Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in Translational Metabolism

Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in Translational Metabolism

University of Helsinki - Faculty of Medicine

Helsinki, Finland

Duties

We are looking for candidates who would complement the scientific profile of the Faculty of Medicine: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-medicine/research. The position is part of a profiled research area focusing on Sustainable Wellbeing Across Lifespan (SWAN), which aims to consolidate University of Helsinki’s world-leading research on healthy aging.

The appointee is expected to 1) perform high-profile biomedical science addressing mechanisms of conditions that reduce healthy lifespan. 2) Engage in collaboration with other SWAN members to build an interdisciplinary network of scientific excellence, working towards a long-term goal to reorient from managing chronic diseases to prevention and promoting increase of healthy years in the population. 3) Participate in the teaching and development of Bachelor’s and Master’s courses in suitable degree programs of the Faculty of Medicine.

Selection criteria

The candidate is expected to have a track record in research related to metabolic mechanisms of diseases. Suitable research topics include, but are not limited to, molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism and the physiological and pathophysiological implications of cellular metabolism, with relevance to human health. Experience in utilizing and developing relevant experimental approaches, such as metabolomics, lipidomics or other techniques relevant for metabolic research, as well as disease models, is considered an advantage. The selected candidate is expected to build up and lead an independent research group, acquire external research funding, and conduct innovative research as well as to be committed to excellence in researcher training and undergraduate education.

An appointee must have a doctoral degree, have the ability to conduct independent scholarly work and have the teaching skills necessary for the position. Other requirements include the ability and motivation to pursue a scientific career and to supervise theses and dissertations.

When considering the applicant’s qualifications, special attention will be given to the strength of the applicant’s overall scientific profile, components of which include: scientific publications and their impact in the applicant’s field of research, applicant’s research training, success in obtaining research funding, scientific cooperation and research networks and other activity in the scientific community. Experience and achievements as an independent group leader (including merits in research training) will be assessed for candidates at a more advanced career stage, but early-stage candidates approaching scientific independence are also encouraged to apply and will be evaluated with respect to their career stage. A strong applicant is expected to have, or have high potential for, a strong internationally visible profile in their research field and competitive external funding (e.g. Research Council of Finland, ERC). A strong applicant is also expected to show commitment, vision and skills for giving and developing research-based education. The applicants will be evaluated for (with respect to career stage) pedagogical competence and vision, teaching experience, experience in supervision of undergraduate and graduate theses, as well as participation in doctoral education. Skills in student-centered and blended learning approaches using digital tools are considered an advantage.

Requirements for language skills

There is no requirement to be proficient in Finnish. To successfully attend to the duties of the position, the appointee must have good skills in English.