MSCA Doctoral Researcher, DETECTIVE project (virology)

Background of Project Doctoral Candidate 8 
Enteroviruses are common human pathogens that cause infections ranging from asymptomatic or mild disease to severe neurological, cardiac and systemic illness. While some enterovirus types circulate continuously in the population, others show epidemic or re-emerging patterns and can cause large outbreaks. The factors determining when an enterovirus type shifts from limited circulation to epidemic spread remain incompletely understood. Population immunity is likely to play an important role in these dynamics. Type-specific neutralizing antibodies induced by previous infections can provide long-lasting protection, while susceptible individuals continuously enter the population. Consequently, immunity against individual enterovirus types changes across age groups, birth cohorts and calendar time, potentially creating population-level immunity gaps that favor epidemic emergence. This doctoral project will investigate how enterovirus circulation and population immunity have changed over time and whether these dynamics can be used to predict epidemic risk. The project will exploit the unique longitudinal resources of the Finnish DIPP study, which has collected biological samples from children since 1994, and integrate these data with healthcare surveillance, wastewater monitoring and historical epidemic data. The ultimate goal is to identify immunological and epidemiological signals associated with epidemic emergence and use them to develop predictive models for enterovirus epidemic risk. 

Job Description and Research Objectives 

At Tampere University, DETECTIVE is looking for a Doctoral Candidate 8 to work on Work Package 2. As Doctoral Candidate 8, you will:
– Characterize type-specific enterovirus immunity across age groups, birth cohorts and calendar periods using longitudinal serum samples and neutralizing antibody analyses.
– Investigate long-term enterovirus circulation in the background population and integrate these findings with healthcare surveillance and wastewater monitoring.
– Identify population susceptibility and immunity patterns associated with increased enterovirus circulation and epidemic emergence.
– Develop and validate predictive models for enterovirus epidemic risk by integrating longitudinal immunological, virological and surveillance data.
– Work with unique longitudinal sample collections and datasets spanning more than three decades and combine laboratory-based virology and serology with epidemiological data analysis and predictive modelling. 

The project will be carried out within a multidisciplinary and international research environment, with opportunities to collaborate with experts in virology, epidemiology, bioinformatics, public health and epidemic modelling across the DETECTIVE network. 

Supervisory Team
The DC will be supervised by:
– Adj. Professor Sami Oikarinen  
– Dr. Jutta Laiho
Additional scientific mentoring and collaboration will be provided by:
– Prof. Heikki Hyöty at Tampere University
– Dr. Sarah Kempster (MHRA)
– Prof. Nicholas Grassly (ICL) 

Planned Secondments
The doctoral candidate will undertake international secondments within the DETECTIVE network, including:
– Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA, UK) for training related to antibody standards
– Imperial College London (ICL, UK) for training in population immunity and epidemic-risk modelling 

These secondments will provide exposure to both academic and industrial research environments and offer opportunities to develop complementary scientific and transferable skills. 

Requirements 

We are looking for a motivated researcher with a relevant Master’s degree in biomedical sciences, bioinformatics, microbiology, virology, immunology, epidemiology, or a related field. Experience with molecular technologies and bioinformatics will be considered an advantage. The successful candidate should be highly motivated to develop expertise in data science, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, and to apply these approaches to biomedical and epidemiological data. Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, an interest in self-development, and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary research environment are expected.  

In accordance with the MSCA mobility rule, applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Finland for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding 1 March 2027. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.    

An applicant must have completed a relevant Master’s degree before the starting date of employment.  

We offer 

We offer a three-year Doctoral Candidate position placed at Tampere University within the EU-funded MSCA Doctoral Network DETECTIVE.  A trial period of six (6) months applies to all our new employees.   The salary will be set in accordance with MSCA rates. Target degree is PhD degree from Tampere University, Finland.      
The doctoral researcher has the opportunity to work with unique longitudinal biological samples and epidemiological data from the Finnish DIPP study, covering more than three decades of enterovirus circulation.  

– A multidisciplinary research project combining virology, immunology, epidemiology, population surveillance and predictive modelling.
– Access to the international DETECTIVE research and training network spanning academic institutions, public health organisations, regulatory bodies and industry.
– Interdisciplinary network-wide training schools (one week each):
1) Foundations in Virology, Bioinformatics and Epidemiology;
2) Advanced Integration of Scientific, Diagnostic and Public Health Virology
3) Translational Virology and connecting Academia, Clinical Practice and Public Health for Pandemic Preparedness.
– An individually tailored career development plan and personal empowerment programme.
– Access to the Campus Sport Services at a personnel price. 

Tampere University offers a wide range of other staff benefits too, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts.  Read more about working at Tampere University:  https://www.tuni.fi/en/tau/work-with-us. 

Tampere University (TAU), founded in 1925, is an internationally oriented research university with a strong focus on multidisciplinary research and education at the intersection of technology, health, and society. With ten schools, approximately 23,200 students and 4,200 staff members, including around 330 professors, TAU is the second-largest university in Finland and provides a dynamic and international environment for high-quality research and doctoral education. Read more about Tampere University https://www.tuni.fi/en/tau/about-tampere-university and work in Tampere https://workintampere.fi/. 
 
TAU offers excellent research infrastructure for virology, metagenomics, and environmental research. The available facilities include a dedicated metagenomics core facility, an extensive environmental wastewater sample and data bank, Biosafety Level 2 and 3 laboratories, and dedicated clean areas for PCR and cell culture work. Researchers also have access to a broad range of university-wide core facilities and services through the TAU Met-Core Facilities and Services. The virology research environment is further supported by a large collection of wild-type enteroviruses isolated from different countries and continents.
 
The virus laboratory participates in international quality-control programmes, including QCMD, ensuring high standards in molecular virology and diagnostic research. Extensive high-performance computing resources are available through CSC – IT Center for Science, providing the computational capacity required for large-scale sequencing, bioinformatic, and metagenomic analyses. 

How to apply 

Please note that the applicant must fill in and complete the DETECTIVE application form and provide the following documents:

•  Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages) 
• Motivation Letter (maximum 1 page) 
• Details for two references

Apply VIA THIS LINK:  https://link.webropolsurveys.com/Participation/Public/f904ab62-b327-455c-a747-50bdb3785320?displayId=Fin3736985  

The closing date for applications is 8 October 2026.  

For more information, please contact:   Assoc. Prof. Sami Oikarinen, email: firstname.lastname@tuni.fi