Position of Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), Evolutionary and Reproductive Biology

The Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, School of Forest Sciences

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position in the field of Evolutionary and Reproductive Biology at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Biology, Joensuu or Kuopio Campus. The position will be filled for a fixed term as from 1 September 2026 (or as agreed) to 31 August 2029.

Please find more information below and submit your application by 24 June 2026.

Role and salary

We are looking for a highly motivated and research-oriented Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) (Evolutionary and Reproductive Biology) to join the research project Genetic incompatibility of the reproductive partners – Molecular mechanisms and health consequences funded by the Research Council of Finland as part of the Evolutionary and Reproductive Biology research group (website).

Natural fertilization is a highly selective process in which the female reproductive tract allows only very few sperm cells to proceed to the vicinity of an unfertilized oocyte. This process is more commonly known as cryptic female choice. Our recent findings have revealed that the probability of sperm fertilizing the oocyte can be strongly dependent on the genetic compatibility of the reproductive partners. However, the molecular mechanisms of genetic compatibility, cryptic female choice and fertilization in general are extremely poorly understood. In this project, we will clarify these mechanisms in humans by testing the novel idea that the female reproductive tract induces selective changes in molecular (RNA and protein) composition of sperm and this way biases the fertilization towards specific (genetically compatible) males. Besides increasing our understanding of these unknown mechanisms, our research also aims to provide novel insights into developing more personalized infertility diagnostics and treatments.

The Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) works in the Environmental Sciences and Biology within the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, on the Joensuu or Kuopio campus.

As a new Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) you will focus on:

• participation in experimental research aiming at investigating the molecular mechanisms of cryptic female choice and genetic compatibility in humans
• various molecular biology analyses (such as RNA sequencing and/or mass spectrometry or other proteomics), cell biology analyses (such as flow cytometry and/or sperm motility and chemotaxis assays), or bioinformatic analyses.

The main duty of the Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) is to conduct research for the doctoral dissertation and to complete postgraduate studies. The Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position may include supervising interns and Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis students. The position may also include teaching duties (max. 5% of total working hours) within the discipline, in line with the candidate’s area of expertise.

The position will be filled for a fixed term as from 1 September 2026 (or as agreed) to 31 August 2029. The position will be filled for a fixed term due to the Doctoral Researcher’s (PhD Student’s) own doctoral dissertation work and studies. A six-month trial period is applied to all new members of staff.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. For a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), the job-related salary element is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff depending on the stage of the applicant’s doctoral research and postgraduate studies. The personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. At the beginning of employment the total salary will be approximately EUR 2,710 – 2,845 /month.

Our requirements and expectations 

Requirements

• eligibility for postgraduate studies; i.e., to hold a Master’s degree in the fields of biology, evolutionary biology, cell and molecular biology, biomedicine, bioinformatics or another relevant field, awarded by a university or a university of applied sciences, or to have completed an applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding postgraduate education
• meeting the student admission criteria for the LUMETO doctoral programme (Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology, website)
• a good command of written and spoken English.

Applicants who do not yet have the right to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Eastern Finland are not required to apply for study rights at the application stage. If the applicant is selected for the position and applies for postgraduate study rights, the selection will be conditional until the right to pursue postgraduate studies in the faculty’s doctoral programme has been granted. The application for postgraduate study rights is submitted through the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service.

The following will be considered an advantage

• experience in molecular and cell biology analyses
• expertise in bioinformatics.

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 an opportunity to work in a meaningful role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

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 24 June 2026 by 23:59 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC +3).

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

• a CV (Template for CV, TENK website)
• a list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland website)
• copies of your academic degree certificates / diplomas, and copies of certificates / diplomas relating to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas
• a transcript of records
• a motivation letter (max. 2 pages) in which you describe your interest in the position and research project, your background, as well as your career aspirations and your motivation for engaging in doctoral-level research
• other documents to demonstrate your merits for the position.

If your degree certificate is not in English, Finnish, or Swedish, you must provide official English translations of your degree certificate documents. All translations must be issued by the awarding educational institution or an authorized translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator’s stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by the applicants themselves will not be accepted.

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Professor Jukka Kekäläinen, tel.: +358 29 4451004, e-mail: jukka.s.kekalainen@uef.fi.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Iiris Korhonen, e-mail: iiris.korhonen@uef.fi, tel.: +358 29 445 8161.

The Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology 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, forestry and technology. 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 2,650 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and some 440 postgraduate students. The number of staff amounts to 650.

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.

Type of employment- Temporary position

Employment expires – 2029-08-31

Contract type- Full time

First day of employment- 1 September 2026 (or as agreed)

Salary- Collective agreement for universities

Number of positions – 1

Full-time equivalent- 100%

City- Joensuu or Kuopio

Country- Finland

Reference number- 761/01.01.03/2026

Contact- Jukka Kekäläinen, Professor, +358294451004, jukka.s.kekalainen@uef.fi

Published- 03.Jun.2026

Last application date- 24.Jun.2026