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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
Country
Finland
University
University of Helsinki
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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.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.