The university is located in Espoo, Otaniemi campus, and forms a calm and research friendly environment with significant amount of foreign students. Finland is known for an excellent infrastructure for families and Helsinki region houses multiple international schools. Helsinki University of Technology, together with Helsinki School of Economics and the University of Art and Design Helsinki will be part of a new foundation-based Aalto University at the end of next year. The new university aims to nourish a student centered culture and high-quality research.

If you are interested, please send CV and a letter of recommendation before 10th December to Simo Vanni, AMI centre, PO Box 3000, 02015-TKK, Espoo, Finland, or by e-mail to vanni [ a t ] neuro.hut.fi. Please do not hesitate to ask for more information.

• [Finland] Master’s Degree Programme in Bioinformatics
• [Finland] PhD Studentship in Optoelectronics at the Department of Physics, the University of Kuopio
• [Finland] International CIMO Fellowships for Young Researchers
• [Austria] PhD Positions in Cognitive Vision, Vienna University of Technology
• [Finland] PhD Studentships in Biochemistry at University of Oulu

The admission period is now open and will end in 31 January 2008. You can find details how to apply at our admission pages.

Career in bioinformatics
MBI graduates will be able to obtain positions in industrial and academic facilities such as biomedical companies, universities and research institutions. A bioinformatician often acts in a multidisciplinary environment with people from both methodological sciences, and biosciences and medicine. It is thus important that a bioinformatician is able to master topics from different disciplines.

Route to PhD degree
Excellent graduates from the MBI programme have the possibility to continue their studies in the PhD programme ComBi.

What do I need to be able to apply to MBI?
You are eligible to apply to the programme, if you already hold a suitable Bachelor’s degree, or have the degree at latest on 1 August 2008. Suitable fields are computer science, mathematics, statistics, biosciences and medicine, for example. In addition, you need to have at least 60 ECTS compatible credits in total of the following subjects: mathematics, statistics, computer science and bioinformatics.

You also need to be proficient in English language.

What can MBI offer to me?
MBI programme offers a unique combination of bioinformatics, methodological sciences, biosciences and medicine. The core courses have been designed to support courses beyond the same discipline. For instance, in the course Measurement Techniques for Bioinformatics students will collect data which can be then analysed in methodological courses. In particular, an MBI student will learn the bioinformatics process all the way through from planning the experiments to data analysis and verification of hypotheses.

As an MBI student, you will be able to take courses from two universities. In the University of Helsinki, you may participate to MBI courses offered by Faculties of Science, Bioscience and Medicine. In Helsinki University of Technology, Laboratory of Computer and Information Science offers courses to the programme.

Internship is a part of your studies
Studying in the MBI programme gives you a chance to become familiar with real-life bioinformatics as you intern in a bioinformatics company or research group. Besides giving useful work experience and connections, the internship period may also yield a suitable topic for the MSc thesis. MBI programme actively participates in providing students with internship positions and financial support for the internship period.

Study language is English
In the programme, you will study in English. Furthermore, a teacher tutor will be assigned to you who will guide you during your studies.

The programme is international. Currently there are 13 students, of whom five are abroad and eight are Finnish.

What is the content of my studies?
In MBI programme, the content of your studies depends on your Bachelor’s degree. For instance, if you have a Bachelor in computer science, you will study biology and medicine in addition to bioinformatics to complement your previous degree. On the other hand, if you have studied biosciences in your Bachelor’s, your Master’s will contain more computer science, mathematics and statistics.

The core of MSc bioinformatics degree consists of two bioinformatics courses, which you take in your first Autumn semester. While Introduction to Bioinformatics provides the essential background for the other bioinformatics courses, Practical Course in Biodatabases gives you deeper insight on how and why biological data are organised into databases, and how to access the databases.

At the same time, you will be taking your first course in biology and medicine, namely Biology for Methodological Scientists, if you have not already studied basic biology courses for your previous degree.

Your first Spring semester will take you to laboratory on the course Measurement Techniques in Bioinformatics where you will learn how the biological data is generated with different techniques such as microarrays and mass spectrometry. You also have the option to take the data with you to bioinformatics courses to further learn how to analyse the data.

In addition to compulsory courses, you can choose from a number of optional courses in bioinformatics, methodological sciences, biosciences and medicine. Your study advisor will help you make the choices on the basis of your previous degree and your interests.

Your second year studies in the programme will consist of bioinformatics courses and seminars as well as the Master’s thesis.

If you would like to know more about the structure of studies in MBI, please have a look at our example study plan!

Financial support
The University of Helsinki offers a limited number of scholarships for exceptional Master students.

Please note that the University of Helsinki and Helsinki University of Technology currently have no application, examination, admission or tuition fees.

How to apply?
The application period for studies starting in Autumn 2008 begins 15 November 2007 for the University of Helsinki and 1 November 2007 for Helsinki University of Technology. The application period closes 31 January 2008.

You can find detailed instructions on how to apply at our admission pages.

If you have any questions regarding the programme, please contact coordinator Esa Pitkänen, bioinfo[ at ]cs.helsinki.fi

Dowload: Example Study Plan

• [Finland] International CIMO Fellowships for Young Researchers
• [Finland] PhD Studentship in Optoelectronics at the Department of Physics, the University of Kuopio
• [Germany] PhD Studentships in Bioinformatics, University of Regensburg
• [Finland] PhD Studentships in Biochemistry at University of Oulu
• [Finland] PhD Positions in Population Genetics at University of Oulu

The scholarship period may vary from 3 to 12 months. The monthly allowance is 810-1 200 euros (in 2006). The scholarship is intended to cover living expenses in Finland for a single person. No additional allowance for housing is paid. Expenses due to international travel to and from Finland are not covered by CIMO.

How to apply?
The prerequisite for applying is that the visiting researcher must have established contacts with the Finnish host university. The Finnish university department wishing to host him or her applies to CIMO for the grant.

Applications should be submitted at least 3 months before the intended scholarship period. Please note that although the application form is in Finnish, Swedish and English the guidelines are only in Finnish as it is the Finnish host department who applies for the grant to CIMO.

For more information, please visit the official website.

• [Japan] The United Nations University Institute of Advanced Studies seeks PhD& Postdoctoral Fellowships – Sustainable Development
• [Finland] PhD Studentship in Optoelectronics at the Department of Physics, the University of Kuopio
• [Australia] Monash Fellowships 2008, Monash University
• [Finland] PhD Student Positions in Analysis, University of Oulu
• [Finland] PhD Studentships in Biochemistry at University of Oulu

The positions are with the Nonlinear PDE group, funded by the Academy of Finland and the Emil Aaltonen Foundation. For a description of the research carried out in the group see the group’s web-page at http://cc.oulu.fi/~phasto/analysis/npde/.

The applicant should have a Master’s degree or equivalent in Mathematics or related field and should show an interest in pursuing research in Analysis, especially Function spaces and Nonlinear potential theory.

The application should be sent to Peter Hästö and should include

• a cover letter
• Curriculum Vitae or resume
• List of publications (if applicable)
• transcript of courses taken
• copy of degree certificate

None of the documents needs to be official, although the selected candidate should be prepared to present official documents before the final appointment. In the evaluation of the applications, special weight will be given to research potential, and, where appropriate, research achievements.

All applicants will receive an e-mail confirming the receipt of the application, and an e-mail indicating the decision of appointment.

For more information please see the Department’s Employment Opportunities page, or contact Peter Hästö (peter.hasto@oulu.fi) or Juha Kinnunen (juha.kinnunen@oulu.fi).

• [Finland] PhD Studentships in Biochemistry at University of Oulu
• [Finland] PhD Positions in Population Genetics at University of Oulu
• [Finland] International CIMO Fellowships for Young Researchers
• [Finland] PhD Studentship in Optoelectronics at the Department of Physics, the University of Kuopio
• [Finland] PhD Vision Systems Physiology – Helsinki University of Technology

PhD position, optical engineering, 4 years, in a joint international project to develop instrumentation and applications for ultrahigh resolution optical microscopy beyond Abbes resolution limit.

Requirements:
Students with their Masters degree in optical physics and optical engineering are preferred but students with degrees in related fields are also encouraged to apply. The student will set up and maintain optical set-ups and takes part in developing applications together with biologists. Good communication skills and fluent spoken and written English are an absolute must.

The salary will be commensurate with experience and personal performance in accordance with the Finnish universities salary system and lies typically in the range of EUR 1706 and EUR 2056. The project is a collaborative project with Max Planck Institute in Göttingen, KTH Stockholm, University of Siegen and Atto-Tec GmbH.

The project web page address is: http://www.mpibpc.mpg.de/groups/hell/spotlite/.

Application:
Candidates should send their CV, cover letter, statements of current and future research interests, and the names and contact information of three academic referees. Please send direct informal inquiries and full applications by e-mail by March 30, 2007 to:

Pekka Hänninen – pekka.hanninenatprofessori.fi
Pekka Hänninen
Lääket. fysiikka, Tykistökatu 6
Turku 52, Finland 20520

Phone: +35823337064
Fax: +35823337060

More information about Laboratory of Biophysics can be found at: http://www.med.utu.fi/anatomia/en/research/research_mpe/

• [Finland] PhD Studentship in Optoelectronics at the Department of Physics, the University of Kuopio
• [Finland] International CIMO Fellowships for Young Researchers
• [Finland] PhD Student Positions in Analysis, University of Oulu
• [Finland] PhD Studentships in Biochemistry at University of Oulu
• [Finland] PhD Vision Systems Physiology – Helsinki University of Technology

The students entering the school should join a research project led by one of the supervisors that are members of the school. The topics covered by different projects include evolutionary genetics, bioinformatics, genetic epidemiology, gene mapping, plant and animal breeding, conservation genetics, molecular anthropology and archaeology, and risks associated to GMO. The working place depends on the research group and the supervisor. The salary is set by the Department of Education which finances the graduate school, but the local university (research group) can pay a somewhat higher salary that includes some teaching duties.

The school announces seven positions for PhD students, starting at the beginning of 2007. The positions are maximally for four years. The application should include (when applicable):

1. CV
2. a list of publications
3. a training plan for PhD studies (what type of formal training, courses etc you would like to have)
4. a short description of a career plan (why this type of training)
5. a plan for PhD research (a research plan or a good description of the direction the student wants to take), max 2 pages.
6. contact information of two referees

The applications should be sent (as a single document) to Pekka Pamilo electronically (Pekka.Pamilo (at) oulu.fi) or by mail (Dept of Biology, Box 3000, 90014 University of Oulu, Finland) and the deadline for the applications is 27 October 2006.

For additional information, please contact Pekka Pamilo or directly the project leader you would like to work with.

Website: http://cc.oulu.fi

• [Finland] PhD Studentships in Biochemistry at University of Oulu
• [Finland] PhD Student Positions in Analysis, University of Oulu
• [USA] Postdoctoral Positions in Statistical Genetics, University of Chicago
• [Finland] International CIMO Fellowships for Young Researchers
• [USA] Research Scientist in Bioinformatics, The Department of Computer Science, The University of Chicago

The Biocenter Oulu Graduate School is one of the largest graduate schools in Finland in the field of modern biosciences and biomedicine. The school has been regularly rated as excellent when reviewed by the Academy of Finland and Ministry of Education. Our research groups work in the Biocenter Oulu laboratories in several units in the Faculties of Science, Medicine and Technology at the University of Oulu. The research covers areas of molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, structural biology, developmental biology, molecular genetics and medicine, bioprocess engineering, and bioinformatics.

Applications are invited for 16 Graduate School PhD Studentships. The studentships are available from 1st of January, 2007, for students wishing to conduct research in Biocenter Oulu projects. The maximum tenure is 4 years. The applicants should hold a M.Sc., a Med.Lic. or an equivalent degree in a relevant field of bioscience or biomedicine. We are looking for enthusiastic and motivated applicants who are able to work in teams and who have a good command of English. Applicants who are expected to obtain their degree in the immediate future may also be considered. The university is in the process of instigating a new system in which salaries are determined by both the requirements of the job and the performance of the employee. The salary for the graduate school student positions will be based on levels 1 – 3 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel (scale from 1512 € to appr. 2300 € /month).

Application forms are available for downloading at http://www.biocenter.oulu.fi/, and should be used by all applicants. The application form is a valid application as such, and no other documents are required. However, the applicants may enclose with the form supplementary documents they consider relevant and beneficial for their applications. The applicants should be aware of that they are required to present original (or authorized copies of) certificates of their qualifications in a potential interview or before studentships are awarded to them.

Applications should be sent by e-mail to: pekka.t.kilpelainen(at)oulu.fi,
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or by post to:
Coordinator Pekka Kilpeläinen,
Biocenter Oulu, P.O. Box 5000,
Fin-90014 University of Oulu
Finland

Deadline for applications is October 2nd, 2006.

Organisation – University of Oulu
Division/Faculty/Department – Biocenter Oulu
Street – P.O.Box 5000
City – University of Oulu
Postal Code – FIN-90014
Country – FINLAND
Phone – +358-8-5376102
E-Mail – pekka.t.kilpelainen@oulu.fi
Website – www.biocenter.oulu.fi

Please, for more information on our research, see http://www.biocenter.oulu.fi/

• [Finland] PhD Student Positions in Analysis, University of Oulu
• [Finland] PhD Positions in Population Genetics at University of Oulu
• [Finland] International CIMO Fellowships for Young Researchers
• [Finland] PhD Studentship in Optoelectronics at the Department of Physics, the University of Kuopio
• [Switzerland] Postdoctoral Position in Ribosome Biochemistry, University of Zurich