"Postdoctoral Researcher in Arabidopsis thaliana Cell Wall Biology"

Scientific context and job description

We recently found that impaired acetylation of RG-I leads to a loss of epidermal cell adhesion (see preprint here). This project aims to achieve a genetic and molecular-level understanding of the impact of RG-I structure and acetylation on plant development, with a focus on cell adhesion and cellulose synthesis. Another core interest of the lab is RG-II (Waszczak et al., 2024), its dimerization and impact on cell expansion. In terms of methodology, we rely on forward genetic approaches, coupled with plant molecular biology and biochemistry. The successful candidate will be integrated into an international research team of experts in plant development and biochemistry and expected to participate in extensive collaborations, including mobility exchanges. Additionally, the candidate will be involved in supervision of doctoral researcher and M. Sc. students.

The position is fully funded; however, the candidate will be expected to apply for their own research funding from local and international funding agencies such as MSCA and EMBO. Therefore, priority will be given to candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for these fellowships.

Employment Conditions

• The earliest starting date is 1st of February 2026
• 2.5 year fixed-term contract (6 months trial period) with a possibility for extension
• Starting salary 3800 - 4100 EUR/month depending on the qualifications.

The University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• doctoral degree in plant biology, biochemistry or another relevant field obtained after 06/2024- candidates finalizing their doctoral studies are especially encouraged to apply
• experience in Arabidopsis research (mandatory), plant genetics and one or more of the following research areas: plant biochemistry, cell wall biology, metabolomics, plant developmental biology
• ability to conceive, execute, and complete research projects
• creativity and independent thinking
• excellent written and verbal communication skills
• at least one first author publication accepted/published in an international peer reviewed journal; high quality preprints deposited on public servers (BioRXiv, Research Square etc.) will also be considered as publications.
• documented grant writing experience is not required but highly desirable

Research Environment

The University of Helsinki, founded in 1640, is one of the world’s leading universities for multidisciplinary research. The Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme operates at the University of Helsinki Viikki Biocenter which is the largest hub for molecular plant biology in Finland. The Viikki Biocenter has exceptional research facilities, including state-of-the-art core facilities such as plant growth chambers, greenhouses, and a high-throughput plant phenotyping facility.

The project is funded by the Research Council of Finland and operates within Centre of Excellence in Tree Biology that brings together ten PIs from the University of Helsinki (UH) and two from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), who together with a large network of international collaborators form a multidisciplinary team of experts in plant genetics, physiology, development and computational modelling.

How to apply

The application should include the following attachments as a single pdf-file (in English):

• a cover letter describing your background, research interests and motivation to apply to this position (max. 2 pages). Briefly (but clearly) indicate whether you are eligible to apply for MSCA and/or EMBO postdoctoral fellowships.
• CV including a list of publications (if any) with a brief summary explaining your own contributions
• Names and contact information of two referees, who are willing to provide reference letters upon request

Please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the apply link. The deadline for submitting the application is 15 of December 2025. The call may close earlier if suitable candidates are found.

For more information, please contact Dr Cezary Waszczak (cezary.waszczak@helsinki.fi)