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Faculty of Social Sciences (Psychology) at Tampere University is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to a Research Council of Finland funded project called “Early Life Intestinal Microbiota and Childhood Mental Health and Cognitive Development”.
The project focuses on the associations between alterations in human gut microbiota and emotional, social, and cognitive development during childhood. Project will also examine the role of gut microbiota as a potential mediator between the environmental factors, such as breastfeeding and maternal prenatal adversities, and child’s psychological development. The project builds mainly on already established Health and Early Life Microbiota (HELMi) birth cohort (NCT03996304) that investigates the drivers and health consequences of the early microbiota development in thousand Finnish children. The project will be conducted in collaboration between Tampere University and University of Helsinki.
The post offers opportunities for personal development as a researcher in an enthusiastic and international group that has a long track record in both developmental psychology and in Human Microbiota Research. The project offers a great opportunity to connect these two areas of research and to network internationally with research groups working on same or related fields.
Job Description
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will study the associations between variations in Human Microbiota across early childhood and child’s mental health and cognitive development. The applicant is responsible of data processing and analyses as well as writing high-quality scientific papers. The applicant will also take part in designing and collecting new data. The chosen person has an opportunity to influence on their focus area within the general objectives of the project.
The Postdoctoral Research Fellow is expected to actively elaborate their research and publish in high-quality scientific journals. In addition, they must participate in the research group’s activities, present research results in seminars and scientific conferences as well as take part in writing of grant applications. The person selected for the position is also required to participate in teaching and supervision of PhD studies.
Requirements
The ideal applicant will hold a PhD in Psychology, Bioinformatics, Epidemiology, Biomedicine, Microbiology, or a similar field. Applicant must have excellent statistical skills to analyze independently large and complex biological data using R- or similar statistical environment. Previously acquired knowledge of developmental psychology, human physiology and/or microbiota is considered an advantage. The applicant is required to have the ability to conduct high-quality scientific research. The applicant must also be able to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a larger research group.
The applicant must have excellent written and oral English language skills. Knowledge of Finnish and Swedish is considered an advantage, but not necessary.
We offer
1-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellows will be hired for a fixed term position beginning earliest at 1.4.2024 and ending latest on 31.8.2027. The length of the contract and the start date can be negotiated. Position can be filled-in as full time or part time. A trial period of 6 months applies to all our new employees.
The salary for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow will be based on the job demands and the employee's personal performance as presented in University Salary System. According to the criteria (for teaching and research staff), the position of a Postdoctoral Researcher is placed at level 5-6, in addition to which employees receive performance-based salary. Depending on the career stage the salary is typically between 3500€ to 4000€ per month.
We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University.
How to Apply
Please submit your application through our online recruitment system (see the link below the add). The closing date for applications is on March 6, 2024 (at 23:59 EET/UTC +2). Interviews will be held between March 11 and March 22.
Please write your application and all accompanying documents in English.
The following documents must be attached (in PDF format) to the online application:
- Curriculum vitae (following TENK guidelines)Letter of
- List of publications (following Academy of Finland guidelines)
- Motivation letter: a short description (max 2 pages) why you are interested in the project (as described above); how the project is supported by your past research, key strengths, and research expertise; and your motivation to work as part of a research team.
- Recommendations (you may add a contact info of max 2 references).
For more information, please contact
Tenure track professor Kati Heinonen-Tuomaala, kati.heinonen-tuomaala(at)tuni.fi
