MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025: Call for expression of interest

Do you want to enhance your career by moving to Oulu to a top-tier research and training environment in NMR Research Unit? Send your expression of interest by 31 March at the latest.

The University of Oulu is an international science university that fosters new knowledge, well-being, and innovations. It is one of Finland's largest and most multidisciplinary universities, with 14,000 students and nearly 4,000 employees, and is located in the north of Finland. 

The positions open are in the NMR Research Unit at the Faculty of Science. The NMR Research Unit develops advanced experimental and computational NMR techniques and applies them in multidisciplinary research ranging from physics and chemistry to biochemistry and materials science. 

What we offer

We offer a fully funded short-term visiting period (March - September) to Finland to develop your MSCA proposal with globally leading researchers in our unit (https://cc.oulu.fi/~nmrwww/). We will also assist and support you through our national research funding programmes to support and strengthen your career. 

Topics

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is one of the most versatile analytical techniques used in various disciplines ranging from physics and chemistry to medicine. NMR Research Unit at the University of Oulu develops advanced methods to improve information content, sensitivity, efficiency and portability of NMR spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The methods are deployed in the development and characterization of materials supporting sustainability, such as battery materials, biomaterials, biosensors, CO2 capturing cements and metal-free catalysts, as well as understanding the role of aerosols in climate change. Besides the experimental activities, state-of-the-art theory development and computational modelling takes place, providing microscopic molecular-level interpretation for indirect NMR observables as well as to provide unprecedented physical and chemical insight on the techniques and materials.

The NMR Research Unit includes six research groups named by the principal investigators and listed below. Applications related to the research topics of all the six research groups of the NMR Research Unit are welcome.

1. Prof. Ville-Veikko Telkki (https://cc.oulu.fi/~nmrwww/research/Telkki_group.html): advanced NMR methods such as ultrafast Laplace NMR, NMR cryoporometry, and xenon NMR etc.; multidisciplinary applications such as aerosols, batteries, biomaterials, biosensors, and sustainable cements.
2. Adj. Prof. Anu Kantola (https://cc.oulu.fi/~nmrwww/research/Kantola_group.html): hyperpolarization by SABRE, nuclear magneto-optic spectroscopy, xenon NMR, materials NMR
3. Prof. Vladimir Zhivonitko (https://cc.oulu.fi/~nmrwww/research/Zhivonitko_group.html): parahydrogen based hyperpolarization methods, NMR methods development, catalytic processes, biological nanoparticles, NMR for sustainability
4. Prof. Juha Vaara (https://cc.oulu.fi/~nmrwww/research/Vaara_group.html): theoretical spectroscopy, multiscale modelling, magneto-optic spectroscopy, hyperpolarization, NMR of materials
5. Adj. Prof. Perttu Lantto (https://cc.oulu.fi/~nmrwww/research/Lantto_group.html): computational modelling, materials NMR, nuclear magneto-optic spectroscopy, paramagnetic NMR, xenon NMR, machine learning methods
6. Adj. Prof. Akseli Mansikkamäki (https://cc.oulu.fi/~nmrwww/research/Mansikkamaki_group.html): theory and design of single molecule magnets, computational molecular magnetism, computational organometallic chemistry

Contact info: firstname.lastname @ oulu.fi

Expected qualifications: The candidates should, when possible, meet the following criteria:

• A recent and relevant PhD (after 2020)
• Good publication record, including Q1 journals
• International experience 
• Good command of spoken and written English
• Expert skills in NMR spectroscopy and/or computational modelling

Expected timeline

1. Preproposal and research idea for MSCA grant: DL 31 March
2. Invitation for a research visit to UOULU by 15th April
3. Research visit to develop the MSCA proposal: May – Sept 2025
4. DL to submit the MSCA proposal is 10th of Sept 2025
5. Decisions on the MSCA grant February 2026
6. Start of the funded MSCA project at UOULU Sept 2026
7. For best applicants: 3rd year funded for Sept 2028 – Sept 2029

Assessment and selection of candidates

Please submit a cover letter, a CV, a publications list, and a one-page project idea description.

In the first step of the process, we will choose the candidates for developing competitive MCSA postdoctoral grant applications. Applicants will be shortlisted by an internal panel and informed if they have been selected for the next stage by 15th April 2025.

The selected applicants will develop their MSCA PF proposal in cooperation with their future supervisor at the NMR Research Unit. In addition, they will be offered individual consultations and a review of their MSCA PF proposal.

The top 2 applicants will also be offered the possibility to visit Oulu and participate in an MSCA PF proposal writing training at the University of Oulu.