Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our university community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society. www.tuni.fi/en.
We are looking for a Doctoral Researcher in the field of molecular toxicology, systems biology, and women’s reproductive health. The position is full-time and will be filled for a fixed-term period of 4 years. The workplace is located at Kauppi Campus, Tampere University.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (MET) is dedicated to pursuing world-class research and delivering high-quality education in the fields of biomedical engineering, biotechnology, medicine and health technology. We conduct internationally acclaimed basic and applied research.
The position is hosted by the Mechanistic and Applied Toxicology (MAT) research group, a newly established group led by Dr Alexandra Schaffert. MAT develops next-generation, animal testing-free approaches to chemical safety, combining molecular biology, proteomics and computational methods to understand how chemicals affect human health, with a particular focus on endocrine disruption and women’s reproductive health.
Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated Doctoral Researcher to join EIRIS, a research project investigating how endocrine-disrupting chemicals contribute to endometriosis, a common, painful and historically under-researched condition affecting roughly one in ten women. Despite widespread environmental exposure to endocrine disruptive chemicals, their role in female reproductive disease remains poorly understood. EIRIS is among the first to address this question systematically, building the first comprehensive mechanistic map of how everyday chemical exposures may promote the disease. The project sits at the intersection of environmental health, women’s health and next-generation, animal-free toxicology.
Tasks
As Doctoral Researcher, you will play a central role in EIRIS, contributing to both the experimental and data-driven parts of the project. Your work will combine structured evidence synthesis, computational/data-oriented analysis, and hands-on wet-lab experiments:
- Systematically collecting and curating published evidence on chemical effects in endometriosis into a structured, openly available knowledge base using systematic evidence mapping and language model-assisted approaches
- Establishing human endometrial cell models and carrying out controlled chemical exposure experiments
- Generating proteomic and secretomic samples (LC-MS/MS) and performing in vitro assays
- Biological interpretation of omics, pathway, clustering and network-analysis results
- Presenting results at conferences, attending trainings, and contributing to publications
You will be fully trained in all relevant methods and will undertake short research visits to partner laboratories within Finland and abroad. You will work closely with a computational postdoctoral researcher and an international network of collaborators across toxicology, bioinformatics and women’s health.
Prior knowledge in toxicology is welcome but not required, we will provide the toxicological training. What matters most is a solid background in the life sciences, curiosity, careful working habits, willingness to work across both hands-on wet-lab experiments and data-oriented/computational approaches, and a strong interest in a societally important and emerging research question.
The selected candidate will be able to focus on their doctoral research full-time and will receive dedicated supervision and mentoring, while being encouraged to develop scientific independence and implement new ideas as part of a supportive, positive and multidisciplinary research environment at the MET faculty.
In addition to the doctoral dissertation, the duties of a doctoral researcher include participation in education or other faculty tasks that support your studies.
Requirements:
- Master’s degree in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, biomedical sciences, toxicology, computational biology, systems biology, bioinformatics, or another closely related life-science field
- A solid background in life sciences and strong motivation to work at the interface of environmental health, women’s reproductive health and mechanistic toxicology
- Basic understanding of experimental design, data handling and statistics
- Interest in learning computational/data-oriented approaches, such as literature curation, omics data interpretation, pathway analysis or network analysis
- A careful, well-organised and reliable approach to experimental and data work
- Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Fluency in English
The following are considered an advantage but are not required:
- Hands-on laboratory experience, particularly mammalian cell culture and/or molecular biology techniques
- Experience with literature curation, systematic review/evidence mapping, omics data analysis or basic bioinformatics
- Familiarity with R, Python or another programming language
- Experience in toxicology, endocrine disruption, reproductive biology, endometriosis, network biology, ontologies or adverse outcome pathways
You need to have completed a relevant Master’s degree before the starting date of employment.
Successful candidates must be pursuing or should be accepted to study towards a doctoral degree in the Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering. Please visit the admissions webpage for more information on eligibility requirements.
Tampere University is a unique, multidisciplinary, and boldly forward-looking community. Our values are openness, diversity, responsibility, courage, critical thinking, and learner-centeredness. We hope that you can embrace these values and promote them in your work.
We offer
The starting date is preferably as soon as possible, but latest in November 2026, or as mutually agreed. The position is full-time, and it will be filled for a fixed-term period of 4 years. A trial period of 6 months applies to all our new employees.
The salary will be based on both the job requirements and the employee's personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. According to the criteria applied to teaching and research staff, the position of a Doctoral Researcher is placed on level 2-4 of the job requirements scale. A typical starting salary for a Doctoral Researcher is approximately 2770-2900 EUR per month. The salary increases based on experience and the progress of doctoral studies.
We are inviting you to be a part of a vibrant, active, and truly multidisciplinary research community. We value interdisciplinarity, as it allows you to expand your research network and exposes you to new perspectives and ideas to solve complex research problems and pursue novel research findings. We are strongly committed to the highest level of scientific research and the provision of high-quality education.
At the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, you will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and resources. We offer a collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment, supported by mentoring and structured training opportunities. You will also be enrolled in a doctoral program, providing a comprehensive and supportive framework for completing your PhD.
As a member of staff at Tampere University, you will enjoy a range of competitive benefits, such as occupational health care services, flexible work schedule, versatile research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities and a safe and inviting campus area as well as a personal fund to spend on sports and cultural activities in your free time. Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find more information about us and working and living Tampere by watching our video: Tampere Higher Education Community - our academic playground.
Finland is among the most stable, free and safe countries in the world, based on prominent ratings by various agencies. Tampere is the largest inland city of Finland, and the city is counted among the major academic hubs in the Nordic countries. Tampere region is the most rapidly growing urban area in Finland and home to a vibrant knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial community. The city is an industrial powerhouse that enjoys a rich cultural scene and a reputation as a centre of Finland’s information society. Tampere is also surrounded by vivid nature with forests and lakes, providing countless opportunities for easy-to-access outdoor adventures and refreshment throughout the year.
Read more about Finland and Tampere:
How to apply
Please submit your application through our online recruitment system (link below). The closing date for applications is 17th of August 2026 (at 23.59 EEST / UTC+3). Please write your application and all accompanying documentation in English and attach them in PDF format only.
Please attach only the following documents to your application:
- CV (according to TENK guidelines)
- A motivational letter (max 1 page) that briefly outlines motivation to apply, background and skills related to the position, earliest starting date, and any other miscellaneous remarks that the candidate wishes to make.
- PDF copies of your Master’s and Bachelor’s degree certificates, including transcripts of all university records in original language. If original language is other than Finnish, Swedish or English, please provide an official translation in one of those languages.
- Other relevant documents that support your application, e.g. your Master’s thesis, the most relevant publications regarding the call (max. 2), or a list of referees
For more information, please contact:
Dr Alexandra Schaffert, Group Leader (Mechanistic and Applied Toxicology), Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University. Email: [email protected]
