Position of Research Technician within Biosciences

Åbo Akademi University invites applications for a fixed-term position as Research Technician for the period 1.9.2026-31.12.2028. The position is located in the Cell Fate Lab, led by Professor Cecilia Sahlgren at the Biochemistry and Cell Biology unit, Faculty of Science and Engineering in Turku, Finland. The employment is full-time.

WORK TASKS 
As a Research Technician, you will support the everyday work of the Cell Fate Lab members (approx. 15 researchers and students), manage the infrastructure of the laboratory used also by collaborating researchers, and assist with scientific experimentation.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Maintain lab stocks and consumables: ordering, receiving, inventory/expiry tracking, freezer/fridge organization.
• Prepare routine reagents (buffers, media, and standard solutions); aliquot and label.
• Prepare DNA reagents: bacterial work as needed, plasmid preparation and sequencing.
• Manage chemicals and safety: chemical inventory/SDS, correct storage/labelling, waste handling.
• Perform and support cell culture (passaging, freezing/thawing, mycoplasma monitoring, sterile technique).
• Support viral work as needed (e.g., lentiviral production/handling).
• Contribute to routine experiments: western blotting, microscopy samples, and general cell biology lab assays.
• Support team operations: help train new lab members and visitors in lab-specific technologies, basic procedures and maintain a well-functioning lab environment.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Essential qualifications

• Educational level, such as a vocational laboratory assistant or laboratory technician degree; a polytechnic biomedical laboratory scientist, laboratory analyst, or laboratory services degree; or a MSc degree in the field of biosciences.
• Familiarity with MS office programs and the related environment.
• Hands-on experience in cell biology / molecular biology methods, with strong sterile technique.
• Proven competence in mammalian cell culture and cell culture models.
• Competence in core methods: buffer/media prep, plasmid prep, immunofluorescence samples, agarose gels, SDS-PAGE/western blotting.
• Strong safety and compliance mindset (chemical handling, waste, documentation).
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills, including fluent written and spoken communication in English.

Desirable attributes

• High organisational reliability (inventory control, labelling, record keeping).
• Experience of the use or manufacture of advanced in vitro platforms (e.g., microfluidics, chip microfabrication, 3D printing, organoids, stretchers).
• Experience with primary cells (eg primary vascular cells).
• Experience producing/using viral vectors (e.g., lentivirus) and working under BSL-2 conditions.
• Familiarity with gene manipulation workflows (e.g., CRISPR/siRNA).

SALARY AND CONDITIONS
The salary is determined by the collective agreement system of Finnish universities, aligning with the salary chart for expert and other personnel. The salary levels for a Research Technician are set at MV06-MV07. The average monthly salary, depending on previous experience and skills, is typically around 2 640 – 2 850 euros at the beginning of the employment.

The weekly working hours for full-time employees are 36 hours and 15 minutes.

A trial period applies to the position.

APPLICATION
Please submit your electronic application in the ÅAU recruitment system (www.abo.fi/rekrytering) no later than 18.5.2026 at 15:00 (EEST, Finnish time zone). Please see guidelines on the electronic application.

The application should include the following enclosures (in English):

• CV
• A motivation letter
• Copies of Degree certificate(s)
• Names and contact details of at least two reference persons

BENEFITS
Join our dynamic and innovative international community by seizing the opportunity we present. As a member of the Åbo Akademi University staff, you will gain access to various competitive benefits. These include occupational health care services, state-of-the-art research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities and a multicultural and friendly work environment. To learn more about working at Åbo Akademi University please explore further information on our website.

Finland is a great and safe environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services, including affordable daycare and free schools, consistently ranked among the best in the world. For families, the city of Turku (http://www.turku.fi/en) offers language showers and pre-schooling in English. Subsidized private daycare centres also offer daycare in French, English or Russian. Moreover, the Turku International School (https://www.turku.fi/en/places/turun-kansainvalinen-koulu-turku-international-school) provides basic and upper-secondary education in English.

Occupational health and insurance
We support the well-being of our staff by offering comprehensive preventive occupational health services and general medical care. In addition, all staff are covered by Åbo Akademi University’s employee travel and occupational accident insurance. All University staff also have pension coverage, with the University automatically deducting pension contributions from the monthly wages of each employee.

Sport services
The University offers fitness and wellbeing services. Staff can use the opportunities for gym and group exercise sessions and the other diverse fitness activities available on campus. Owned by all universities in Turku, CampusSport (https://www.campussport.fi/en), offers inexpensive fitness services at the campuses.

Holiday bonus
A holiday bonus is paid in connection with July’s salary or when the employment ends. The dimension of the holiday bonus is determined according to the Collective agreement for universities and increases in relation to the length of employment.

INFORMATION 
For further information regarding the position, please contact Professor Cecilia Sahlgren (cecilia.sahlgren[a]abo.fi) and in questions concerning the recruitment process HR Specialist Sabina Ringvall (sabina.ringvall[a]abo.fi).