We are looking for Post-doctoral researchers
The University of Turku in Finland is a world-class multidisciplinary research university that offers exciting challenges and a unique vantage point to national and international research and education. The research team of adjunct professor Pia Rantakari is looking for highly motivated Ph.D. students and Postdoctoral researchers.
Our group is exploring tissue-resident macrophages and their embryonic origin. In addition to normal development, tissue-resident macrophages play essential roles in many human diseases. We aim to determine how macrophage ontogeny affects their function and homeostasis and how this knowledge could be utilized in therapeutic strategies. To reach our goal, we perform in-depth immunophenotypic assessment with state of the art multi-parameter flow cytometry, single-cell mass cytometry (Cytometry by Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometry, CyTOF), and scRNA sequencing, as well as a combination of in vivo lineage tracking, genetic mouse models, and advanced imaging methods.
The successful Postdoctoral researchers should have Ph.D. completed on some of the fields relevant for the position. Previous experience with flow cytometry and in vivo models or bioinformatics is highly beneficial.
In addition to the modern research environment and versatile methodological opportunities, we offer positions as part of an immunology flagship project InFLAMES. Our research group is ambitious and has strong team spirit seasoned with a great sense of humor.
For inquiries please contact:
Heidi Gerke
Project Researcher
Rantakari group
Institute of Biomedicine and Turku Bioscience Center
University of Turku
hmsulo@utu.fi
Related publications:
Lokka E, Lintukorpi L, Cisneros-Montalvo S, Mäkelä J-A, Tyystjärvi S, Ojasalo V, Gerke H, Toppari J, Rantakari P#, Salmi M#. Generation, localization, and functions of macrophages during the maturation of testis. Nature Communications 2020. PMID: 32873797. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18206-0
Jokela H, Lokka E, Kiviranta M, Tyystjärvi S, Gerke H, Elima K, Salmi M#, Rantakari P#. Fetal–derived macrophages persist and sequentially maturate in ovaries after birth. Eur J Immunol. 2020. PMID: 32459864. DOI: 10.1002/eji.202048531.
Jäppinen N, Felix I, Lokka E, Tyystjärvi S, Pynttäri A, Lahtela T, Gerke H, Elima K, Rantakari P, Salmi M. Fetal-derived macrophages dominate in adult mammary glands. Nature Communications 2019. PMID: 30655530. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08065-1.
Rantakari P, Jäppinen N, Lokka E, Mokkala E, Gerke H, Peuhu E, Ivaska J, Elima K, Auvinen K, Salmi M. Fetal liver endothelium regulates the seeding of tissue-resident macrophages.
Nature 2016. PMID: 27732581. DOI: 10.1038/nature19814.