FIMM-HIIT Doctoral Students in Molecular Medicine, Neuroscience and Bioinformatics

INVITATION FOR APPLICATIONS

As part of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, FIMM in collaboration with HIIT and NC is seeking outstanding candidates for positions of

Doctoral Students in Molecular Medicine, Neuroscience and Bioinformatics

starting in August 2015.

Description: Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) is an international research institute in Helsinki (www.fimm.fi) focusing on human genomics and personalized medicine. FIMM integrates molecular medicine research, technology center and biobanking infrastructures “under one roof” and thereby promotes translational research and adoption of personalized medicine in health care. FIMM researchers are involved in several grand challenge projects, such as the impact of genome information from the Finnish population in personalized health and medical interventions, development of individualized cancer medicine, and novel diagnostics via imaging of tissue and cells. The disease areas of interest for the 15 research groups cover cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurology, and viral infections.

In the areas of bioinformatics and computational systems biology and biomedicine, FIMM collaborates with Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT (www.hiit.fi), a multi-disciplinary research institute focused on basic and applied research on information technology. Modern molecular medicine requires state-of-the-art methodologies in the analysis, visualization and modelling of large data sets; HIIT groups provide world-class excellence in these areas.

The Neuroscience Center (NC) is an independent research and educational institute at the University of Helsinki (www.helsinki.fi/neurosci), conducting excellent and multidisciplinary research on the development, normal functions and disorders of the nervous systems. Research and teaching in the NC focus on the following four areas: molecular and cellular neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, cognitive and systems neuroscience, and basic research of the nervous system diseases, and the 14 research groups of NC work in one or more of these research areas.

FIMM, HIIT, and NC work together with the University of Helsinki Doctoral School in Health Sciences and doctoral programs (http://www.helsinki.fi/health/) and Helsinki Doctoral Education Network in Information and Communications Technology (HICT) to provide excellent research training and courses aimed at a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki or Aalto University.

As part of an annual international joint call of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, we currently have 3-4 openings for doctoral students who show outstanding potential to become independent researchers and who will significantly benefit from our FIMM-EMBL International PhD Training. Specifically, these positions are in the fields of 1) molecular medicine (FIMM), 2) bioinformatics, computational systems biology and biomedicine (FIMM-HIIT), and 3) neuroscience (NC).

Detailed information regarding the research areas relevant to this call can be found at the following websites: http://www.fimm.fi/en/research/research_groups/

http://www.hiit.fi/fimm-hiit-doctoral-student-call

http://www.helsinki.fi/neurosci/research/call_2015.html

Please note that candidates are expected to carefully follow the application instructions below; applications sent directly to group leaders will not be processed or reviewed.

Qualifications and experience: Candidates are expected to have a relevant second cycle academic degree (MSc, MD or equivalent) in biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biotechnology, computer science, genetics, mathematics, medicine, neuroscience, or other related fields, obtained before the starting date. The successful candidate will have good problem solving, troubleshooting, and analytical skills. In addition, the candidate should be fluent in English, have good interpersonal and written and oral communication skills, and be able to work independently as well as within an international team.

Application and selection process: Candidates are invited to apply online at https://www.fimm.fi/en/open-positions no later than February 20, 2015 at 23:59 Eastern European Time.

To apply, applicants should submit to the online system the following materials prepared in English:

• Online application form
• Cover and motivation letter (maximum 3 pages) describing, in separate sections,
  • Previous and current research experience and studies
  • Motivation for pursuing doctoral studies
  • Research interests and how these match the research areas and groups at FIMM, HIIT, and/or NC.
• CV or resume (maximum 2 pages)

The letter and CV/resume are to be submitted as a single PDF file.

Applications submitted after the deadline or failing to meet the requirements above will not be considered.

Application review will begin after the close of the call. Top candidates will be jointly selected by FIMM, HIIT, and NC and invited for an interview with a selection committee. The final candidates selected for the positions will be offered an initial contract for 18 months during the first half of which they will engage in training through research group rotations. Upon a successful review and selection of a research group, the initial contract will be extended up to a four-year period.

For further information about:

• FIMM, research training at FIMM and this open call, please visit www.fimm.fi, https://www.fimm.fi/en/training, or contact Gretchen Repasky, Research Training Coordinator (gretchen.repasky (at) fimm.fi).
• HIIT, please visit www.hiit.fi or contact Maria Lindqvist, Research Coordinator (maria.lindqvist (at) hiit.fi).
• NC, please visit www.helsinki.fi/neurosci or contact Anne Patana, Head of Development (anne.patana (at) helsinki.fi).
• University of Helsinki Doctoral School in Health Sciences and doctoral programs, please visit http://www.helsinki.fi/health/.
• Helsinki Doctoral Education Network in Information and Communications Technology (HICT), please visit www.hict.fi
• University of Helsinki International Staff Services, please visit www.helsinki.fi/intstaff/.

FIMM is part of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, composed of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the centers for molecular medicine in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. At the national level, FIMM is a joint research institute of the University of Helsinki (primary host), the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, the National Institute for Health and Welfare, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. The Neuroscience Center, University of Helsinki, is an independent research and teaching institute (http://www.helsinki.fi/neurosci) that focuses on the following four areas: molecular and cellular neuroscience, developmental neuroscience, cognitive and systems neuroscience, and basic research of nervous system diseases. Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT (www.hiit.fi) is a joint research institute of Aalto University and the University of Helsinki. HIIT's research ranges from fundamental methods and technologies to novel applications and their impact on people and society. Current research foci at HIIT include computational modelling and data analysis, and ubiquitous ICT in the modern networked world. HIIT is located at University of Helsinki's Kumpula campus and Aalto University's Otaniemi campus. The Neuroscience Center (NC) is an independent research and teaching institute at the University of Helsinki. It was founded in 2002. Main operational facilities are located on the Viikki and Meilahti campuses.