Open Positions in Scandinavia
Training Opportunities in Finland Offered by METLA
1. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Punkaharju Research Unit
Contact Information: Tuija Aronen, Doc., Dr, Project leader
Tel: +358 10 211 4233
Fax +358 10 211 4201
Duration: 3-6 months
Main tasks and responsibilities: Trainee's tasks would include mostly tissue culture and cryopreservation tasks, potentially combined with some molecular laboratory work
and/or greenhouse or nursery experiments in species, such as spruce, pine, and some
broadleaves (birch, ash, elm).
Requirements: Studies or experience needed: Courses in plant biology, genetics, biotechnology, plant/tree breeding, horticulture, plant physiology would be advantageous, some lab work experience or courses required. Basic IT-skills required.
Language skills: fluent/good spoken and written English required.
Additional Information: Unit located in the middle of the lake district, provides beautiful landscape and good possibilities i.e. for hiking, skiing, canoeing ect. A bicycle for your use included. Free accommodation cannot be guaranteed.
2. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit
Contact Information: Dr. Taina Pennanen
tel +358 10211 5469
fax +358 10211 2103
Duration: 3-6 months
Main tasks and responsibilities: Research on ectomycorrhizal fungi: to identify fungi in root tips and/or molecular identification
Requirements: Basic knowledge on molecular techniques such as DNA- extraction, PCR Experience in microscoping is an advantage
Additional Information: Capital area, good connections by local trains to downtown Free accommodation cannot be guaranteed.
3. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit
Contact Information: D.Sci. Raisa Mäkipää
tel +358 10 211 2197
fax +358 10 211 2202
Duration: 6 months
Main tasks and responsibilities: Research on wood-decaying fungi: works in DNA laboratory, sample preparation
Requirements: Knowledge and some experience on basic molecular techniques, such as
DNA-extraction, PCR-reaction, electrophoresis
Additional Information: Capital area- University 10 km away. Free accommodation
cannot be guaranteed.
4. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit
Contact Information: Prof. Jarkko Hantula
tel +358 10211 2620
fax +358 10211 2204
Duration: 6 months, e.g. January 1st to June 30th 2012
Main tasks and responsibilities: Research on the evolution and ecology of fungal viruses. dsRNA-viruses will be isolated from fungal cultures, and analyzed by RT-PCR. Also experiments on the transmission of viruses between fungal strains will be conducted.
Requirements: Basic knowledge of molecular techniques such as DNA- extraction, PCR-reaction, electrophoresis etc.
Additional Information: Capital area, good connections by local trains to downtown
Free accommodation cannot be guaranteed.
5. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit
Contact Information: Hannu Fritze, Doc., Dr, Project leader
Tel: +358 408015416
Duration: 6 months starting 1.1.2012 or 9/1/2012
Main tasks and responsibilities: Studies or experience needed: Courses in microbiology, biotechnology or molecular biology are required. Good loboratory knowledge is of advantage Basic IT-skills required.
Language skills: fluent/good spoken and written English required.
Requirements: Trainee helps in DNA extraction, qPCR and establishing community analyses of sulphate reducing bacteria in peat
Additional Information: Free accommodation possible on a first come-first-serve basis
6. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit
Contact Information: Eero Mikkola, GFIS Coordinator
tel +358 10211 2140
Duration: 3-6 months, timing can be agreed with trainee
Main tasks and responsibilities: Promotion of the Global Forest Information Service (GFIS) gateway www.gfis.net, seeking new information partners, guiding new partners to create RSS feeds and using social media for information promotion
Requirements: Basic knowledge on information technology, web services and social media
Additional Information: Capital area, good connections by local trains to Helsinki
Free accommodation cannot be guaranteed.
7. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute
Staying location:
Hyytiälä Forestry Field Station
Hyytiäläntie 124
FIN-35500 Korkeakoski
Finland
www.helsinki.fi/hyytiala/english/eng_asuminen.htm
Contact Information: Project leader: Hannu Fritze
Supervisor: Päivi Mäkiranta
Tel: +358408015394
Duration: 3-6 months Apr.-Oct.
Main tasks and responsibilities: Trainee's tasks would include field work combined with some basic laboratory work. Field work would include chamber based green house gas (GHG) measurements in natural peatland site combined with vegetation surveys, biomass sampling and decomposition studies. Lab work would include analyzing the GHG concentrations, preparation of biomass, decomposition and root samples for further analyses as well as helping with the possible peat incubation study. More information on the research project can be found: http://blogs.helsinki.fi/projectfenwex/
Requirements: Studies or experience needed: basic understanding of plant biology, plant physiology, soil ecology, and forest ecology would be advantageous, some lab work experience or courses could also be useful. Basic IT-skills required. Drivers license required.
Language skills: fluent/good spoken and written English required.
Additional Information: Accommodation (a room with shared kitchen and bath) available at the forestry field station in the southern Finland. During summer season the station is full of students and their activities. Several nature conservation and hiking areas nearby. Saunas at the lake shore.
8. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute Pallasjärvi Research Forest
Pallasjärvi
FI-99300 MUONIO
www.metla.fi/metsat/pallasjarvi/index-en.htm
Contact Information: Project leader: Hannu Fritze
Supervisor: Päivi Mäkiranta
Tel: +358408015394
Duration: 3-6 months Apr-Oct
Main tasks and responsibilities: Trainee's tasks would include field work combined with some basic laboratory work. Field work would include chamber based green house gas (GHG) measurements in natural peatland site combined with vegetation surveys, biomass sampling and decomposition studies. Lab work would include analyzing the GHG concentrations, preparation of biomass, decomposition and root samples for further analyses as well as helping with the possible peat incubation study. More information on the research project can be found: http://blogs.helsinki.fi/projectfenwex/
Requirements: Studies or experience needed: basic understanding of plant biology, plant physiology, soil ecology and forest ecology would be advantageous, some lab work experience or courses could also be useful. Basic IT-skills required. Drivers license required.
Language skills: fluent/good spoken and written English required.
Additional Information: This is a lifetime opportunity to experience unique nature of Lapland and the midnight sun of summer in Finland. Accommodation (a room with shared kitchen and bath) available in forest station. Bicycle for your use included.
9. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Muhos Research Unit
Contact Information: Juha Kaitera, Dr., Docent
Tel.: +358 40 801 5553
Duration: 3-6 months
Main tasks and responsibilities: Trainee's tasks would include mainly checking of wood logs for Heterobasidion root rot, combined with some isolation, cultivation and sporulation of fungi in the greenhouse and/or in the laboratory with pine stem rusts and alternate hosts (plants).
Requirements: Studies or experience needed: Courses in plant biology and/or plant/tree pathology (preferrable), some lab work experience and/or microscopy cources required. Basic IT-skills.
Language skills: fluent/good spoken English.
Additional Information: Unit locates in the campus of the the University of Oulu close to town centre. Next to Baltic sea, lakes and rivers, short distance to Lapland. Accommodation e.g. in the campus area, but it is not arranged by Metla.
10. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Suonenjoki Unit,
Contact Information: Dr. Mikko Anttonen
tel. +358 40 801 5273
Duration: 3-6 months (April 12 -September12)
3-6 months (April 12 -September12)
Main tasks and responsibilities: The research project is an ecophysiological study on the adaptability of silver birch to climate change and it is a part of bigger climate change program (http://www.metla.fi/ohjelma/mil/index-en.htm) The trainee will assist with the maintenance, measurement and samplings in the field experiment focusing on effects of soil water changes and elevated temperature. The trainee will also be involved in data processing and analysis.
Requirements: Basic knowledge on ecology and plant physiology or on plant biology in general. Basic laboratory skills. Fluent or good English skills.
Additional Information: The research stations are close to nature providing enjoyable working environment. Free accommodation cannot be guaranteed.
11. Site: Finnish Forest Research Institute, Suonenjoki Unit
www.metla.fi/su/index-en.htm
Contact Information: Dr. Otso Huitu
tel. +358 50 391 4917
otso.huitu@metla.fi
http://www.metla.fi/pp/7309/index-en.htm
Duration: 4-6 months from beginning of May or June 2012.
Main tasks and responsibilities: The traineeship is part of a research project to investigate factors influencing population ecology of small rodents. The trainee will assist in carrying out field experiments, involving trapping, field sampling of vegetation, animal dissections and laboratory diagnostic tests. Tasks also include assisting in maintenance of experimental rodent populations in the laboratory.
Requirements: Basic knowledge in ecology and ecological research and good laboratory practice. Previous experience in working with animals is beneficial but not necessary. Be willing to work flexible hours and travel. Must be capable of working in field conditions. Good English skills required.
Additional Information: The research station is close to nature and provide an enjoyable working environment. Free accommodation cannot be guaranteed. Personal work station with computer.
12. Site: Finnish Forest Research Vantaa Research Unit
Contact Information: Dr Risto Sievänen, project leader
Tel: +358 10 211 5487
Duration: 3-6 months
Main tasks and responsibilities: The trainee will work with software of LIGNUM model www.metla.fi/projects/lignum). The tasks include - depending on skills: 1) Programming components of LIGNUM spruce model (radiation submodel, morphological development), 2) Improving visualization modules, 3) Translating presentation of tree structure between LIGNUM and formalisms based on multiscale tree graphs.
Requirements: The trainee should possess basic computer programming skills and be able to program with C++. Interest in and basic level education of biology is a benefit.
Language skills: working knowledge of English required.
Additional Information: Vantaa Research Unit is in the Helsinki metropolitan area, all activities of a large urban area are within reach. Only 15 min by train to the Center of Helsinki. Free accommodation cannot be guaranteed.