ImmuDocs – National Doctoral Education Pilot Based on the Immune System

The ImmuDocs Doctoral Education Pilot focuses on immunology including all types of inflammatory diseases. They all are driven by aberrant immune responses, and immunological interventions are at the heart of their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Healthcare urgently needs specialists who understand these immunological areas.

Diseases stemming from immune system malfunction impose substantial economic and societal burdens. They lead to high healthcare costs, loss of productivity, and a significant impact on quality of life. Addressing the escalating demand for immunology specialists necessitates a concerted effort in training and collaboration among researchers, industry, and healthcare professionals. There is a pressing need to cultivate a new generation of immunology experts with diverse skills, ranging from health economics to cell and structural biology, bioinformatics, and clinical practice. Simultaneously, researcher training will boost scientific innovations, thereby driving disease prevention, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment through the versatile tools offered by immunology.

Open call for applications

The ImmuDocs Doctoral Education Pilot at the University of Turku is seeking a total of 59 doctoral researchers for 3-year doctoral positions to work in the fields of immunology, immunology-based drug development and/or diagnostics. The research can be basic, translational and/or clinical.

There will be one open call for these positions in spring 2024 and two in autumn 2024. In the spring call, candidates will apply for positions starting on August 1, 2024, and in the autumn calls, they will apply for positions starting on January 1, 2025. To be eligible for these positions, an applicant’s study right for a doctoral degree must not have been granted earlier than November 1, 2023.

Steps and timetable for applying for the ImmuDocs Pilot positions

Spring 2024

Principal Investigators: Call for the ImmuDocs project proposals: 12.3.-24.3.2024
Call for Applications: 3.4.-22.4.2024
Funded applicants: Call for the Doctoral Studies at the University of Turku 1.-15.5.2024 (if needed)
Position starts on August 1, 2024 or by mutual agreement

Autumn 2024

Principal Investigators: Call I for the ImmuDocs project proposals: 4.6. -11.8.2024
Call I for Applications: 26.8.-24.9.2024
Call II for the ImmuDocs project proposals: 23.9.-6.10.2024
Call II for Applications: 14.10.- 28.10.2024
Funded applicants who do not yet have a right to study for a doctoral degree at the University of Turku: Call for the Doctoral Studies at the University of Turku: 28.10.-8.11.2024 (ends 4pm Finnish time)
Positions start January 1, 2025

1.1.2025 – Candidates start their ImmuDocs doctoral positions or once they have received their study right for a doctoral degree.