"Postdoctoral Researcher"

The Karagic Research group at the Institute of Biotechnology in the University of Helsinki is looking for a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher. The start date is early 2026 and the employment length is 3 years.

Summary of the project

Adaptive phenotypic plasticity—the ability of organisms to modify their traits in response to environmental change—is central to evolutionary biology and conservation. This project combines experimental evolution, single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq), and whole-genome resequencing to resolve the genetic, regulatory, and transcriptional basis of adaptive plasticity and its evolution. The postdoc will take a leading role in experimental evolution under novel and variable light environments, integrating multi-omics datasets, and investigating how adaptive plasticity evolves under different selective pressures. For more information, please visit Nidal Karagic’s laboratory web page: https://www.adaptive-plasticity.com.

Research group descriptions

Phenotypic plasticity, the ability of an organism to change its characteristics with changes in the environment, is an important mechanism by which populations can survive and flourish. Karagic’s Research group’s goal is to clarify the mechanisms that allow populations to change and how this ability evolves, using the Trinidadian guppy Poecilia reticulata as a model.

About you

• You have a PhD degree.
• You have experience with bioinformatic analysis, behavioral and/or experimental evolution experiments.
• You have experience handling and taking care of live fish.
• You have demonstrated research experience in the field of evolutionary biology or visual ecology.
• You are ambitious and motivated to tackle challenging problems.
• You can work together in a team towards a common goal while pulling your share of the load.

What we offer

• The salary is based on Collective Agreement for Finnish universities, approximately 3,500 € per month depending on candidates experience and merits.
• A dynamic and international research environment at the Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki.
• Access to cutting-edge facilities in genomics, single-cell sequencing, and computational biology.
• Mentorship and career development opportunities, including leadership training programs.
• Opportunities for international research exchanges with collaborators in the USA and Norway.
• A three-year contract with the possibility of extension, starting in early 2026.
• 5-7 weeks of paid holidays per academic year.
• Occupational health care.

How to apply

Please submit your application, which includes a cover letter, CV, and PhD degree diploma in English, as a single PDF file. Applications are to be sent as a single PDF-file using the University’s recruitment system via the button “Apply now” no later than 31st of October 2025. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Group Leader Nidal Karagic at nidal.karagic@helsinki.fi.