Postdoctoral Researcher, Computational Biophysics

The University of Helsinki is a multidisciplinary research university that ranks among the best in the world and the top fifty among European universities. The university has some 36,000 degree students. The Department of Physics (Faculty of Science) is a large and multidisciplinary department that offers the most varied university programme in the physical sciences in Finland. At the beginning of 2025, the department employed about 230 people, of which 1 is an academy professor, 25 are professors and 4 are associate professors. The research at the department and the research-based teaching follow a high international standard, are nationally significant, and promote the mental and economic wellbeing in society.

Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science invites applications for a

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER 

in computational biophysics starting in May 2025 (or position to be filled as soon as possible)

Background

The Computational Bioenergetics Group at the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, is led by Associate Professor Vivek Sharma. The focus of research is on the structure and mechanism of proteins involved in biological energy (ATP) generation and mitochondrial function and dysfunction. An ensemble of multi-scale computational approaches (molecular dynamics simulations, quantum chemistry, machine learning) are applied to study the mechanistic aspects of biomolecules in great depth. The work is done in collaboration with experimental teams (e,g, structural biology, clinical research, etc) in Finland and abroad. Some of the recent work has been published in well-read journals such as Cell, Nature, Science Advances, Chemical Sciences, etc. See all publications from the group here –

https://scholar.google.fi/citations?user=G4xsLQ0AAAAJ&hl=en

Postdoctoral researcher position

We are seeking a recent doctoral degree graduate to fill in the position of a postdoctoral researcher in our group. The selected candidate must have demonstrated expertise and experience (publications as main author) in the field of computational biophysics (molecular dynamics simulations and/or quantum chemistry). Any experience in development and application of AI/ML methods in tandem with modeling and simulation approaches will be considered a big plus. The recruited researcher will work on challenging projects involving the structure and mechanism of energy-converting respiratory complexes. The candidate will get a chance to attend international conferences and also present their scientific work in local meetings.

The degree requirement must be met by the beginning of the employment.

The position is initially for 1 year and can be extended further. The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months. 

Research environment

Computational Bioenergetics Group is also affiliated with the HiLIFE Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki, providing an added value in terms of research collaborations with structural biology and biophysics teams at the Institute. The group has access to high-quality supercomputing infrastructure provided by the Center for Scientific Computing, Finland (including the Lumi supercomputer).

Finland is a member of EU, has high quality free schooling (also in English), generous family benefits and healthcare and was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families. Finland and the Helsinki region possess top expertise in sciences in terms of a vibrant talent pool, leading research, strong support services and functioning collaboration networks. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university. 

The starting salary of the postdoctoral researcher will be ca. 3700-3900/month, depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience. Furthermore, 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 of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of gender identities, linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

How to apply 

Please apply with;

• a one-page motivation letter clearly highlighting research accomplishments,
• a two-page CV (clearly highlighting earlier relevant experience in computational biophysics and modeling/simulation), and
• a publication list with a brief (ca. two lines) discussion on the role played by the candidate in each publication.

Please submit all files using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System by clicking the Apply for the position button below (button “Apply now”). Deadline for applications is 20th April 2025. The selected candidates will be contacted personally and will be invited for an interview/discussion.

For further information, please contact Associate Professor Vivek Sharma, vivek.sharma(at)helsinki.fi.

If you have questions related to the recruitment system, please contact HR Specialist Laura Karppinen, laura.karppinen(at)helsinki.fi.