Åbo Akademi University is an internationally acknowledged research university with an extensive responsibility for providing education in Swedish in Finland. With its strong Nordic ties, Åbo Akademi University has an acclaimed and recognized position within research and education both nationally and internationally.
Åbo Akademi University invites applications for a fixed-term position as Researcher (postdoctoral level) in Bioimaging for the period 1.4.2026–[contact details available in the full listing]. The position is part of the newly established Research Council of Finland funded Centre of Excellence in Immune–Endothelial Interfaces (IMMENs; 2026–2033). IMMENs aims to understand how local immune responses are regulated at the lymphatic endothelium–immune cell interface, and to develop new methods and tools to study these interactions.
The appointment is full-time and located in the Cell Migration Laboratory led by Professor Guillaume Jacquemet at the Biochemistry and Cell Biology unit, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University (Turku, Finland).
Research environment (IMMENs Centre of Excellence)
IMMENs is composed of complementary research groups covering lymphatic biology, leukocyte guidance, cellular crosstalk and organ-on-chip technologies, and advanced imaging and image analysis of cell migration. The Centre of Excellence focuses on mechanistic understanding in healthy and diseased states and on tool development enabling new biology.
PROFILE AND TASKS
The successful candidate will drive method development at the interface of advanced light microscopy, quantitative image analysis, deep learning, and smart microscopy, and will collaborate closely across the IMMENs consortium.
The tasks performed by a researcher include conducting research independently and contributing to project leadership. The tasks are specified below.
Tasks
- Conduct high-impact research that uses and advances light microscopy and quantitative image analysis in immune–endothelial interface biology.
- Develop deep learning–enabled analysis pipelines for microscopy (e.g., segmentation, tracking, phenotyping, multimodal analysis).
- Develop smart microscopy approaches, including analysis-guided acquisition strategies and/or feedback workflows that accelerate discovery and enable quantitative live imaging.
- Contribute to open, reusable software and data.
- Collaborate actively with IMMENs groups and with the broader Turku imaging ecosystem; disseminate research via publications, conferences, and workshops.
- Contribute to a vibrant research environment through seminars, mentoring, and support of students and junior researchers.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EVALUATION
Essential qualifications
- Doctoral degree in a relevant field (e.g., bioimaging, computational biology, biophysics, biomedical engineering, computer science applied to life sciences, cell biology, or a related field).
- Strong track record and demonstrated ability to conduct independent research.
- Practical experience in at least two of the following:
- Endothelial Cell Biology,
- Microscopy,
- Quantitative image analysis for microscopy,
- Machine learning/deep learning applied to imaging.
- Programming skills in Python.
- Ability to work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams and communicate results clearly.
- Strong communication and writing skills in English.
Desired qualifications
- Deep learning for bioimage analysis
- Experience building end-to-end image analysis pipelines.
- Experience with microscopy image analysis ecosystems and tools.
- Demonstrated experience in developing or contributing to open-source scientific software.
The applications will be assessed as follows:
- Research competence (80%), including academic merits and scholarly publications in the relevant scientific field, previous participation in research projects and requested practical skills.
- Interactive competence (20%), including community activities, administrative experience, co-operative skills, the ability to interact with the surrounding society, as well as international collaboration within the relevant research field.
The appointment will be based on an overall assessment of the applicant’s potential for development and competencies and in relation to the necessary qualities to carry out the tasks for the position successfully. The applicants may be invited to an interview.
SALARY AND CONDITIONS
The salary is determined by the collective agreement system of Finnish universities, aligning with the research personnel category. The requirement levels of the researcher position are 5-6. In addition, a salary component based on personal performance is paid. The average monthly salary, depending on previous experience and skills, is around 3600 – 4500 euros per month at the beginning of the employment.
Researchers have a total working time of 1,612 hours per year.
A trial period of six months applies to all new employees.
APPLICATION
Please submit your electronic application in Åbo Akademi University’s recruitment system no later than 23.2.2026 at 15:00 (EET, Finnish time zone). Åbo Akademi University uses the Laura recruitment tool for electronic applications, please see guidelines on the electronic application.
The application should include the following enclosures (in English):
- A cover letter describing your scientific background, research interests, motivation for the assignment, and relevant international collaboration (max 2 pages).
- A CV (according to Finnish National Board on Research Integrity recommendations, TENK) including a full list of publications.
- Copies of degree certificate(s)
- Names and contact details of at least two reference persons.
BENEFITS
Turku offers an exceptional bioimaging environment, including access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise through Turku Bioimaging, and national/international imaging infrastructure networks coordinated in Finland, including AI-based analysis methods. In addition, Euro-BioImaging is headquartered in Turku, contributing to a strong international imaging community and training landscape.
Join our dynamic and innovative international community by seizing the opportunity we present. As a member of the Åbo Akademi University staff, you will gain access to various competitive benefits. These include occupational health care services, state-of-the-art research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities and a multicultural and friendly work environment. To learn more about working at Åbo Akademi University please explore further information on our website.
INFORMATION
For further information regarding the position, please contact Professor Guillaume Jacquemet ([contact details available in the full listing]) and in questions concerning the recruitment process HR Specialist Sabina Ringvall ([contact details available in the full listing]).
Åbo Akademi University works for equal gender distribution and diversity across all personnel groups.
