Postdoctoral Researcher, Human Genetics

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position on the Kuopio Campus. The position will be filled for a fixed term of 2 years from 1 September 2026 onwards (or as agreed). Please find more information below and submit your application by 4 August 2026.

Role and salary 

As our new Postdoctoral Researcher in human genetics, bioinformatics, or a related field, you will be working in the Institute of Biomedicine at the Faculty of Health Sciences on the Research Council of Finland–funded project ‘Functional Genomics of Glucocorticoid-induced comorbidities (FUNGO)’ led by University Lecturer Einari Niskanen. The position is located in Kuopio, Finland. 

The project focuses on understanding how genetic variation influences individual responses to glucocorticoids (GCs), which are commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs. While highly effective, long-term GC use can lead to serious side effects, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, with substantial inter-individual variability partly driven by genetic factors. The project utilises data from the large FinnGen study to identify genetic variants associated with GC-related adverse outcomes. The overall aim is to bridge large-scale genomic discovery with functional validation, ultimately contributing to safer and more personalised therapies.

More information about the research group is available on the web page.

As a Postdoctoral Researcher, your main responsibilities will include:

• conducting research in accordance with the funded project, focusing on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and polygenic risk score (PRS) analyses using FinnGen data,
• conducting integrative analyses combining omics, GWAS, and health register data,
• actively contributing to reporting results and producing high-quality scientific publications,
• collaborating with experimental researchers to support functional follow-up studies.

The position will be filled for a fixed term of 2 years from 1 September 2026 onwards (or as agreed). The position is fixed term due to it pertaining to a specific project. A trial period is applied to all new members of staff.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job requirement component and a personal performance component. In the Postdoctoral Researcher position, the job requirement component is 3,366.36 €/month, based on level 5 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff. The personal salary element can be a minimum of 6% and a maximum of 50% of the above-mentioned sum. Depending on the personal salary element, the salary will be approximately EUR 3,560–  4,050/month at the beginning of the employment relationship.

Requirements and advantages 

Requirements 

•  A doctoral degree in genetics, bioinformatics, biomedicine, molecular biology, or a closely related field (completed or near completion at the time of application). Applicants with a background in biomedicine or molecular biology must have substantial demonstrated experience in genomics or bioinformatics data analysis
• The doctoral degree may not have been completed more than five years ago at the time of accepting the position (a net period of time, which does not include parental leaves, military service etc.)
• Experience in analysing large-scale genomic variation data (e.g. GWAS, PRS)
• Proficiency in programming (e.g. R, Python) and statistical methods
• Excellent written and spoken English 

Advantages

• Experience working with FinnGen or other biobank and health register datasets
• Experience in statistical genetics, GWAS, or polygenic modelling
• Previous research experience related to drug responses, comorbidities, or adverse drug effects 

Your benefits 

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including 

• opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• excellent opportunities for professional development and continuous learning
• extensive occupational health care  
• broad selection of staff training
• staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services 
• affordable sports services

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.  

You will have the opportunity to work in an international and collaborative research environment with access to unique Finnish population data, and to contribute to research spanning from genetic discovery to functional validation in close collaboration with wet lab researchers.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.    

How to apply? 

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 4 August 2026 by 24:00 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+3).

     
Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application: 

• CV  (Template for CV, TENK web page) with a contact information for at least two referees
• List of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland Web page)
• Copies of academic degree certificates/diplomas and proof of language proficiency (if applicable)
• Motivation letter (max. 1 page), including a brief development plan describing how your previous research supports this project

Questions? 

  
For further information, please contact Group leader and University Lecturer Einari Niskanen
[email protected]

Technical support for the Varbi system is available: [email protected] (not the week 29), v[email protected] (not the weeks 29 and 30) and throughout the summer: [email protected].

The Faculty of Health Sciences operates at the Kuopio Campus of the University of Eastern Finland. The Faculty offers education in medicine, dentistry, nutrition and pharmacy, as well as in some other central fields of the health care sector. The Faculty is research-intensive, and its internationally recognised research activities are closely linked to the strategic research areas of the University. There are approximately 3 090 degree students and about 580 PhD students in the Faculty. The faculty has 800 staff members.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 17,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en. Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees.

1. Einari Niskanen, [email protected]