The University of Eastern Finland invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) (MSCA-DN) position as part of the PANDORA
on discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimization for AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) in part of the Doctoral Network of the European Commission. The position is based on the Kuopio campus, and it is expected to begin no later than 1 February 2027. The position is full-time and will be filled for a fixed term of three years. Read more below and submit your application no later than 30 November 2026. Title, role and research theme We are seeking for a motivated Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) (MSCA-DN) to develop and test various intravitreal drug formulations for targeted drug delivery to the retina. The drug compounds will be obtained from partners in the consortium. The aim is to generate long-acting, safe and stable drug formulation for intravitreal injections. The Doctoral Researcher will generate hydrogel and nanoformulations for prolonged ocular retention and drug release and use advanced physico-chemical methods and cell cultures. utilize cutting-edge techniques: Physico-chemical methods for manufacturing and characterization of drug delivery systems (e.g. microfluidics, nanoparticle tracking analyses, rheological methods) Cell culture methods (e.g. test of cell toxicity and drug potency) Experimental pharmacokinetics (e.g. animal experiments, quantitative LC-MS/MS analytics) Computational modeling (e.g. pharmacokinetic data analysis and simulations). Recent open access research publications from UEF laboratory related to this position: Thermoresponsive hydrogel for long-acting delivery of structurally intact and biologically active Fab fragment and monoclonal antibody - PubMed Novel in vitro model for intravitreal drug dissolution and release studies of small molecules and their long-acting formulations - PubMed Sustained intravitreal dissolution and kinase inhibition by an inhibitory cGMP analogue after its injection as a suspension of a poorly soluble salt - PubMed Barcode lipids for absolute quantitation of liposomes in ocular tissues - PubMed Imaging, quantitation and kinetic modelling of intravitreal nanomaterials - PubMed Ocular pharmacokinetic studies involve experimental studies with rodents and rabbits as well as computational curve fitting and simulations. Overall, the position will provide state-of-the art training in drug delivery using modern methodologies. The results of this research will pave way towards effective treatments in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this position, you will be working in the School of Pharmacy at the Faculty of Health Science. This position is a part of the PANDORA (pathomechanisms and novel drug optimization for AMD ) Doctoral Network of the European Commission. The project aims to test multiple therapies including complement inhibition, anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory drugs and mitochondria modulators. The results will help design new therapeutic approaches. The PhD candidate will benefit from a network of European experts in different fields (gene therapy, pharmacology, bioinformatics, disease modeling, imaging) and will have the possibility to visit other labs in secondments (lab exchanges). The main duty of the Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) is to conduct research for their doctoral dissertation and to complete postgraduate studies. The total working time is 1,612 hours per year. At the time of signing the employment contract, the recruited researcher must be enrolled in the UEF Doctoral Programme of Health Sciences, which leads to the award of a doctoral degree. Admission to the doctoral programme requires a research plan, which the selected candidate will prepare in collaboration with their supervisors shortly after being accepted to PANDORA. The person appointed to the Doctoral Researcher position will be admitted to the Doctoral Programme in Health Science . Employment relationship and salary The position will be filled for a fixed term of three years, starting on 1 February 2027 at the latest. The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to a specific project and own doctoral degree. A trial period is applied to all new members of staff. The salary of the position is based on the salary system of MSCA. The salary consists of living and mobility allowances. The mobility allowance covers additional, private mobility-related costs (e.g., travel and accommodation costs); professional moblility costs under the action are excluded and are covered by the research, training, and networking contribution. If the recruited doctoral candidate has or acquires family obligations during the action duration, i.e., persons linked to them by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the legislation of the country or region where this relationship was formalised; or (iii) dependent children who are actually being maintained by the researcher, the family allowance will be paid as well. The gross salary in this position will be approximately EUR 4,390 per month for the three years, including the mobility allowance (or approximately EUR 4,940, if eligible for the family allowance). Our requirements and expectations Requirements: a Master’s (or equivalent) degree in life sciences or chemistry (pharmacy, cell biology, polymer chemistry or closely related fields) Excellence in oral and written English, with good presentation skills High motivation with interest in retinal pharmacology and drug delivery Work effectively both independently and as part of a team Knowledge of cellular biology, eye biology and/or pharmacology Hands on experience in quantitative chemical analyses and biological research. Background in animal experiments, biomaterial/nanomedicine and computational pharmacology are benefits. Mobility requirement: The Applicant shall not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies etc.) in Finland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date (unless as part of a compulsory national service or a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention). shall not already be in possession of a doctoral degree (*). can be of any nationality. *researchers who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but who have not yet formally been awarded the doctoral degree will not be considered eligible Your benefits You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including the opportunity for flexible multi-location work excellent opportunities for professional development and continuous learning extensive occupational health care a broad selection of staff training staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services affordable sports services Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website . You will have an opportunity to work in an interesting, meaningful and diverse role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community. Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more. How to apply? Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 30 November 2026 by 23:59 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+2). Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application: A CV (max. 3 pages) ( Template for CV, TENK website ) Copies of your Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates and the proof of English proficiency if not evident from academic credentials Copies of a transcript of records of your Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees A copy of your Master’s thesis and any other publications (if available) A motivation letter (max. 1 page), which contains a brief description of why the applicant wishes to become a PhD student within PANDORA Two written recommendation letters (for example, one from the supervisor of the applicant’s Master’s thesis), including the contact details of the referees Other documents to demonstrate the applicant’s merits for the position If your degree certificate is not in English, you must provide official English translations of your degree certificate documents. All translations must be issued by the awarding educational institution or an authorized translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator’s stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by the applicants themselves will not be accepted. Questions? For more information on the PANDORA Doctoral Network, please visit their website . For further information on the position, please contact Professor Arto Urtti, e-mail: arto.urtti@uef.fi. For further information on the application procedure, please contact ttvarbi@uef.fi School of Pharmacy at University of Eastern Finland is an internationally recognized centre in pharmaceutical research. Ocular drug research is one of the spearhead fields at the university, involving activity of seven distinct research groups in the field. The institution is particularly renowned as a leading centre for ocular drug delivery research. At Kuopio Campus we offer a scientific environment that favors creativity for generating groundbreaking ideas, their transfer into reality and their translation towards therapeutics to help patients with impaired vision. The candidate will have the opportunity to interact with other labs and he/she will get exposure to an array of relevant pharmaceutical and biomedical techniques. We offer modern, state-of the art laboratories, facilities, and equipment, as well as participation in training activities of the international and inter-sectorial PANDORA network. We also promote participation in national and international conferences. The Faculty of Health Sciences operates at the Kuopio Campus of the University of Eastern Finland. The Faculty offers education in medicine, dentistry, nutrition and pharmacy, as well as in some other central fields of the health care sector. The Faculty is research-intensive, and its internationally recognised research activities are closely linked to the strategic research areas of the University. There are approximately 3 090 degree students and about 800 PhD students in the Faculty. The faculty has 960 staff members. The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 17,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone. Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en . Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees . Type of employment: Temporary position Contract type: Full time First day of employment: 1 February 2027 at the latest Salary: The salary of the position is based on the salary system of MSCA Number of positions: 1 Full-time equivalent: 100% City: Kuopio County: Pohjois-Savo Country: Finland Reference number: 1387/01.01.03/2026 Contact: Arto Urtti, arto.urtti@uef.fi Published: 2026-11-10 Last application date: 2026-11-30
