Postdoctoral Researcher in development of plasmonic nanopore for single molecule sequencing by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

Applications are invited for a full-time

Postdoctoral Researcher in development of plasmonic nanopore for single molecule sequencing by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

position under supervision by Assistant Professor Jian-An Huang who has strong expertise in single-molecule SERS analysis of biomolecules and plasmonic nanopore fabrication in the Research Unit of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine at University of Oulu, Finland.

Project description

The postdoctoral researcher will work in the EIC Pathfinder OPEN project:  "Plasmonic nanopore technologies for automatic manipulation and Raman spectroscopic sequencing of single proteins (RamanProSeq)" that aims to develop Raman spectroscopic single-molecule protein sequencing technology capable of reading protein primary sequence at single-amino-acid resolution by integrating plasmonic nanopores with a high-speed Raman detection system, an automated control system, computer simulations, and advanced Raman-based bioinformatics. 

The RamanProSeq consortium includes Prof. Shuai Li in University of Oulu (Finland), Dr. Francesco De Angelis in Italian Institute of Technology (Italy), Dr. Cuifeng Ying in the Nottingham Trent University (UK), Dr. James Yates in Universidade NOVA de Lisboa (Portugal), Dr. Lu Cheng in University of Eastern Finland (Finland) and Prof. Maria Fyte in RWTH Aachen University (Germany) who are leading experts in intelligent automation, ultrafast SERS spectroscopy, nanopore fabrication and engineering, single molecule biochemistry and biophysics, computational biotechnology and AI bioinformatics. Assistant professor Jianan Huang will be the supervisor for fabrication, development and Raman spectroscopic measurement of plasmonic nanopores on nanopipettes in this call and get support from all the partners. 

Description of the position

The tasks of the postdoctoral researcher will be fabrication and characterization of plasmonic nanopore on glass nanopipettes as well as measurement of ion currents and Raman spectroscopy of the biomolecules (DNA, peptides, proteins) in the nanopores such as:

• Design and fabricate glass nanopipettes and characterise them by biomolecule translocation;
• Design, fabricate and characterize plasmonic nanopores on the nanopipettes with low electric noise;
• Measurement and preliminary analysis of ion current and Raman spectra of biomolecules in the device;
• The work duties may include teaching with no more than 10% of working time.

The nanopore fabrications can be firstly based on published protocols and then improved to fit the needs of the project. The biomolecule design, molecule-nanopore interfaces, automatic control of molecule translocation in the nanopore and deep data analysis will be handled by other researchers, discussed and solved together in the consortium.

You will work together with our multidiciplinary team, and have access to the state-of-the-art micro- and nanofabrication and characterization facilities, and biological facilities.

What we offer?

• Exciting research project and excellent multidisciplinary research environment.
• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team and broad scientific network where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Development and career options of the big, highly international organization.
• University of Oulu has put a great effort towards building a cutting-edge research infrastructure that includes state-of-the-art instrumentation for imaging, gene-modified mice, X-ray crystallography, and quantitative biochemistry. The teams have extensive collaborative national and international networks including Biocenter Finland and the ESFRI projects Instruct, EuroBioimaging, and Infrafrontier.
• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits here.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and your close ones in settling into Oulu.
• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic team where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert. 
• Development and career options of the big organization.
• We have an HR Excellence in Research -quality label which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers' working conditions and careers. 
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

What we expect from you?

• We are looking for an ambitious, highly motivated candidate who has enthusiasm and ability to work both independently and as a team member to tackle challenging problems to achieve common goals.
• Doctoral degree in Physics, Electronic Engineering, Materials Science or related field.
• Strong experience in micro-/nanofabrication approaches, such as nanoparticle assembly, nanoporous plasmonic materials or cleanroom equipment (e.g. Focused Ion Beam, photolithography, physical vapor deposition), as demonstrated in publications are essential.
• Experience in patch-clamp amplifier measurement for nanopore resistive pulse sensing are essential.
• Experience in plasmonic or SERS sensing will be considered a plus.
• Ability to fluently communicate in English. Both spoken and written English skills are required.
• While your main task is research, we expect you to contribute to group management, teaching and supervision of graduate students in Jianan group.

Salary

• The position is fixed-term for two years as of 1st of May 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. 
• The salary will be based on the levels 5-6 of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Starting gross salary will be approx. 3600-4000 € per month (before taxes) depending on qualifications and experience.  
• A trial period of 6 months is applied for the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by the 8th of March 2026 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. Cover letter shortly describing your motivation to apply for this position
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. List of publications, following the guidelines of the Research Council of Finland.
4. Contact information of at least two persons available for recommendation.

The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified during the selection process.

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact Dr. Jian-An Huang, email: [email protected].