Founded in 1640, the University of Helsinki is one of the best multidisciplinary research universities in the world. The University of Helsinki is an international academic community of 40,000 students and staff members. It operates on four campuses in Helsinki and at 9 other locations. The high-quality research carried out by the university creates new knowledge for educating diverse specialists in various fields, and for utilization in social decision-making and the business sector.

The University of Helsinki doctoral programme Materials Research and Nanosciences (MATRENA)invites applications for doctoral candidate positions for a 1–4 year period starting from 1.1.2016. The duration of the employment contract depends on the phase of the appointee´s thesis.

The University of Helsinki doctoral programme in Materials Research and Nanoscience (MATRENA) offers a high-level PhD student education in materials physics, materials chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, nanosciences, molecular spectroscopy, biophysics, medical physics, computational physics and computational chemistry. MATRENA is formed by several world-class research groups with major activities and project funding in these fields. MATRENA is a joint programme of the Department of Physics, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Helsinki Institute of Physics. The students in MATRENA benefit from the broad range of graduate courses arranged by MATRENA and the departments forming it.The duties of a doctoral candidate are to work on his or her own doctoral thesis and to complete his or her postgraduate studies. The duties can include also teaching and other tasks. Teaching tasks can account for up to 5 % of the annual working time.

The appointee must hold ability and motivation, as demonstrated through previous degree studies or otherwise, to pursue postgraduate studies and a doctoral degree according to the study plan and research proposal. By the start of the appointment the appointee must obtain the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki and must hold a second-cycle degree (e.g. master’s degree or equivalent). The main working language within MATRENA is English and the applicant must have Academic Level English skills (AL).

The University of Helsinki offers a salary dependent on qualifications and work experience. The salary is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement scheme for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee shall be paid a salary component based on personal work performance. The salary is EUR 2051–3006 per month, depending on the appointee’s qualifications and experience. The appointment starts with a probationary period of four months.

The applications must be submitted electronically by filling in the form, which can be found athttp://blogs.helsinki.fi/matrena-dp/call-2015/ after the call opens on 1.9.2015. The deadline for submitting the application is 30.9.2015, 16:00 EEST (UTC/GMT +3 hours). The deadline for receipt a recommendation is 6.10.2015 at 16:00 EEST (GMT+3).

The below listed attachments must be provided in one pdf-file in English, Finnish or Swedish. For the documents in other languages, translation to one of these languages mmust be included. Attachments required from all applicants:

• Curriculum vitae
• List of publications (if applicable)
• Initial research plan (max. 2 pages)

Attachments required from applicants who are not currently students of the University of Helsinki:

1. Scanned copy of MSc certificate
2. Scanned copy of transcript of records including all passed course units, their completion date and the grades and credits awarded
3. Motivation letter (max. 1 page)

In addition, a recommendation letter from the intended MATRENA supervisor of applicant’s PhD studies is needed. The e-form for the recommendation letter will be accessible through the same web page as the application form.

For further information on the doctoral schools, please see http://www.helsinki.fi/doctoral-schools/index.html. If you have any questions about doctoral training in the MATRENA, or this application, contact Dr. Sc. (Pharm.) Alma Kartal-Hodzic, doctoral programme coordinator, at alma.kartal[at]helsinki.fi.

Apply at latest 30.09.2015