The University of Helsinki is a multidisciplinary research university that ranks among the best in the world and the top ten among European universities. The university has some 36,000 degree students.

The Department of Physics is a large and multidisciplinary department that offers the most varied university programme in the physical sciences in Finland. At the beginning of 2021, the department employs about 200 people, of which 1 is an academy professor, 17 are professors and 4 are associate or assistant professors. The research at the department and the research-based teaching follow a high international standard, are nationally significant, and promote the mental and economic wellbeing in society.

Faculty of Science invites applications for

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER

in computational biochemistry and biophysics starting in September 2021.

Background

The research group at the Department of Physics, University of Helsinki, is led by Academy of Finland research fellow and Sigrid Jusélius senior researcher, Vivek Sharma. The focus of research is on the structure and mechanism of proteins involved in biological energy (ATP) generation and mitochondrial function and dysfunction. An ensemble of multi-scale computational approaches (molecular dynamics simulations, quantum chemistry, etc) are applied to study the mechanistic aspects of biomolecules in great depth. The work is done in collaboration with experimental teams (such as structural biology, clinical research, etc) in Finland and abroad. Some of the recent work has been published in well-read journals. See here - https://scholar.google.fi/citations?user=G4xsLQ0AAAAJ&hl=en
Our group webpages at - https://sites.google.com/site/vivekvivsharma/home

Postdoctoral researcher position

We are seeking an exceptionally talented postdoctoral researcher, who recently completed his/her doctoral degree in the field of computational biochemistry and biophysics, and is looking forward to challenging projects, which he/she can lead and develop. The selected candidate will be working on the structure and mechanism of respiratory complexes, and their interplay with the lipid/solvent environment. The multi-scale approaches that will be used to study these systems include (but not limited to) classical atomistic/coarse-grained molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and quantum chemical methods, their hybrid variants, etc. Therefore, any knowledge in these areas will be considered an asset. Also, working knowledge of major software packages used for classical MD simulations and QM/MM calculations will be considered as a major advantage. The candidate will get a chance to attend international conferences, and present his/her scientific work in local and international meetings. As an employee of the University of Helsinki, researcher will receive occupational health care, and will be entitled to sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development. The postdoctoral researcher position starts in September 2021. The position is initially for 1+1 years, and may be extended further upon discussions.

Research environment

Our group is also affiliated with the HiLIFE Institute of Biotechnology at the University of Helsinki, providing an added value in terms of research collaborations with structural biology and biophysics teams at the Institute. We also maintain extensive collaborations with the research group of Prof. Ilpo Vattulainen (Department of Physics), who are experts in modeling and simulation of lipid membranes, which further enhances scientific exchange and overall development of researchers. We have access to high-quality supercomputing infrastructure provided by the Center for Scientific Computing, Finland (including the upcoming Lumi, the preexascale supercomputing environment), and group is setup in a high-quality research environment provided by the University of Helsinki.

Finland is a member of EU, has high quality free schooling (also in English), generous family benefits and healthcare, and was recently ranked as the best country in the world for expat families and in the world’s top ten most livable cities. Finland and the Helsinki region possess top expertise in sciences in terms of a vibrant talent pool, leading research, strong support services and functioning collaboration networks. For more information about working at the University of Helsinki and living in Finland, please see https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/working-at-the-university.

The starting salary of the postdoctoral researcher will be ca. 3300–3700 euros/month, depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience. Furthermore, the University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development.

How to apply

Please apply with;

• a one-page motivation letter clearly highlighting research accomplishments,
• a two-page CV (clearly highlighting earlier relevant experience in biochemistry/biophysics and modeling/simulation), and
• a publication list with a brief (ca. two lines) discussion on the role played by the candidate in each publication.

Please submit all files in a single pdf document using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System by clicking the Apply for the position button below. Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki must submit their applications via the SAP HR portal. Deadline for applications is 31 March, 2021. The selected candidates will be contacted personally, and will be invited for an interview/discussion.

For further information, please contact academy research fellow Vivek Sharma, vivek.sharma@helsinki.fi.

Due date

31.03.2021 23:59 EEST