The University of Eastern Finland, UEF, is one of the largest multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We offer education in nearly one hundred major subjects, and are home to approximately 15,000 students and 2,500 members of staff. We operate on three campuses in Joensuu, Kuopio and Savonlinna. In international rankings, we are ranked among the leading universities in the world.

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 3,800 Bachelor's and Master's degree students and some 490 postgraduate students. The number of staff amounts to 560. http://www.uef.fi/en/lumet/etusivu.

We are now inviting applications for an Early Stage Researcher (PhD student) (evolutionary biology/biomedicine) position, Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Joensuu and Kuopio Campus

We are seeking motivated Early Stage Researcher (PhD student) for our project "Molecular and immunological basis of gamete compatibility in humans" (funded by Academy of Finland). The primary aim of the project is to clarify molecular and immunological mechanisms of female-induced sperm selection ('cryptic female choice') in humans and find new tools for the development of next generation fertility treatments, which are better tailored to individual couples. See short description of the project: http://webfocus.aka.fi/ibi_apps/WFServlet?IBIF_ex=x_HakKuvaus2&CLICKED_O...

The primary duty of hired Early Stage Researcher is to write and defend a PhD thesis according to the formulated research plan. Main tasks include (but are not limited to) sperm motility and chemotaxis measurements and determination of female-induced physiological changes in sperm. The Early Stage Researcher also has a possibility to participate in molecular and immunological analyses of sperm selection mechanisms. His/her tasks also include data analysis and reporting of the results in scientific journals.

A person to be appointed as an Early Stage Researcher shall be qualified to pursue postgraduate studies, i.e. he/she is required to have completed a suitable higher university degree or an equivalent education, which in the country in question would qualify the person for similar academic studies (UEF University Regulations, Section 31). Suitable degrees for the filled position include e.g. various biological, biomedical and medical degrees.

The applicant is expected to have good written and spoken English. Earlier experience in laboratory work, flow cytometry, other relevant methods in cell biology (e.g. sperm motility or viability analyses, ELISA assays), immunology or molecular biology (e.g. RNA seq and bioinformatics) are viewed as a benefit for the applicant. If you have any of these skills, please indicate it in attached CV and/or motivation letter (see below).

English may be used as the language of instruction and supervision in this position.

The position is filled initially for a fixed term from 1 January 2018 to 31 August 2020. Potential continuation of the position (up to 31 December 2021) will be agreed later. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.

Positions of early stage researchers shall always be filled for a fixed term (UEF University Regulations, Section 31).

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities and is based on levels 2-4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff (euro 1,985.85 - 2,475.31/ month). In addition to the job requirement component, the salary includes a personal performance component, which may be a maximum of 46.3% of the job requirement component.

The electronic application should contain the following appendices:

- A résumé or CV, including publications, if applicable (please follow the template: http://www.tenk.fi/en/content/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae, where applicable) - Copies of the applicant's academic degree certificates / diplomas, and copies of certificates / diplomas relating to the applicant's language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas - Motivation letter (max two pages). In the letter, please indicate why you are interested in this research project and why you would be suitable person for this position. - Contact details of 1-2 reviewers

For further information on the position, please contact: Senior Researcher Jukka Kekäläinen, tel. +358 50 467 4487, email: jukka.s.kekalainen@uef.fimailto:jukka.s.kekalainen@uef.fi. For further information on the application procedure, please contact: Executive Head of Administration Arja Hirvonen, tel. +358 44 716 3422, email: arja.hirvonen@uef.fimailto:arja.hirvonen@uef.fi. The application needs to be submitted no later than 22.9.2017 (by 24.00 hours Finnish time) by using the electronic application form.

Application form can be found from here:

http://www.uef.fi/en/web/guest/uef/en-open-positions

and by clicking:

'Early Stage Researcher (PhD student) (evolutionary biology/biomedicine)'