Multiple short-term doctoral researcher positions in the Health and Biosciences doctoral programme

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 3,600 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 17,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations.  

We are now looking for applicants for

Multiple short-term doctoral researcher positions

in the Health and Biosciences doctoral programme (HBS-DP) of the University of Oulu. The positions are fully funded by the University of Oulu Graduate School (UniOGS) and by the research units.

About the positions

HBS-DP funds doctoral research in the following doctoral degree programmes: medicine, biochemistry and molecular medicine, dentistry, and health sciences. In the current call, short-term doctoral researcher positions ranging from 3 to 6 months will be available for the year 2026 (up to 5 person-years in total). These doctoral researcher positions are primarily intended for doctoral researchers working as professionals in healthcare with the degree of Licentiate of Medicine, Licentiate of Dentistry or Master of Health Sciences. The positions are fixed-term for 3 to 6 months, starting at the earliest on 1.1.2026 and ending at the latest on 31.12.2026.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including people of different ages, genders, and members of different languages, cultures, or minority groups.

What we offer?

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic community where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert. 
• Development and career options of the big organization. 
• Wellness benefit ePassi covers sports, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits 
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and close ones in settling into Oulu. 
• We have an HR Excellence in Research, a quality label, which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers. Read more about living in Oulu

Who are you?

You are expected to have the ability to pursue independent research, work productively in a team of various backgrounds, and potentially to supervise undergraduate students. Specifically, you must have:

• Master’s degree in a relevant field. Priority will be given to doctoral researchers working as professionals in healthcare with a degree of Licentiate of Medicine, Licentiate of Dentistry or Master of Health Sciences.
• Candidates must meet all the requirements to receive doctoral study rights as defined in the UniOGS's webpages . The candidates who are granted the funded position need to have doctoral study rights or need to apply for doctoral study rights as soon as possible.
• Candidates should have achieved a good grade in their degree (3/5, or at least 60% of the maximum grade, in both coursework and master's thesis).
• Your principal supervisor can sign a commitment letter for only one applicant.
• Applicants who have already received a long-term doctoral researcher position from the University of Oulu are not eligible to apply.

Salary

The successful candidate will be employed at the University of Oulu. The salary will be based on levels 2–4 of the demand level chart for Finnish universities' university-level teaching and research staff. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (a maximum of 50% of the job-specific component). The starting gross salary will be approximately €2500 – 2900 per month, depending on the qualifications. 

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 31.08.2025 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

Prior to submitting, applicants are expected to find a prospective principal supervisor in an eligible research unit. Applicants are advised to seek potential supervisors on the faculty's web pages. The applicants should discuss applying for the position with their principal supervisor. A commitment form from the proposed principal supervisor willing to commit to supervision must be attached to the applicant’s set of documents (see below). 

The application must be written in English and include the following attachments:

1. Cover letter (max. 1 page), which should include an introduction of yourself and your academic background, and a description of your research interests and motivation towards doctoral studies.
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK (max. 3 pages)
3. Certificates and transcripts of records: Scanned electronic copies of all pages of a) diplomas and b) transcripts of the records of relevant previous degrees. If the original documents are not in Finnish, Swedish or English, each document must be accompanied by an official certified translation into Finnish or English.
4. Research plan following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland (max. 4 pages + references) 
5. Commitment form signed by the supervisor (download here the pre-formulated form that must be used): In this document the eligible supervisor (either a professor or a docent level researcher who is employed by the University of Oulu) states his/her willingness to act as the supervisor for the applicant. Commitment letter must include the (tentative) supervisor’s assurance that the research unit director is aware of and committed to the financial obligations related to these positions.

Selection criteria

Applicants will be ranked based on:

• Competence of the applicant
• Quality of research (scientific quality, novelty, innovativeness)
• Implementation (feasibility)

=> Overall rating

Priority will be given to doctoral researchers working as professionals in healthcare with a degree of Licentiate of Medicine, Licentiate of Dentistry, or Master of Health Sciences. Ineligible or incomplete applications are rejected, and selection is then made by the selection panel. All applicants will be informed of the selection by e-mail.

Contact Information

For information about admission and doctoral study rights in the University of Oulu, please see the UniOGS's webpages.

For questions about salary, other conditions of employment and matters related to work permits, please contact [email protected].

For questions about the selection process and selection schedule, please contact Coordinator Emmi Alakärppä (emmi.alakarppa(at)oulu.fi). Please note that inquiries will not be answered between 28.5.–1.6.2025 and 10.7.–3.8.2025.

1. Emmi Alakärppä, +358504676904