Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our universities community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society. www.tuni.fi/en
The Doctoral School of Industry Innovations (DSII) at Tampere University (TAU) explores research questions that are directly relevant to industry and business. Tampere University hires a Doctoral Researcher in the field of Biotechnology to complete a four-year dissertation project under the joint supervision of a university professor and a company representative. The position is located at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology at Tampere University.
DSII offers Doctoral Researchers a unique opportunity to undertake dissertation research, gain a thorough understanding of product development, tackle real-world business challenges and expand their professional networks.
The partner company for this position is AMYRA Biotech AG, a Swiss company pioneering innovative digestive enzyme supplements and therapeutics that support the digestive capabilities of the intestinal brush border membrane (BBM). The BBM is one of the body’s primary producers of digestive enzymes. Chronic inflammation, disease, and/or environmental factors can damage the small intestine resulting in brush border enzyme insufficiencies (reviewed by Bonner et. al. 2025) that may compromise digestive function. AMYRA’s Brush Border Enzyme Supplementation Technology (BBEST) is being developed to supplement the digestive capabilities of the small intestine to address general health and nutrition, food sensitivities, and gastrointestinal diseases.
The purpose of this project is to develop a platform that companies such as AMYRA can leverage to assess their compounds in high-throughput and cost-effective preclinical models.
This project is part of a larger Enteropathy Research Consortium, led by AMYRA Biotech AG, with the goal of spearheading cross-functional, collaborative research projects investigating how BBM enzyme production varies in health, disorders, and disease. AMYRA is co-supervising 2-3 PhD researchers at universities across Europe, including projects at University of Oxford and the University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW). The PhD student at Tampere University has the opportunity to benefit both academically and professionally from participation in this cross-functional and international collaboration network.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are seeking a Doctoral Researcher for a project to develop, optimize, and validate a high-throughput preclinical model of the small intestinal epithelium in conditions of enteropathy. Specifically, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) will be differentiated into small intestinal epithelial cells (SIECs), and the efficacy of iPSC-SIECs for modelling celiac disease and non-celiac enteropathy will be assessed. iPSC-SIECs will be used to characterize brush border enzyme expression, activity, and nutrient handling, and will be benchmarked against intestinal organoid models and/or patient biopsy sequencing data to validate the use of iPSC-SIECs as clinically relevant disease models.

Ultimately, this position will create new knowledge for academia and industry in the fields of digestion, nutrition, and gastroenterology. The goals are:

• To define brush border enzyme insufficiencies and their functional consequences in iPSC-SIEC models of celiac disease.
• To extend the iPSC-SIEC platform to model non-celiac enteropathies and identify shared patterns of BBM dysfunction.
• To benchmark iPSC-SIECs against existing intestinal organoid models and/or human tissue to assess their fidelity as enteropathy models.

As a Doctoral Researcher you will gain expertise in working with multidisciplinary and international research area in a stimulating environment.
The applicant selected for the position will pursue a doctoral degree in Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering at the Tampere University. The expected duration of full-time studies is four years.
The terms of the dissertation work are defined in the Doctoral Researcher’s personal study and supervision plan. The results will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed journals, international conferences, doctoral network events and events with industry. Annual progress reports are required. The personal study and supervision plan includes a detailed annual work schedule.
In addition to the dissertation work, Doctoral Researchers are expected to teach or perform other duties, such as teaching, related to their studies. These duties may not exceed five (5) per cent of their annual working hours, unless there are justified reasons to the contrary.
At the university, the work will be supervised by Docent, PhD Kati Juuti-Uusitalo. PhD Sulayman Mourabit and PhD Erin Bonner are the supervisors from Amyra Biotech AG. You will also be supported by practitioners in the steering group, including company representatives.
By participating in DSII events, excursions, meetings and training sessions with your fellow doctoral students, you will both get and provide peer support and make your own contribution to the development of DSII.

REQUIREMENTS

You need to have a completed applicable master’s degree in life sciences, biotechnology, cell biology, molecular biology, or biochemistry. High motivation in persuing doctoral degree is very important.

Suitable candidate has:

• Methodological experience in laboratory work, especially aseptic work
• Has previous experience in cell culture, and preferably in stem cell culture and differentiation
• Communication skills needed to successfully perform the duties and functions of the position
• A good command of both spoken and written English

You also need to have an enquiring mind, enjoy problem-solving and be able to think independently while also being able to work in a team.
Please note that before commencing the position, the selected candidate must be accepted to have study rights for the Doctoral Programme in Medicine, Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering (DPMBBE) at Tampere University, unless they already have one.
Tampere University is a unique, multidisciplinary, and boldly forward-looking community. Our values are openness, diversity, responsibility, courage, critical thinking, and learner-centeredness. We hope that you can embrace these values and promote them in your work.

Please refer the Job description for details