine Research unit at the Faculty of Medicine.

About the job

As a doctoral or postdoctoral researcher you will coordinate data collection, analyse data and write scientific manuscripts in a global maternal and child health research project conducted in Malawi and Bangladesh. The project is entitled “Small vulnerable newborns and the transgenerational cycle of health and development.” It is a part of the Academy of Finland Development Research Programme. In two low-resource settings, the project assesses novel ideas on how health and child development are transmitted across generations: it studies young women who themselves were born preterm or small for gestational age and assesses their health when they get pregnant and follows the health and development of their children.

The project has two arms, one in Malawi and another in Bangladesh. In the project you will work with a team of researchers and fieldworkers in Finland, Malawi and Bangladesh. Together with senior researchers you will be responsible for coordination of data collection, staff training, monitoring of data quality. You will be based in Oulu, Finland, and spend extended time both the Malawi and Bangladesh rural study sites. Your work will also include analysing data and writing scientific manuscripts based on previously collected data from related projects. A successful candidate can either be on a doctoral researcher or postdoctoral level. If you are a doctoral researcher, your work will also include doctoral studies at University of Oulu, supervised by senior researchers in the team. You will conduct your work as a part of multidisciplinary research group working on diverse aspects of lifecourse health research.

What we offer?

• An excellent possibility for an early career researcher to combine hands-on experience on fieldwork in a low resource setting with high-quality academic training in partnership between top Universities and research teams in the Global South and North
• The support of an enthusiastic multidisciplinary research group working across the lifecourse research community at University of Oulu, clinical community at Oulu University Hospital, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, with a wide national and global collaborative network across high and low resource settings.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being.  Read more about other staff benefits here.  
• 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.
• 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?

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

• As a doctoral researcher you must have a Master's degree in a relevant field related to health, behavioural of social sciences or a Licentiate of Medicine/MD degree.
• As a postdoctoral researcher you must have a doctoral degree in a similar field.
• Fluent in written and spoken English
• Good coordination and problem-solving skills necessary to lead a fieldwork team
• A firm but friendly and respectful working attitude
• Willingness and interest to develop skills in data management and statistical analysis
• Doctoral researchers, see also the requirements of the University of Oulu Graduate School (UniOGS).

We also appreciate

• Experience in fieldwork
• Experience in coordination
• Skills in data management and statistical analysis
• Finnish language skills are helpful but not a prerequisite

Salary

The position is fixed-term until 31st of December 2026 as of 1st of March 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The salary for a doctoral researcher will be based on the levels 2-4 and for a postdoctoral researcher on level 5 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Starting gross salary of a doctoral researcher will be approx. 2300-2600 € per month and of a postdoctoral researcher about 3800 € per month (before taxes). 

A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 11th of February 2024 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

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

1. Cover letter explaining why you are interested in the job and why you should be chosen for it

2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity 

3. Certificates/Diplomas

4. 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 Eero Kajantie, eero.kajantie@oulu.fi, +358 50 473 9438.