Doctoral Students in Molecular Medicine and Bioinformatics

As part of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM in collaboration with HIIT is seeking outstanding candidates for positions of

Doctoral Students in Molecular Medicine and Bioinformatics

starting in August 2013.

Description: Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) is an international research institute in Helsinki (www.fimm.fi) focusing on human genomics and personalized medicine. FIMM integrates molecular medicine research, technology center and biobanking infrastructures “under one roof” and thereby promotes translational research and adoption of personalized medicine in health care. FIMM researchers are involved in several grand challenge projects, such as the impact of genome information from the Finnish population in personalized health and medical interventions, development of individualized cancer medicine, and novel diagnostics via imaging of tissue and cells. The disease areas of interest for the 15 research groups cover cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurology, and viral infections.

In the areas of bioinformatics and computational systems biology and biomedicine, FIMM collaborates with Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT (www.hiit.fi), a multi-disciplinary research institute focused on basic and applied research on information technology. Modern molecular medicine requires state-of-the-art methodologies in the analysis, visualization and modelling of large data sets; HIIT groups provide world-class excellence in these areas.

FIMM and HIIT work together with the Helsinki Biomedical Graduate Program (HBGP-FIMM) and the Finnish Doctoral Program in Computational Sciences (FICS) as well as other area doctoral programs to provide excellent research training and courses aimed at a PhD degree at the University of Helsinki or Aalto University.

As part of an annual international joint call of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, we currently have two openings for PhD students who show outstanding potential to become independent researchers and who will significantly benefit from the FIMM-EMBL International PhD Training Initiative (FIMM-EMBL IPTI). Specifically, these positions are in the fields of:
 

1. Molecular medicine (HBGP-FIMM) and

2. Bioinformatics, computational systems biology and biomedicine (FIMM-HIIT).

Detailed information regarding the research areas relevant to this call can be found at the following websites:

http://www.fimm.fi/en/research/research_groups/

http://www.hiit.fi/fimm-hiit-doctoral-student-call

Candidates are asked to follow the specific application instructions below. Applications sent directly to group leaders will not be processed or reviewed.

Qualifications and experience: Candidates are expected to have a relevant academic degree (MSc, MD or equivalent) in biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, biotechnology, computer science, genetics, mathematics, medicine, or other related fields, obtained before the starting date. The successful candidate will have good problem solving, troubleshooting, and analytical skills. In addition, the candidate should be fluent in English, have good interpersonal and written and oral communication skills, and be able to work independently as well as within an international team.

Application and selection process: Application (maximum 5 pages) should be written in English and include:

• A cover letter describing previous and current research experience and studies and motivation for pursuing doctoral studies, research interests, and how the candidate would integrate into the FIMM and/or HIIT research groups

• CV or resume

Applicants are asked to complete an online form and submit applications (maximum 5 pages) as a single .pdf file online at http://www.fimm.fi/en/open_positions/ no later than February 22, 2013, at 15.45. Applications submitted after the deadline, or longer than 5 pages, will not be considered.

The top candidates will be jointly selected by FIMM and HIIT and invited for an interview with an evaluation committee. The final candidates selected for the positions will be offered an initial contract for 18 months during the first half of which they will engage in training through research group rotations (FIMM-EMBL IPTI). Upon a successful review and selection of a research group, the initial contract will be extended up to a four-year period.

For further information about:

• FIMM, FIMM-EMBL IPTI, and this call, please visit www.fimm.fi or contact Gretchen Repasky, Coordinator of Research Training (gretchen.repasky (at) fimm.fi).

• HIIT, please visit www.hiit.fi or contact Ella Bingham, Research Coordinator (ella.bingham (at) hiit.fi)

• Helsinki Biomedical Graduate Program (HBGP-FIMM), please visit www.hbgs.helsinki.fi.

• Finnish Doctoral Program in Computational Sciences (FICS), please visit fics.hiit.fi

• University of Helsinki International Staff Services, please visit www.helsinki.fi/intstaff/.

FIMM is part of the Nordic EMBL Partnership for Molecular Medicine, composed of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the centers for molecular medicine in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. At the national level, FIMM is a joint research institute of the University of Helsinki (primary host), the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, the National Institute for Health and Welfare, and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT (www.hiit.fi) is a joint research institute of Aalto University and the University of Helsinki. HIIT's research ranges from fundamental methods and technologies to novel applications and their impact on people and society. Current research foci at HIIT include computational modelling and data analysis, and ubiquitous ICT in the modern networked world. HIIT is located at University of Helsinki's Kumpula campus and Aalto University's Otaniemi campus.

Helsinki 08 January 2013

Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM

Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT