Doctoral Researcher in Food chemistry / Food materials science
Department of Food and Nutrition of the University of Helsinki is seeking a highly motivated PhD researcher. The Doctoral researcher will be appointed for a fixed-term 1-year contract with expected continuation up to four years, depending on the progress of the work. The start date is 1.4.2025 or upon agreement. The position is related to an academy-industry collaboration project entitled “Engineering and characterization of plant-based emulsion gels” and will be supervised by Prof. Kirsi Mikkonen, Dr. Dilek Ercili-Cura, Docent Mari Lehtonen, and Docent Maarit Lahtinen.
This research aims to characterize structure-function relationships of plant-based proteins, with chemical analytical, rheological, and textural approaches. We will explore protein associations and three-dimensional network formation in a mixed matrix. The research has high potential for industrial applications targeting sustainable food production.
Doctoral researcher
We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled researcher with a Master’s degree and experience in chemistry, material science, food science, or related field. Candidates that are expecting to gain their Master’s degree in near future are also encouraged to apply.
A successful candidate should be able to:
• Identify, design, conduct, and report research within the scope of the project.
• Contribute to undergraduate student supervision and teaching within the department.
• Engage with the scientific community, industry, research partners and the wider public, internationally and domestically through scientific publications, workshop and conference presentations, press releases, blogs etc.
The candidate is expected to have:
Education, experience and technical skills
- A relevant Master’s degree including experience in chemistry, materials science, food sciences, or related field with emphasis on protein-protein interactions and food colloids.
- Fluency in English and excellent writing skills.
- Experience in chemical analysis (e.g., using HPLC, gel electrophoresis) and food material analysis, such as rheology, textural analysis, and emulsion characterization.
Personal attributes and competencies
- Interest in basic and applied science.
- Excellent analytical and innovative research planning skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experienced in working within multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
- High motivation for academic research, having initiative and capable of working independently as well as in team environments.
- Values continuous improvement based on constructive evaluation, self-reflection and learning.
The appointee should either already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment or apply for the right and obtain it within the probationary period of six months of their appointment. If the appointee does not already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, it must be applied for separately, please see:
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/the-application-process-in-a-nutshell
The starting salary of the Doctoral researcher will be based on level 2 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 of the Doctoral researcher will be ca. 2400-2600 euros/month, depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience.
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 university assists employees from abroad with their transition to work and life in Finland (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university). A six-month trial period will be applied.
How to apply
The attachment required for the application include (preferably in a single pdf-file):
1) A cover letter explaining the applicant’s motivation for the research work in addition to the description of the techniques/methodologies employed in previous research experiences.
2) A short research plan (e.g. approach, research materials and methods) (up to 3 pages)
Explain your ideas on how to formulate gelled structures from plant-based proteins. How will you engineer these proteins, what raw materials will you use and why? There is no right or wrong answer! Be ambitious in your ideas.
Note: Applications without the research plan will not be considered.
3) Curriculum vitae showing the applicant's education, completed qualifications, work experience, possible list of publications and contact information of 2 persons for references (up to 3 pages).
4) Copies of Master's, and Bachelor's degree certificates and official transcripts of the records, and their translations, if the originals are not in Finnish, Swedish or English.
External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now button.
Applicants who have a helsinki.fi username and a valid employment contract, a grant researcher's contract or a visiting researcher's contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the Employee Login button.
The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The closing date for applications is 10.3.2025 at 23:59 EET.
Further information about the position may be obtained from Professor Kirsi Mikkonen (kirsi.s.mikkonen@helsinki.fi), or Project Coordinator Troy Faithfull (troy.faithfull@helsinki.fi).
About us
The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is located on the Viikki campus, ten kilometres from the Helsinki city centre. The mission of the faculty is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources through scientific research and research-based teaching. We focus on agricultural and forest sciences, food and nutrition, microbiology, as well as on economics and management. We cover the full natural resource chain from farm to fork, the entire field of forest sciences from soil chemistry to marketing, as well as the environmental effects of related activities. Graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry are versatile experts in biosciences and business, able to meet the needs of both the business sector and society at large.