University Lecturer in Microbial Bioinformatics

The Department of Microbiology at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry invites applications for the position of University Lecturer in Microbial Bioinformatics starting on 1.8.2023 or by mutual agreement.

The field of the position is microbial bioinformatics. The university lecturer will provide field-specific teaching in the master's program in microbiology and microbial biotechnology, as well as in the Bachelor’s programmes from which students can transfer to the master's programme in microbiology and microbial biotechnology (https://www.helsinki.fi/en/admissions-and-education/apply-bachelors-and-masters-programmes/bachelors-and-masters-programmes), supervise theses, develop teaching together with other teachers, and promote and to conduct microbiology research applying microbial bioinformatics in the focus areas of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. The position also includes participating in doctoral education. The teaching duties include face-to-face and online teaching of microbiology and microbial bioinformatics, which include both lecture teaching and exercises. The research field broadly encompasses the various research fields of microbiology, with an emphasis on the application and development of microbial bioinformatics. The appointee is required to have previous experience with microbial bioinformatics methods (including metagenome analysis and whole genome analysis of microbes). Previous experience in the analysis of large datasets (e.g. microbiota, transcriptomes and proteomes) is considered an advantage for the applicant. The person selected for the position must have the necessary pedagogical skills to teach and develop teaching in Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral programmes.

REQUIREMENTS

According to the Regulations of the University of Helsinki, an appointee to the position of university lecturer shall hold an applicable doctoral degree and be able to provide high-quality teaching based on research and to supervise theses and dissertations. When assessing the qualifications of applicants for the position of university lecturer attention shall be paid to scientific publications and other research results of academic value. In addition, teaching experience and pedagogical training, the ability to produce learning material, other teaching merits and, if necessary, a teaching demonstration will also be taken into account.

According to the University Decree, university lecturers must also be fluent in the Finnish language. In addition, university lecturers should be proficient in Swedish. Foreign citizens, non-native Finnish citizens or citizens who have not been educated in the Finnish or Swedish language may be exempted from this requirement without a separate application. Although the languages of instruction are English and Finnish, applicants without Finnish language competence are warmly encouraged to apply. It is however, expected that the appointee will acquire Finnish language skills to teach courses and perform administrative duties within five years after her/his appointment. Support for language studies is offered. To successfully attend to the duties of the position, the appointee must have excellent English language skills.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer an interesting opportunity to work in a diverse research environment. At the faculty you will carry out research-based teaching at the highest level in the field in Finland and have the opportunity to take part in internationally valued, first-class research activities. The position is also an opportunity to develop your own professional skills in a multidisciplinary work community. Your work will be supported by the research and teaching staff of the department and the faculty as well as the administrative and technical staff at Viikki campus.

The salary will be based on levels 5-7 of the requirements level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. Monthly gross salary for a university lecturer varies between 3 400 and 5 000 euros depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. Occupational health care services and standard Finnish pension benefits are provided for University employees. There is a six-month trial period for the position.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are requested to enclose with their applications in ONE SINGLE PDF file the following:

1. Motivation letter for the position in question (max 1 page)
2. A curriculum vitae (CV)
3. A numbered list of scientific and other publications (please use the Ministry of Education and Culture classification of publication types: https://koodistot.suomi.fi/codescheme;registryCode=research;schemeCode=Julkaisutyyppiluokitus
4. Research and scientific activities (max 3 pages)
5. Involvement in administrative duties
6. Other activities which you wish to bring to the attention of the faculty

Please submit the description of your teaching qualifications via a separate e-form at: https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/112076/lomake.html

Guidelines on application documents: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers/open-positions/instructions-applicants-teaching-and-research-positions

Applications with the above attachments must be submitted in a single PDF file, which is named:

microbial bioinformatics_lastname_firstname. Other attachments are not required. 

External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now button.

Applicants who have a helsinki.fi username and a valid employment contract, a grant researcher's contract or a visiting researcher's contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the Employee login.

The deadline for applications is 3.4.2023 (at 23.59 EET)

The University of Helsinki welcomes applications from representatives of different genders, language and cultural backgrounds, and minorities.

FURTHER INFORMATION

• • Further information about the position is available from Head of Department Professor Per Saris (per.saris(at)helsinki.fi, tel. +358 505203696)
• • Further information on the recruitment process may be obtained from HR Specialist Mirkka Juntunen (mirkka.juntunen(at)helsinki.fi, tel. +358 2941 57583)

ABOUT US

The Department of Microbiology is a unit of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, which employs about 80-100 people: 3 professors, 6 university lecturers and 70-90 researchers and doctoral students. The department conducts internationally acclaimed microbiological research and provides top-level teaching based on it. The main areas of research and teaching are microbial ecology, fungal biology and biotechnology, cyanobacterial biology and bioactive compounds, plant and animal viruses, and food microbiology. The aims of the activity are basic research in microbiology and its applications in environmental sciences, agriculture and forestry, as well as in microbial biotechnology, taking into account sustainable development, teaching microbiology and social impact. The department's Master's programme in Microbiology and Microbial Biotechnology (joint programme with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences) has about 80-100 undergraduate students. About 60 postgraduate students are studying in the Doctoral programme in Microbiology and Biotechnology (several faculties’ joint programme) administered by the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-agriculture-and-forestry/research/microbiology

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is located on the Viikki campus. The mission of the faculty is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources through scientific research and research-based teaching. We focus on agricultural and forest sciences, food and nutrition, microbiology, as well as on economics and management. We cover the full natural resource chain from farm to fork, the entire field of forest sciences from soil chemistry to marketing, as well as the environmental effects of related activities. Graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry are versatile experts in biosciences and business, able to meet the needs of both the business sector and society at large.

www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-agriculture-and-forestry

More about working at the University of Helsinki

https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/careers