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University of Helsinki

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Doctoral Researcher (PhD) in Protein Synthesis University of Helsinki in Finland

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Cell Biology

Funding

Fully funded PhD position for 44 months; starting gross monthly salary around 2500-2700 EUR.

Deadline

Nov 13, 2026

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Country

Finland

University

University of Helsinki

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Keywords

Cell Biology
Biochemistry
Molecular Biology
Chemistry
Biology
High-throughput Screening
Cryo-electron Microscopy
Chemical Biology
Medical Science
Genome Editing
Pharmacy
Protein Synthesis
Ribosome
Protein Folding
Language Translation

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About this position

A fully funded doctoral researcher project at the University of Helsinki invites a PhD student to join the O’Keefe Lab at the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences on the Viikki Campus in Helsinki. The work centres on protein synthesis and its inhibition, with a focus on the early stages of translation, membrane translocation and the discovery of new ways to probe and disrupt these processes.

The project, Inhibiting Protein Synthesis – Old, New, Borrowed, Blue, brings together cellular biology, chemical biology, cell-free protein synthesis, cryoEM, gene editing and orthogonal high-throughput screening. The doctoral researcher will contribute to the search for new protein synthesis inhibitors and the repurposing of existing compounds, with the broader aim of expanding mechanistic understanding and enabling new approaches relevant to human health.

The lab is described as collaborative, interdisciplinary and supportive, with close links to the local cryoEM Unit, High Throughput Biomedicine Unit and Finnish Genome Editing Centre. The post also includes international collaboration with chemists and computational physicists in the US, Japan and Finland, plus research visits and conference travel that support training in advanced structural and screening methods.

The successful applicant will work under Sarah O’Keefe, with co-supervision from Brendan Battersby, and will be the first doctoral researcher in the lab. The position offers close, individualised mentorship and a chance to help shape the lab’s scientific culture and technical foundations as it grows.

The project is set within a research environment that emphasises multidisciplinary training in protein expression and purification, molecular biology, cell culture, presenting, project management and scientific writing.

Funding details

Fully funded PhD position for 44 months; starting gross monthly salary around 2500-2700 EUR.

What's required

Applicants should have a Master’s degree, or be due to complete it before the start date, in biology, biological sciences, biochemistry, pharmacy, or another relevant field; medicinal chemists with strong research experience and a commitment to switch fields are also eligible. Candidates should have excellent written and spoken English, be ambitious, collegial, proactive, able to work independently and in a collaborative team, and able to problem solve and master new skills. Research experience in industry or a research-intensive academic lab, or knowledge of the protein synthesis field, is merited. The doctoral degree right at the University of Helsinki must be obtained within the six-month probationary period.

How to apply

Submit the application through the University of Helsinki electronic recruitment system via Apply now by 2026-11-13 23:59 Helsinki time. Current University of Helsinki employees must apply via Employee login. Upload one PDF named lastname_firstname containing the cover letter, CV, two referees, Master’s diploma or study timeline, transcript and grading explanation, and answers to the six stated questions.

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