Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher, Mechanisms of Cryptic Female Choice in Humans

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher/Project Researcher (Mechanisms of cryptic female choice in humans) position. The position will be filled for a fixed term from 1.9.2022 (or as agreed, but at the latest 1.11.2022). Please find more information below and submit your application no later than 4.8.2022.

Role and salary

We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral/Project Researcher to work in our project “Towards molecular-level understanding of fertilization and sexual selection” (funded by the Academy of Finland, more information from research: https://gamcomgroup.wordpress.com ). As our new researcher, you will be working in the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences of Faculty of Science and Forestry. The position is located in Joensuu and/or Kuopio campus, Finland. 

The Postdoctoral/Project Researcher will participate in experimental research that aims to clarify the mechanisms of cryptic female choice in humans. Depending on the expertise of the researcher your main responsibilities can include e.g.:

• Clarifying molecular (RNA, DNA, or protein) level mechanisms of cryptic female choice,
• Conducting sperm chemotaxis/selection (cryptic female choice) assays,
• Phenotypic measurements (e.g. motility, morphology and DNA integrity) of ‘selected’ and ‘non-selected’ sperm, or
• Identification of candidate genes for male female reproductive incompatibility and cryptic female choice from genomic databases.

Fertilization is one of the most complex and enigmatic biological processes, which severely hinders our understanding about reproduction, evolution and beginning of life. It has traditionally been assumed that fertilization is a completely unbiased process, leading to random fusion of gametes. Against this assumption, our recent findings have indicated that gametes often combine non-randomly, which bias fertilization towards particular (compatible) reproductive partners (see e.g. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0836  and https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1682 ). However, the molecular-level mechanisms of such gamete-level sexual selection have remained unclear. The primary aim of our research is to clarify these mechanisms in humans and this way also gain better understanding of the mechanistic basis of fertilization and infertility (see https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deab221 ).

The position will be filled until 31 December 2023, starting from 1 September 2022 (or as agreed, but at the latest 1.11.2022). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to a specific project. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.  

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of the Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job requirement component and a personal performance component. In this position, the job requirement component is 3,044.00 €/month, based on level 5 of the job requirement chart for teaching and research staff. The personal performance component can be a minimum of 6 % and a maximum of 50 % of the above-mentioned sum. Depending on the personal performance component, the salary will be approximately 3534 – 3717 €/month at the beginning of the employment relationship.

Our requirements and expectations   

Requirements

• The person to be appointed as Postdoctoral/Project Researcher is expected to hold a doctoral degree from an applicable field. If the employee has been awarded his or her doctoral degree less than five years ago, the post will be one of a Postdoctoral Researcher. If the doctoral degree has been awarded more than five years ago, the post will be one of a Project Researcher. In this context, the five years refer to a net period of time, which does not include maternity leaves, parental leaves, or military service, etc.
• Good skills in oral and written English. English is used as the language of instruction and supervision in this position.

Expectations

• Earlier experience in laboratory work, relevant methods in molecular biology and bioinformatics (e.g. RNA seq, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism microarrays, next-generation sequencing methods, or proteomics) or cell biology (e.g. sperm motility, chemotaxis and viability analyses or flow cytometry) will be considered a benefit for the applicant. If you have any of these skills, please indicate that in the accompanying CV and/or motivation letter (see below).

Your benefits   

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including  

• Extensive occupational health care  
• Staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services  
• Affordable sports services

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website .  

You will have an opportunity to work as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.  

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system. Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website  to learn more.  

How to apply?   

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 4.8.2022 (by 24.00 hours Finnish time).    

Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application

Questions?  

For further information on the position, please contact: Associate professor Jukka Kekäläinen, email: jukka.s.kekalainen[a]uef.fi, tel. +358 50 467 4487.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact: Human Resources Secretary Noora Hämäläinen, email: noora.hamalainen[a]uef.fi, tel. +358 29 445 8302. (Out of office 11.7.-10.8.2022. During 1.-10.8. please contact Executive Assistant Satu Turunen, email: [email protected] , tel. +358 29 445 3031).

University of Eastern Finland and the Faculty of Science and Forestry in brief   

The University of Eastern Finland is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland, offering education in nearly 100 major subjects. We have a staff of 2,750 members, and our academic community comprises around 16,000 degree students and more than 27,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and in Kuopio. Our research is ranked among the best in the world in several fields. We generate research-based knowledge and make it openly accessible for the benefit of all. UEF stands for action with impact that is relevant today and tomorrow. To learn more about our university please visit our website at www.uef.fi/en .

The Faculty of Science and Forestry operates on the Kuopio and Joensuu campuses of the University of Eastern Finland. The mission of the faculty is to carry out internationally recognised scientific research and to offer research-education in the fields of natural sciences and forest sciences. The faculty invests in all of the strategic research areas of the university. The faculty’s environments for research and learning are international, modern and multidisciplinary. The faculty has approximately 4,400 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and some 460 postgraduate students. The number of staff amounts to 560. For more information, see: http://www.uef.fi/en/lumet/etusivu