Professor in Nutrition and cardiometabolic health
The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry invites applications for the position of Professor in Nutrition and cardiometabolic health for a five-year fixed-term appointment. The position can be filled from 1.12.2026 onwards or as agreed and the position will be located at the Department of Food and Nutrition.
Professor in Nutrition and Cardiometabolic Health is positioned at the intersection of nutrition science, cardiometabolic health, public health, metabolic research and food science. The professor focuses on the role of nutrition in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases and contributes to population-based health promotion strategies.
The professor should have an appropriate combination of expertise in the following areas:
- Nutrition and cardiometabolic health in the population: in-depth knowledge of the significance of diet, dietary patterns, foods, nutrients or bioactive food compounds in promoting cardiometabolic health.
- Mechanistic insights into the role of nutrition in promoting cardiometabolic health: the ability to investigate the interactions of metabolic pathways, such as lipid metabolism, inflammation, insulin resistance, and the gut microbiome. Approaches may include genetics, epigenetics, metabolomics, proteomics, and/or chronobiology, as well as related intervention trials and/or observational population studies.
- Food and its ingredients: the ability to assess the impact of foods, particularly functional and new plant-based products, on cardiometabolic health.
- Population and translational research: experience in conducting epidemiological studies, clinical trials, or translational interventions bridging basic science with public health implementation. These studies should also give an insight into individual dietary requirements and personalized/precision nutrition.
The professor will teach and supervise theses at Master’s level (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/degree-programmes/nutrition-science-masters-programme and take part in the supervision of doctoral and post-doctoral researchers. The appointee participates in the development of teaching at the faculty and is also expected to work in the management teams of the degree programmes.
The appointee will also engage in public discussions on the future of the field of the position. Active networks and collaboration with the business sector are appreciated.
REQUIREMENTS
An appointee to the position of professor shall have
- a doctoral degree (the degree requirement (doctoral degree) must be met by the end of the application period)
- advanced academic qualifications
- experience in leading scholarly research
- the ability to provide research-based teaching and supervise theses
- evidence of international collaboration in their research field.
- academic leadership skills
The assessment of applicant merits considers scholarly publications and other research outputs of scholarly value, teaching experience and pedagogical training, the ability to produce learning materials, additional teaching merits, a demonstration of teaching skills if required, and involvement in doctoral education. Also considered are active engagement in the academic community, success in securing external research funding, international research experience and elected roles, and leadership and interaction skills.
To successfully attend to the duties of the position, the appointee must have fluent English skills. The working languages of the university community are also Finnish and Swedish, and the university supports the learning of these languages.
WHAT WE OFFER
We offer an interesting opportunity to work in a diverse research environment. At the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry you will carry out research-based teaching at the highest level in the field in Finland and have the opportunity to take part in internationally valued, first-class research activities. The position is also an opportunity to develop your own professional skills in a multidisciplinary work community of the faculty. Your work will be supported by the research and teaching staff of the department and the faculty as well as the administrative and technical staff at Viikki campus.
The professor’s salary will be based on levels 8−10 of the job requirement scheme 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 work performance. The professor’s gross annual salary varies between 75 000 and 99 000 euros, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. There is a six-month trial period in the position. The place of work is on Viikki campus in Helsinki, Finland.
Furthermore, the university takes care of your well-being by flexible work arrangements, comprehensive occupational health care and wide-ranging, low-cost UniSport services. Professional development is supported in different ways, i.e. by offering versatile staff training, mentoring etc.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications a SINGLE PDF file that includes the following documents in English:
1) CV
2) A short motivation letter and report on how the applicant intends to develop his or her research and focus his or her activities, if appointed (1-2 pages)
3) Report on the applicant’s research activities (including activities in scientific communities, the acquisition of research funding and international scholarly work) (max. 5 pages)
4) A numbered list of publications
5) A report on pedagogical expertise (see the instructions via the link below under University portfolio – Teaching and supervision)
For more detailed instructions on the application documents, please see
Applications with the above attachments must be submitted in a single PDF file, which is named:
cardiometabolic health_lastname_firstname. Other attachments are not required.
The Faculty may request shortlisted candidates to submit 10 publications of their choice to be sent to external assessors via the electronic recruitment system after the application deadline. In the case of shortlisted candidates, aptitude evaluation may be used as part of the recruitment process.
External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now link.
Applicants who have a helsinki.fi username and a valid employment contract, a grant researcher's contract, a visiting researcher's or visiting professor's contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the Employee login.
The closing date for applications is 4.5.2026 at 23:59 EEST.
- Further information can be obtained from Department Head Kati Katina kati.katina(at)helsinki.fi, +358 2941 58245
- Further information on the recruitment process may be obtained from HR Specialist Mirkka Juntunen, mirkka.juntunen(at)helsinki.fi, +358 294157583
About us
The Department of Food and Nutrition is one of the six units of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. We respond to sustainability challenges associated with the food system by investigating and developing raw materials used in food and production techniques on the road to an increasingly healthy and environmentally friendly diet. In our changing society, the need for research-based knowledge on food, diets and their health effects as well as the special needs of different consumer groups is growing.
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-agriculture-and-forestry/research/food-and-nutrition
The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is located on the Viikki campus. 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.
www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-agriculture-and-forestry
WHY FINLAND AND HELSINKI
Finland is a member of the EU, has high quality and inexpensive childcare, free schooling and tertiary training (also in English), generous family benefits and healthcare, and was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families. Finland repeatedly tops the World Happiness Report (https://toolbox.finland.fi/life-society/finland-the-happiest-country-in-the-world).
- Why Finland is a great place to live and work: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-finland
- 10 reasons to work in Helsinki: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/why-helsinki
- Support for international staff: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/welcome
- International House Helsinki: https://ihhelsinki.fi
- Welcome to Helsinki: https://welcome.hel.fi/
A diverse and equitable study and work culture is important to us. That is why we do our best to promote an inclusive university community. We encourage all qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for our positions.
Click this link to read about accessibility and inclusivity at our University.
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