Open positions:
Group leaders
The Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM, www.fimm.fi ) was established in 2007 as a partner institution of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (www.embl.org ) together with the new Nordic nodes for molecular medicine in Norway and Sweden. FIMM is a joint venture of the University of Helsinki, the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. FIMM laboratories are located in a brand new state-of-the art Biomedicum Helsinki 2 research building on the Meilahti medical campus in Helsinki.
FIMM is seeking outstanding candidates for the prestigious positions of
Group leaders in Molecular Medicine
The focus of the current recruitment round is on group leaders active in the following fields: disease biomarkers, biobanks, personalized medicine, population genetics and genetic epidemiology. We are seeking for group leaders, who could take advantage of the significant resources of clinical samples, population cohorts, molecular profiling technologies and clinical and follow-up data that are available at FIMM and its partner institutes. Translational focus towards diagnostics and personalized medicine is valued along with the possibility of providing additional and novel contributions to existing FIMM and Meilahti campus research groups. The group leaders are nominated for a five-year term, which is renewable for up to four additional years.
FIMM provides attractive sustainable support packages for group leaders. For scientists in their first group leader position, we provide 1,2–1,5 M euro for the five year period. This includes salaries of the group leader, and other positions, such as PhD students, technicians and/or postdoctoral scientists, consumables and modern laboratory facilities. The candidates are expected to complement this budget later through other national or international grants and/or industrial collaborations. Group leaders will be supported by unique research infrastructures for high-throughput research developed at FIMM and enjoy access to the local research community’s infrastructures (www.biomedicum.fi, www.biocenter.helsinki.fi/bi/core.htm), national infrastructures (www.biocenter.fi) and international capabilities provided by the EMBL.
Qualification requirements include a MD/PhD, PhD or equivalent degree, appropriate postdoctoral training and a track-record of high-impact publications in the top journals for biology or medicine. Group leader positions are mainly intended for early-stage independent investigators, comparable with the assistant professor level.
Successful candidates are expected to initiate a new independent research program with a clear relevance to molecular medicine with significant translational opportunities. We expect multidisciplinary research collaborations with other FIMM research groups, with the internationally recognized biomedical and medical research environment in Helsinki, as well as with other top Finnish scientists, including the Centres of Excellence of the Academy of Finland ( www.aka.fi/coe ).
Applications should include a covering letter summarizing the applicant’s career, past research accomplishments and future plans (max 1-2 pages), a CV and a list of publications (with 5 most significant publications indicated), a short research plan (max 5 pages) with a summary of expected translational, medical or public health impact and names of three references.
Applications should be addressed to the Board of FIMM and sent electronically as a single pdf-file to recruitment@ncmm.uio.no marked with the reference number F/2009/01in the subject line by October 15, 2009.
The top candidates will be invited for an interview with the international search committee, as well as to provide a more detailed research plan and three letters of reference. We hope the new group leaders will be available to start their research as soon as possible, preferably early 2010.
For further information please contact Director, Professor Olli Kallioniemi (olli.kallioniemi AT helsinki.fi ) or visit our website www.fimm.fi. Further information about University of Helsinki International Staff Services, http://www.helsinki.fi/intstaff/.
Research Areas of FIMM and Principal Investigators
The research areas of FIMM include:
- Human genomics
- Medical systems biology and bioinformatics of common diseases, with a focus on cancer, diabetes and obesity
- Translational research, including health impact of genes, new diagnostic methods, biomarkers and therapeutics.
The FIMM Technology Centre also develops state-of-the-art infrastructures for genomics, medical bioinformatics, high-throughput screening, biobanking, biomarker discovery and other translational research platforms. FIMM participates in national and international infrastructure programs, such as BBMRI and EATRIS. The principal investigators of FIMM are:
Human Genomics Medical Systems Biology Translational Research
Leena Peltonen-Palotie Olli Kallioniemi Sergey Kuznetsov
Joseph D. Terwilliger Emmy Verschuren Krister Wennerberg
Denis Kainov
FIMM National Network for Molecular Medicine consists of prominent scientists, who have an adjunct affliation with FIMM and carry out collaborative research projects with FIMM:
Human Genomics Medical Systems Biology Translational Research
Jaakko Kaprio Lauri A. Aaltonen Kari Alitalo
Anu Wartiovaara Willlem de Vos Sirpa Jalkanen
Iiris Hovatta Jussi Taipale Heikki Joensuu
Elina Ikonen Heli Nevanlinna
Jukka Westermarck Taina Pihlajaniemi
Akseli Hemminki
Matej Oresic
Helsinki 08 September 2009
University of Helsinki Administration Office