3 postdoctoral researchers in the fields of rodent and disease ecology and ecosystem health

The University of Helsinki, founded in 1640, is one of the world’s leading universities for multidisciplinary research. The university has an international academic community of 40,000 students and staff members. The University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development. The International Staff Services office assists employees from abroad with their transition to work and life in Finland.

The Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme (OEB) of the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences comprises roughly 40 research groups which employ 40 principal investigators and 120 researchers. The research programme is situated in the Viikki science park.

The Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki constitutes the academic medical centre together with HUS Helsinki University Hospital and the Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE). This medical centre has been successful in international comparisons, ranking among the top 10 medical campuses in Europe and the top 50 globally.

The Organismal and Evolutionary Research Programme invites applications for

Postdoctoral researchers

in rodent and disease ecology and ecosystem health. The positions are part of the Horizon Europe project BEPREP and RESTOREID funded by the European Union and the project ReWetFor funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency. The position part of the RESTOREID project is shared between the Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme and the Faculty of Medicine.

The aim of the projects is to better understand the underlying mechanisms of pathogen transmission among reservoirs (especially rodents and bats), from vectors to reservoirs and vice versa, and from wildlife to humans in various ecosystems and considering various confounding and modulating environmental factors.

The research is integrated into a broad international scientific network with study sites in especially Sweden, Finland, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Colombia, Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Madagascar and Malaysia.

We are seeking for three postdoctoral researchers for a fixed term of 2 years (one position with funding secured for 1 year) with a possibility of continuation and with start in early February 2025 or at earliest convenience. The researchers will study and model population dynamics, pathogen transmission and disease risk across land use and habitat systems as a function of environmental factors including biodiversity by combining local and global datasets. If not focussing on statistical or dynamic modelling, you will contribute to collect data in the case study areas and/or experimental field sites and/or laboratory experiments. You will analyse the data along with global datasets to infer on the role of biodiversity, biodiversity recovery, and biodiversity processes for diluting disease risk.

The successful applicants should have completed a PhD in ecology or a related field and have strong analytical and statistical skills. Alternatively, the successful candidates should have a PhD in virology or related fields with strong interest in field and laboratory work, or a PhD in statistical ecology or statistics with strong and proven experience in ecology. We seek candidates with excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to conceive, execute and complete multidisciplinary research projects, and to think independently and creatively. Overall, excellent social skills are required for extensive collaborations.

SALARY AND HOW TO APPLY FOR THE POSITIONS

The salary of the successful candidates will be based on level 5 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance. The starting salary will be ca. 3700–4100 euros/month, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience.

There will be a trial period of six months in the beginning for all positions.

The application should include the following documents as a single pdf file:

• motivational letter outlining why you are the right person for this task (max 1 page)
• CV (max 2 pages)
• list of publications
•  

Include also contact information of two persons who are willing to provide a reference letter by separate request. Please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link Apply for the position. Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the employee login.

The deadline for submitting the application is 9 December 2024.

For more information, contact by email:

Frauke.Ecke(at)helsinki.fi.

If you need support with the recruitment system, please contact HR Coordinator Harri Hamara (harri.hamara(at)helsinki.fi).