Postdoctoral Researcher in Women's Health: Sex Differences in Immunity
The Faculty of Social Sciences invites applications for the position of
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER
for a fixed term period of 2 years, starting asap or as agreed.
The Faculty of Social Sciences is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work in the “Sex Differences in Immunity (SEXDIM)” project. The project aims to provide insight into how changing fertility patterns and environmental factors relate to immunity in populations, particularly in women’s health. The principal investigator (PI) of the project is Dr Elina Einiö.
This position is part of the interdisciplinary consortium at the University of Helsinki, Sex Differences in Immunity, led by Dr Piret Avila, which brings together researchers across demography, statistics, evolutionary biology, immunology, and genomics to bridge evolutionary and mechanistic explanations of sex differences in immunity. The successful applicant should contribute to one or more of the research disciplines of the project, preferably demography or health sciences. The project is associated with the Helsinki Institute for Demography and Population Health and the Max Planck – University of Helsinki Center on Social Inequalities in Population Health.
The main task of the appointed researcher is - jointly with the research team - to design and conduct quantitative research, mostly on longitudinal register-based data on autoimmune diseases. Additionally, the researcher is expected to actively contribute to teaching in the master’s program in social sciences, or thesis supervision and other research activities of the Institute.
QUALIFICATIONS
The appointee to the position must hold a doctoral degree in demography, sociology, health sciences, data sciences, statistics, economics, or other relevant field, have strong quantitative methods skills and an excellent command of written English. Demonstrated skills in either assessing lifetables, publishing in the field of public health, or using Nordic register-based data on medical care are a plus. The default assumption is that the degree requirement must be met by the beginning of employment.
WHAT WE OFFER
University of Helsinki is an equal opportunity employer and offers an attractive and diverse workplace with a variety of development opportunities and benefits. The annual gross salary range will be approx. €45,000 – €50,000, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. Standard Finnish pension benefits and occupational health care are provided for university employees. Further information can be obtained online. The employment contract will include a probationary period of six months.
Finland is a member of the European Union, has high quality free schooling (also in English) and generous family benefits and healthcare. Finland was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families, and Helsinki in the world’s top ten most livable cities. Finland and the Helsinki region feature leading research and innovation facilities, clean environment, affordable accommodation, and excellent international, national, and local transport connections. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see the websites.
The apointee are expected to reside in Finland while employed by the University of Helsinki. The international staff services provides assistance in relocation.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your application, together with the required attachments, through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link "Apply now" (“Hae nyt”). Use your current email address to register to the Recruitment System. Only applicants who are currently employed by the University of Helsinki are requested to submit their application via the link “Employee login”. The closing date for applications is 15th of March 2026.
Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications the following documents in English:
• An application letter describing suitability for the position and motivation to apply for it (max. 1 page)
• A CV (free format but max. 4 pages)
• A list of publications (free format but numbered to indicate the total sum of peer-reviewed articles)
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further information about the position and the research project may be obtained from Dr Elina Einiö, elina.einio@helsinki.fi.
The Faculty of Social Sciences is Finland’s leading research and education institute in the social sciences, and the country’s most diverse social sciences faculty in terms of the range of its disciplines and fields of research. The Faculty has a strong international research profile and an international master’s programme, and several of its disciplinary units have been rated among the top 50 in the world. The Faculty has approximately 500 research and teaching staff, and each year it awards some 350 bachelor’s degrees, 400 master’s degrees and more than 40 doctoral degrees.
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