Postdoctoral Researcher in Evolutionary Biology, group Karagic
The Karagic Research group at the Institute of Biotechnology in the University of Helsinki is looking for highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher. The start date of the employment is early 2026 and the employment length is 3 years.
Summary of the project
Adaptive phenotypic plasticity—the ability of organisms to modify their traits in response to environmental change—is central to evolutionary biology and conservation. This project combines experimental evolution, single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq), and whole-genome resequencing to resolve the genetic, regulatory, and transcriptional basis of adaptive plasticity and its evolution. The postdoc will take a leading role in, focusing on experimental evolution under novel and variable light environments, integrating multi-omics datasets, and investigating how adaptive plasticity evolves under different selective pressures. For more information, please visit Nidal Karagic’s laboratory web page: https://www.adaptive-plasticity.com
Research group descriptions
Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of an organism to change its characteristics with changes in the environment, is an important mechanism by which populations can survive and flourish. Especially in our time, where human-induced environmental changes occur all around the globe, it is important to understand how populations can produce different characters from the same genetic code to deal with these environmental changes. Additionally, our understanding of how this ability evolved is still limited. Karagic’s Research group’s goal is to clarify 1) what are the mechanisms that allow populations to change (i.e., to show plasticity) and 2) how does this ability evolve? A common model for plasticity research, the Trinidadian guppy Poecilia reticulata, offers a great opportunity to resolve these questions, due to their proven ability to show plasticity in many traits.
About you
• You have a PhD degree.
• You have experience with bioinformatic analysis, behavioral and/or experimental evolution experiments.
• You have experience handling and taking care of live fish.
• You have demonstrated research experience in the field of evolutionary biology or visual ecology.
• You are ambitious and motivated to tackle challenging problems.
• You can work together in a team towards a common goal while pulling your share of the load.
What we offer
• The salary is based on Collective Agreement for Finnish universities, and it is approximately 3 500 € per month depending on candidates experience and merits.
• A dynamic and international research environment at the Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki
• Access to cutting-edge facilities in genomics, single-cell sequencing, and computational biology.
• Mentorship and career development opportunities, including leadership training programs
• Opportunities for international research exchanges with collaborators in the USA and Norway.
• A three-year contract with the possibility of extension, starting in early 2026.
• 5-7 weeks of paid holidays per academic year.
• Occupational health care.
How to apply
Please submit your application, which includes the following documents in English, as a single PDF file:
• cover letter
• CV
• PhD degree diploma
Applications are to be sent as a single PDF-file using the University’s recruitment system via the button “Apply now” as soon as possible, but no later than 31st of October 2025. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Group Leader Nidal Karagic, nidal.karagic@helsinki.fi
About the University of Helsinki, the Helsinki Institute of Life Science and the Institute of Biotechnology
University of Helsinki is one of the world’s leading universities for multidisciplinary research. Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE is an independent research institute that supports high-quality life science research across university campuses and faculties. Institute of Biotechnology BI, a part of HiLIFE, is an internationally renowned research institute with an inclusive and curiosity-driven working culture. The research activities are carried out in research groups joined into three multidisciplinary research programs. The Institute hosts several shared research infrastructures, including cutting-edge facilities for genomic and transcriptomic sequencing, cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), light microscopy, and proteomics. For more information, please visit https://www.helsinki.fi/hilife/bi