Project Specialist/ Project Researcher for Scientific Software tasks to Medical Bioinformatics Centre in Turku, Finland

The Medical Bioinformatics Center of the University of Turku is looking for a Scientific Software professional to strengthen our growing team. The employment will start on 12 January 2026 or as agreed. The position will be filled for a fixed term until the end of 2027, with possible continuation.

Do you consider yourself more of an IT expert than your research colleagues, but still more of a researcher than traditional IT experts and software developers? Do you feel that you belong to both worlds, but not completely to either? If you are looking for a career path that combines the most interesting aspects of research and software development, you might be just the person we are looking for!

The Medical Bioinformatics Center (MBC) is part of both the national Biocenter Finland research infrastructure network and the European ELIXIR infrastructure. We conduct internationally high-level research in the fields of bioinformatics and computational medicine. In addition, we develop and provide bioinformatics support and scientific IT support for biomedical researchers.

As our operations expand, we are looking for new experts to join our team to support our growth in new tasks.

Job description

We are looking for an IT expert to develop the scientific IT services and systems of the Medical Bioinformatics Center and to support researchers in utilizing data generated by modern biotechnologies. The position is part of the national Biocenter Finland research infrastructure and supports the efficient utilization of IT services provided by CSC (IT Center for Science), ELIXIR and universities across Finland. Key tasks include:

  • Development and maintenance of IT services and systems
  • Supporting researchers in data analysis and storage
  • Cooperation with national and international partners and networks
  • Participation in organizing training
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Who we are looking for

The person we are looking for is motivated to develop scientific IT solutions and promote biomedical research. We require you to have:

  • Appropriate educational background (e.g. software engineer) or work experience in scientific IT services
  • Experience in using HPC environments and strong motivation to develop as their administrator
  • Experience in Linux systems and command line work
  • Programming skills (e.g. C++, R, Python)
  • Ability to work with version control tools (e.g. Git)
  • Ability to work independently and in collaboration with stakeholders
  • Fluent oral and written English

We consider as a plus:

  • Knowledge of best practices in data management and large data storage
  • Experience in bioinformatics support services 
  • Knowledge of workflow management tools (e.g. Snakemake, Nextflow) and container technologies (e.g. Docker, Singularity)
  • Experience in parallel and distributed computing
  • Experience in deploying servers, backup and archiving solutions
  • Experience in CSC services

You don't need to know everything, but the most important thing is the motivation to develop your skills and support research in a meaningful way.We value collegiality and promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We encourage all qualified applicants with different backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Benefits

  • The opportunity to work with top-class researchers
  • An excellent work community
  • Diverse and varied tasks
  • Flexible working hours
  • The opportunity to learn new things and develop as an IT expert

Turku – a great place to live and work

Finland is known for its high quality of life, safety, and excellent public services. It’s a country where things just work – from public transport to healthcare and education. Families especially benefit from the generous state support: affordable, high-quality daycare and free schooling that consistently ranks among the best in the world.

If you're moving with children, the city of Turku is a fantastic choice. It offers English-language “language showers” and pre-schooling to help kids ease into a new language environment. There are also private, state-subsidized daycare centres that operate in English, French, or Russian – making it easier for international families to settle in. For school-aged children, the Turku International School provides both basic and upper-secondary education entirely in English.

Health and insurance – we’ve got you covered

We care about the well-being of our staff. That’s why we offer comprehensive occupational healthcare services, including preventive care and general medical treatment. In addition, all employees are covered by University’s travel and occupational accident insurance. Pension contributions are automatically handled by the University, so you don’t need to worry about the paperwork – it’s all taken care of.

Stay active with CampusSport

Looking to stay fit and energized? Our staff have access to a wide range of fitness and wellness services. Whether you’re into gym workouts, group classes, or just want to try something new, there’s something for everyone. CampusSport, a joint initiative by all universities in Turku, offers affordable and diverse sports activities right on campus.

Please read more about University of Turku as an employee from our Come work with us! pages.

The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research quality label. The label is a token of the University's commitment to continuous development of the position and working conditions of researchers according to the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers. 

The university offers good support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and relocation to Finland:

Salary and trial period

The salary is determined by the collective agreement system of Finnish universities, aligning with the research personnel category. The job title depends on the education and skills of the person selected for the position. The salary is determined by the demand level, in addition to which a salary component based on personal performance is paid. Depending on previous experience and skills, the salary at the beginning of the employment is  approximately 3100 - 3600  €/month for project specialist, who belongs to the other expert personnel. The project researcher is part of teaching and research personnel and the monthly salary is approximately 2500 - 3100  €/month depending on skills and qualifications.

The position is subject to a six (6) month trial period.
How to apply
Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. Applications may already be processed during the application period.

Applicants should enclose with their application:

  • motivation letter (max one page)
  • CV (max two pages)
  • list of publications, if applicable
  • degree certificate(s) / an official transcript of records in English or in Finnish
  • contact information of two referees
  • other documents that may influence the filling of the position

Further information

With questions about the application process, please contact: bioinformatics-coordinator@utu.fi.

Turku Bioscience Centre

Turku Bioscience is an advanced core facility and research centre hosted jointly by University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University. Our aim is to provide complete packages of service expertise and know-how to provide both academic and corporate research groups the tools and means to shorten the runway from an initial discovery to the take-off of a success story. To this end, we aim to stay at the frontiers of new technologies and research and we are also actively facilitating interactions and joint projects between academia and industry.

The University of Turku is an inspiring and international academic community of 25,000 students and staff in Southwest Finland. We build a sustainable future with multidisciplinary research, education, and collaboration. With us, your work will have a significant impact and relevance in the changing world.

See our open vacancies

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You have 6 hours to complete your application before the timeout.

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Project Specialist/ Project Researcher for Scientific Software tasks to Medical Bioinformatics Centre in Turku, Finland

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