Doctoral researcher in Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry

About the opportunity

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a fixed-term Doctoral Researcher position in Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry under the supervision of Associate Professor Mirkka Sarparanta. Joining the Tracers in Molecular Imaging (TRIM) research group, the successful candidate will work on a Research Council of Finland-funded PhD project to develop new alpha-emitting radioligands for treating multiorgan cancer metastasis. The role involves organic synthesis, radiolabeling, characterization, and biological evaluation of ligands in vitro and in vivo. The position is for approximately 3.5 years, with an expected start in January 2026 or as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

Salary and benefits

• Starting salary of approximately €2,600–€2,800 per month, based on the university salary system (level 2 for teaching and research personnel) plus a personal performance component.
• Occupational health care services.
• Access to university sports facilities.
• Ample opportunities for professional development and language studies.
• Support from the International Staff Services office for relocating and transitioning to life in Finland.

Who can apply?

• Must hold an M.Sc. degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Radiochemistry, Pharmacy, Biochemistry, or a related field.
• Strong motivation for research in a highly multidisciplinary topic and enthusiasm to learn new experimental methods.
• Ability to conduct research independently while working actively within an international team.
• Good written and oral communication skills in English.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the EU for research visits (e.g., to collaborating laboratories in Sweden and Poland).
• Must meet the eligibility requirements for doctoral studies at the University of Helsinki and apply for a doctoral study right within the 6-month trial period.
• Prior experience in laboratory work, organic synthesis, and compound characterization is highly desirable.
• Experience in handling radioactive materials, research animals, or other relevant experimental methods is advantageous.

Required documents

• Curriculum Vitae (CV), including a list of publications if applicable.
• Copy of transcript records showing courses completed during the M.Sc. program.
• A self-crafted motivation letter (maximum 1 page) describing research interests and suitability for the project (AI-generated letters are not accepted).

When to apply

• Application deadline: September 30, 2026, at 23:59 Europe/Helsinki time.
• Interviews for top candidates: October 2026.
• Expected start date: January 2026 (or as soon as a suitable candidate is found).

How to apply

• External applicants must submit their application via the 'Apply Now' button on the official job portal.
• Internal applicants (with a helsinki.fi username and valid contract) must apply via the 'Employee login' button.

Additional information

• The position involves handling radioactive materials.
• The successful candidate is expected to teach laboratory courses in Radiochemistry and supervise undergraduate student laboratory work (approximately 5% of annual working time).
• For inquiries about the position, contact Dr. Mirkka Sarparanta at mirkka.sarparanta@helsinki.fi.