Doctoral Researcher, NUTRIOME project, Research Unit of Biomedicine and Internal Medicine

We are now looking for a

Doctoral Researcher 

to join the research group of Professor Karl-Heinz Herzig at the Biomedicine and Internal Medicine Research Unit, the Faculty of Medicine 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.

About the project and task

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 24 months and is funded by Horizon Europe; the remaining years until completion of the PhD work would need to be applied in the team via foundations. 

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. 

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 personalized 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.
• The NUTRIOME intervention study will be performed at three dedicated centers (Wageningen, Gothenburg and Oslo) and via a secondment, 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 PhD student will perform a secondments to a research institute/university. 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. 
• 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 an 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, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

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

Required qualifications:

• must not have a doctoral degree at the date of their recruitment
• can be of any nationality
• documented excellent communication skills in both spoken and written English
• should comply with the mobility rules: they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Finland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before 10th of April 2025!

Expected qualifications:

• excellence in a master degree
• specialization and additional knowledge e.g. in programming languages, GWAS, Omics analysis 
• previous research experiences 
• authorship (s) in scientific publications
• analytical skills, motivation, flexibility and attitude toward carrying out the training/mobility project in a multinational team.

Terms of employment

Start date is 10.04.2025. Employment of the doctoral researcher is full time for 2 years (including 6 months trial period). Location: University of Oulu. 

Responsibilities and tasks in the PhD programme

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision of Oulu University
• Enrolment in the Graduate School of the University of Oulu
• Completion of required PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments including external research stays at other research teams 
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers, aimed at high-impact journals
• Active in Grant writing
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project
• Skills and competences that will be valued: Collaboration/Team work, goal-oriented, good programming skills, extra courses like GWAS, Omics analysis, teaching skills, multitasking, flexibility.

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 Finland.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply immediately through our recruitment system. The call is open until 21.3.2025 (23:59 Finnish local time) 

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

1. Cover letter - Interest, detailed scientific background on skills e.g. research projects, programming languages, teaching
2. CV
3. List of publications
4. Certificates/Diplomas on degrees, extra courses, programming languages. 
5. Contact information of two persons available for recommendation including their email addresses and telephone numbers

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 at karl-heinz.herzig@oulu.fi