Postdoctoral Research Fellow for interfacing soft matter and biomedical research, 2 positions /Tutkijatohtori pehmeän aineen ja biolääketieteellisen tutkimuksen rajapintaan, 2 tehtävää

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The PROFI7 - Sustainable Biomedical and Toxicological Research (SUSBIO) project is looking for two Postdoctoral Research Fellows specializing in soft materials research, who have a solid background in materials science, chemistry, cell biology or molecular biology related to soft materials. The positions will be filled for a fixed-term period of three years.

SUSBIO is one of the profiling areas at Tampere University that were granted by the Research Council of Finland in the PROFI 7 Call. Several research groups from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET) and the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS) at Tampere University are participating in this multidisciplinary project that aims to emphasize and enhance the collaboration between research groups from these two faculties.

The key development subjects of SUSBIO project are to emphasize and enhance cross-faculty collaboration between MET and ENS. Scientifically, aim is to develop novel sustainable soft materials. Another aim is to develop advanced in vitro methods for studying human physiology and simulating complex disease mechanisms. These methods should be used to study soft materials or utilize soft materials. The goal is to find new ways to model human body, allowing deeper understanding of complex physiological processes, which will pave the way for the development of new therapies and diagnostics, and reduce the need for animal testing. In addition, with the help of new biodegradable functional materials, it could in long term be possible to reduce the accumulation of microplastics in different living environments.

SUSBIO is divided into three key areas: 1) Sustainable Soft Materials Design and Fabrication provides resource-friendly fabrication methods for dynamically responsive soft materials with tailored chemical and mechanical properties (combined with ECM-mimicking biomaterials that degrade in a controlled manner), and development of animal-free cell culture media and conditions; 2) Integrated in vitro platforms for tissue-materials interfaces provides combination of technologies to construct complex in vitro platforms with quantitative manipulation and measurement capabilities (electrical, mechanical, and biochemical cellular responses), using a combination of soft responsive materials and lab-on-chip; and 3) Quantitative models for physiology and toxicology provides development of integrated quantitative models of human physiology, pathologies, and toxicology (e.g. cell monocultures, 3D-bioprinted co-cultures & tissue/organ-on-chip combined with data-rich measurements) to understand the evolution of the properties of micro- and nanoplastics in human cells and tissues. The gathered information will be used to influence to regulatory acceptance pathways for the in vitro models, and design of new materials.

Job description

We are seeking two talented and motivated postdoctoral researchers to develop soft materials and their experimental and sustainable research methods for biomedical and toxicological studies. Although one of the candidates will mainly work under the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET), and the other under the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS), we emphasize and expect research collaboration between the faculties due to the multidisciplinary nature of the project. The candidate’s research topic will be determined by the chosen project topic.

A list of available research topics can be found here. Please familiarize yourself with the available research topics and choose one topic on the drop-down list when submitting your application. The precise research topic to work on can be decided based on the candidate's research background and interests, however, in such way that the three key areas of the SUSBIO project presented above are addressed.

In addition, data analysis, writing publications and research reports as well as funding applications and disseminations to the wider community will be needed. Furthermore, the job includes collaboration with research colleagues and support staff, both internally and within external networks. The candidate should also provide guidance and support to students, contribute to relevant teaching activities, and participate in scientific meetings.

Requirements

We are looking for versatile and independent researchers with an applicable doctoral degree and a solid background in materials science, chemistry, cell biology or molecular biology related to soft materials. The doctoral degree must be completed at the time of application. Candidates with proven ability to supervise M.Sc. and Ph.D. students will be considered an advantage. The position may also involve a small amount of teaching duties in the future. The position also requires that the candidate can meet the responsibilities identified in laboratory and ethical guidelines. Finally, good communication skills and fluency in English (both written and oral) will be considered important for the position. Please describe your relevant experience and skills in detail in the cover letter, and please be prepared to provide proof of your merits when requested.

Tampere University is a unique, multidisciplinary, and boldly forward-looking community. Our values are openness, diversity, responsibility, courage, critical thinking, and learner-centeredness. We hope that you can embrace these values and promote them in your work.

We offer

The two positions are filled for a fixed-term period of three years. We hope that you can start in the position on January 1^st, 2025. A six-month trial period applies to all new employees.

Salaries are based on job demands and employees' personal performance in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities. The position of a Postdoctoral Researcher is placed on the job demands levels 5-6 (teaching and research staff). A typical starting salary of Postdoctoral Researcher is around 3600 EUR/month.

We offer you the opportunity to join our dynamic and innovative international community. As a member of staff at Tampere University, you will enjoy a range of competitive benefits, such as occupational health care services, flexible work schedule, versatile research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities and a safe and inviting campus area as well as a personal fund to spend on sports and cultural activities in your free time. Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find more information about us and working and living in Tampere by watching our video: Tampere Higher Education Community - our academic playground.

Tampere is the largest inland city in Finland and is considered a major academic hub in the Nordic countries. The region is home to a vibrant, knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial community, and the city is an industrial powerhouse with a rich cultural scene and a reputation as a centre of Finland's information society. Additionally, Finland is known for being one of the most stable, free, and safe countries in the world, based on various ratings by prominent agencies. Tampere is surrounded by stunning nature, with forests and lakes offering countless opportunities for easy-to-access outdoor adventures and refreshment throughout the year.

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Postdoctoral Research Fellow for interfacing soft matter and biomedical research, 2 positions /Tutkijatohtori pehmeän aineen ja biolääketieteellisen tutkimuksen rajapintaan, 2 tehtävää

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