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Doctoral Researcher Positions, Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine (TuDMM)

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  • University/Institute Name University of Turku
  • Position Funding Type
  • Unspecified Unspecified
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Position Details

You can apply for a fixed-term doctoral researcher position under an employment contract at the University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS), in the Turku Doctoral Programme in Molecular Medicine (TuDMM), in the period 29.8.–12.9.2025. Please read the more specific instructions below and apply on 12 September 2025 at the latest.

Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine (TuDMM) is a doctoral programme established in the Faculty of Medicine in 2012. The programme offers diverse and high-standard doctoral training in the broad field of molecular medicine. In addition to solid basic research, the various research fields of molecular medicine are characterized by a strong investment in translational research, which aims to utilize the knowledge obtained in basic research in clinical research and, on the other hand, to utilize patient samples in elucidating the underlying mechanisms of diseases, and identifying treatment targets. The traditionally strong research areas of bio- and clinical medicine at the Turku Campus, such as cancer research, endocrinology and metabolism, immunology, microbiology, and connective tissue research, are all represented among the research groups affiliated to our programme. TuDMM collaborates with other local doctoral programmes in biosciences and also participates in national doctoral programme networks in the field of life sciences.

The goal of the doctoral programme is to ensure that doctoral researchers upon completion of their studies:

  • Have acquired extensive knowledge of modern and applied molecular medicine, developed skills to critically interpret research data, and master key research methods relevant to their research.
  • Thoroughly understand the impact of molecular/biomedicine on the economy and society.
  • Have a clear understanding of both, the basic research and translational research typical of the different research fields of molecular medicine, in elucidating the underlying mechanisms of diseases and identifying treatment targets, as well as the utilization of the obtained information in clinical research, from the initial invention to clinical application.
  • Communicate their research to the scientific community and the public.
  • Know which career paths are available after obtaining a doctoral degree.

Job description

The fixed-term position of a doctoral researcher is set to begin on 1 January 2026 at the earliest and for the duration of two years (up to until 31 December 2027). TuDMM also grants funding for shorter time periods. In particular, we aim to support the completion of doctoral dissertation work, and therefore, we will also distribute salary support months intended specifically for doctoral researchers near to completion and dedicated to graduate in 2026 (two 12-month or four 6-month salary positions can be distributed for this purpose, in addition to two-year salary positions and other salary support months that can be distributed annually). All the positions are primarily intended for full-time doctoral dissertation research and doctoral studies. Duties other than those related to doctoral dissertation research, such as teaching duties, must be proportioned so as not to compromise the completion of the doctoral dissertation within the planned schedule (if working full-time in about four years). The employment contract is based on a total working time of 1612 hours per year, which gives the doctoral researcher freedom to plan their working hours. As a rule, up to 5% (a maximum of about 80 hrs per academic year) of the annual working time of the doctoral researcher can consist of teaching.

When determining the length of the employment contract, prior funding granted for pursuing a doctoral degree, planned schedule and current phase of the research are taken into account. The duration of a doctoral researcher’s UTUGS-funded employment contract can be a maximum of four years. A person already awarded with a doctoral degree cannot be chosen as a doctoral researcher under an employment contract. A doctoral researcher position requires living in Finland for the duration of the employment contract and the place of work is Turku.

The salary is based on the salary system of university teaching and research staff. It consists of a task-specific salary component and personal performance salary component. The task-specific salary component of a doctoral researcher varies between levels 2 to 4, depending on the stage of the doctoral degree. In addition, a personal performance salary component is paid. For a doctoral researcher, the salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and will be approximately 2500–3300 €/month, depending on the progress of the doctoral project. At the beginning of a doctoral researcher’s work, the task-specific salary component is generally assessed at level 2. A probationary period of 6 months applies.

Who we are looking for

Eligibility of the applicant:

  • You must have an active right to study in Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine at the University of Turku when applying for a fixed-term doctoral researcher employment position at the University of Turku Graduate School.
  • If you have not yet been granted a right to study, you must apply for a right to pursue a doctoral degree within this Call for Applications round in the Studyinfo system; A right to study is a prerequisite for an applicant to be selected for a fixed-term doctoral researcher employment position.
  • You are planning to pursue or pursuing your first doctoral degree; You have not previously been granted a full-time four-year funding for pursuing a doctoral degree
  • Possible previous funding for pursuing a doctoral degree granted by University of Turku Graduate School is taken into account when determining the length of the funding period.
  • The applicant must submit a feasible research plan which has been drawn up in cooperation with an experienced supervisor.
  • A doctoral researcher’s employment requires living in Finland and the place of work is Turku.

The person we are looking for, who does not yet have the right to study a doctoral degree at the University of Turku, must apply for it in the Studyinfo.fi system (the application period starts on 29.8 and ends on 12.9.2025).

Our workplace values equality and diversity; therefore, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Benefits

We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your skills in a dynamic and international environment. You will be supported by a professional and inspiring team and a group of experienced supervisors. In your work, you will become part of a wide network of doctoral researchers, researchers, and supervisors within within the doctoral programme and UTUGS. We care about your well-being and the functionality of your everyday life through flexible working hours and our well-being services.  Read more about us on the website Come Work with Us!, where you can find additional information about what the university offers its employees.

The European Commission has granted the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research logo as a sign of the university’s commitment to continuously improving the status and working conditions of researchers in line with the goals of the European Charter for Researchers.

The university offers excellent support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about Finnish culture and relocation to Finland:

Salary and probationary period

Salary is determined in accordance with the University salary system for teaching and research personnel. It consists of a task-specific salary component and a personal performance salary component. The task-specific salary component of a Doctoral Researcher is at levels 2–4, depending on the progress of the doctoral project. The personal performance component, which is added to the task-specific base salary, is also paid. For a doctoral researcher, the salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and will be approximately 2500–3300 €/month, depending on the progress of the doctoral project. The position has a probationary period of 6 months. The positions are intended for full-time doctoral dissertation research and postgraduate studies. The employment contract is based on a total working time of 1612 hours per year, which gives the Doctoral Researcher flexibility and a freedom to plan their working hours.

How to apply?

Submit your application through our electronic recruitment TalentAdore system by 12 September 2025 at 16:00 p.m. (EEST)). The applicant must deliver all required documents by the end of the application period. Any late submissions will not be processed and application documents will not be returned.

In addition, please note that, if necessary, the right to study for a doctoral degree can be applied for by filling in a separate electronic application form in Studyinfo and submitting the required attachments. The autumn application period opens at the beginning of the application period 29.8.2025 and closes on 12.9.2025 at 16.00 (Finnish time).

The application documents in PDF format must be prepared in English. Answer all mandatory questions on the application form.

The applicant must indicate on the application form which doctoral researcher position(s) he/she is applying for by answering the question after the attachments section.

Applicants must attach in the application form:

1. Motivation letter (max 1 page). The motivation to apply to TuDMM is presented in the Motivation letter. Please describe also your motivation for doctoral studies and research. The motivation letter is a one page long freeform PDF-document.

2. CV of the applicant, including a list of publications when applicable (max 2 pages, it is mandatory to use this attached CV model)

3. Research plan (max 3 pages excluding references, Arial, font 12). The plan should consist of: abstract, background and significance, aims and hypotheses, implementation plan, research environment, timetable and funding plan.

The research plan should follow the guidelines for the responsible conduct of research (see Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) | Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK). The research plans can be checked with the Turnitin OriginalityCheck plagiarism detection software. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in the preparation of the research plan should be clearly indicated in the research plan.

4. Any other documents relevant to fulfilling the requirements of the positio.

(In addition, a degree certificate and study transcript from a previous degree must be attached to the application due to system technical reasons).

Decisions and Assessment of applications

All applicants will be informed about decisions and the names of the applicants selected for fixed-term doctoral researcher positions will be published on the website of the doctoral programme by 28 of November 2025 at the latest.

The steering committee of the doctoral programme will evaluate the applications and use outside experts, when needed. The research plans attached to the applications may be checked with the Turnitin OriginalityCheck plagiarism detection software in accordance with the University of Turku quality assurance system. In addition, the use of artificial intelligence and how it has been used in the preparation of the research plan, can be evaluated.

The following are taken into account when selecting doctoral researchers for the fixed-term doctoral researcher employment positions at the University of Turku Graduate School: the applicant’s motivation, research merits, previous academic study success, the ability to complete a doctoral degree, and the quality and feasibility of the research plan are taken into consideration. Applications are assessed taking into account the stage of the researcher’s career, and for example, previously completed doctoral studies or scientific publications are not required from applicants who are only at the beginning of their research career. For applicants who have already been granted the right to study, the progress of the doctoral research and doctoral studies will also be assessed. Previous funding received by the doctoral researcher for the doctoral work will also be taken into account when determining the length of the doctoral researcher’s employment position.

The selection process is step wise and the highest rated applicants are invited for an interview according to the assessment scores. The invitation will be sent by email. The most successful applicants will be selected for the employment positions based on the combined assessment scores obtained from the doctoral programme evaluation process and interviews. The Head of the department decides on recruitment of the applicant for the fixed-term position of a Doctoral researcher based on the proposal of the Steering Committee of the Doctoral Programme.

Additional information

Regarding the application process [email protected] or TuDMM coordinator Verna Louhivuori, [email protected]

Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine (TuDMM)

The University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS)  consists of doctoral programmes which cover all disciplines and the approximately 2,000 doctoral researchers of the University. The aim of the Graduate School is to provide systematic and high-quality doctoral training for the doctoral researchers of the University of Turku. Each doctoral researcher has a personal supervisor and the progress of the doctoral dissertation is followed regularly. The aim of doctoral training is to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional career in research and other positions of expertise.

Turku Doctoral Programme of Molecular Medicine (TuDMM)  established in the Faculty of Medicine in 2012 offers high standard doctoral training in the broad field of molecular medicine. Molecular medicine studies the causes and mechanisms of disease at the molecular level and their diagnosis and treatment methods.

The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25 000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future through multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.

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Phone:
+358 29 450 5000
Email:
[email protected]

Location: 20014 Turun yliopisto

Information for the applicant

The application form cannot be saved as a draft. However, after submitting you can return to edit your application via the link you receive by email. The application can be edited until the application deadline.

You have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout.

Instructions for submitting a job application

Research Areas & Fields of Study involved in the position

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