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YUFE4Postdocs is part of the Young Universities for the Future of Europe (YUFE) Alliance, bringing together nine young research-intensive universities. The 91���� (UEF) is the only partner from Finland.

The YUFE4Postdocs project, supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, is built on the foundation of YUFE alliance. The project aims to attract and train future proof-researchers, building bridges between academia and society. 

YUFE4Postdocs are appointed for a three-year period and carry out their research training projects under the guidance of their chosen supervisor in the 91���� and a co-supervisor in another YUFE alliance university.

Currently, there are a total of 10 postdoctoral researchers working on their projects at the 91����. Seven of those were chosen during the second selection round

• Diego Fernando Rodriguez Ibañez: Revolutionizing Breast Cancer Defense: Unveiling Novel Heterocyclic Compounds Through Their Synthesis, in silico modelling and in vitro Evaluation of their Possible Mechanism of action.
• Muniesh Muthaiyan Shanmugam: Spatiotemporal evaluation of transcriptomics inducing phenotypic polarization of macrophages in atherosclerosis.
• Jing Zhou: Youth Health and Well-being in European Cities.
• Nikita Belko: Graphyne and carbon nitride quantum dots for biosensing and super-resolution bioimaging.
• H. Ambre Ayats: Ethics of AI: from Data-centric to Human-centric Models for knowledge extraction.
• Demet Sinem Guden Yildirim: The impact of environment polluting micro- and nanoplastics on Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis, focus on inflammasome activation.
• Joffrey Fuhrer: Existential Urban Challenges (EUC) to wellbeing.

Academic journey with variety of training, networking and development opportunities

The postdoctoral research project of Jing Zhou focuses on youth health and wellbeing in Europe, with particular attention to the experiences of adolescents in the digital era. Currently, she’s working with large-scale national data from the Finnish School Health Promotion Study (SHPS), which includes responses from school-aged adolescents across Finland.

“The core aim of my project is to examine the association between adolescents’ internet use and their mental health outcomes. In addition, I investigate the potential moderating roles of contextual factors such as school belonging, family relationships, and other protective assets. The research adopts a quantitative approach and seeks to present a multidimensional picture of how digital environments shape adolescents’ wellbeing and daily lives”, describes Jing Zhou.

Jing Zhou finds the project both academically stimulating and personally enriching. By identifying and engaging with relevant stakeholders, she has been able to explore opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration, which has significantly enhanced the depth and scope of her research.

“UEF has provided a highly supportive institutional environment, characterized by academic freedom, well-structured research support, and outstanding mentorship. My supervisor has offered thoughtful guidance and strategic advice, helping me to navigate the Finnish academic landscape and strengthen the scientific and societal relevance of my work. This empowering setting has enabled me to pursue innovative pathways in youth research with confidence”, says Jing Zhou.

Also, her experience with the YUFE4Postdocs project has been extremely positive. The program’s transnational and interdisciplinary vision has enriched her academic journey, offering a variety of training, networking, and professional development opportunities.

“At UEF, I have actively participated in capacity-building workshops and collaborative events, which have broadened my understanding of the Finnish and European research context. I have also benefitted greatly from peer exchange platforms such as the peer support group, which foster mutual learning and solidarity among postdocs. I am especially looking forward to the upcoming on-site training in Belgium this April, where I hope to connect more deeply with fellow YUFE4Postdoctoral researchers and expand my academic network across Europe.”

For Jing Zhou, the key benefits of the YUFE4postdoctoral positions include personalized career development plans, access to a diverse academic ecosystem, mobility funding, and a strong emphasis on open science and societal impact.

“Moreover, the generous support from UEF and the comprehensive co-supervision I’ve received have created favorable conditions for me to focus on my research, develop new academic skills, and explore interdisciplinary approaches. The well-structured working environment and robust welfare system at UEF have enabled me to pursue my work with confidence and peace of mind. As I continue to grow within the program, I aspire to become an independent and socially responsible researcher who can contribute meaningful insights to both academic and policy communities”, she emphasizes.

Excellent working conditions for research projects

The YUFE4Postdocs project has offered H. Ambre Ayats, a French postdoctoral researcher at the UEF School of Computing, a great opportunity for three-year well-financed postdoc position in another European country and collaboration with two research groups at the UEF.

Ayats’ research project is about the ethics of AI. The objective of transdisciplinary project is to study the emergence and the consequences of the data-centered machine learning paradigm in AI and the possibility of emergence of a human-centered learning paradigm.

“As of today, I am studying the production of machine learning systems through the tools of political economy, mainly regarding the relation between the data producers and the machine learning systems, in the idea of studying how to collectively empower data producers on the governance of AI systems and AI industry,” Ayats says.

She finds UEF and the School of Computing both nice work environments. The research group is friendly and scientifically competent.

“The most challenging part of my work is getting familiar with works in humanities, as I am originally a computer scientist and not a philosopher or a sociologist. But this is both the more challenging and the more interesting part of my research, as I believe that transdisciplinary research is the best way to tackle the sociopolitical aspects of technologies. Thankfully, my co-host research group located in Bremen, Germany, is specialized in philosophy of digital technologies, and therefore I have contacts that provide helpful guidance.”

Sinem Güden Yildirim, a postdoctoral researcher at the A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences,is working on an in-vitro neuroscience research project, that aims to unveil the impact of environment polluting agents like microparticles specifically focusing on Parkinson’s Disease, one of the fastest-growing neurological conditions worldwide.

“My postdoc journey has been passing with lots of fruitful learning so far. I’m excited to explore diverse and more realistic modelling of Parkinson’s Disease with hands-on experience and listening presentations in our group’s lab meeting,” highlights Yildirim.

For Yildirim, the YUFE4Postdocs position provides an exceptional working conditions for aspiring academics by offering longer-term appointments than typical postdoctoral roles for any researchers without borders. Position includes attractive and high-quality trainings as well as a vibrant community that values well-being. 

“My experience started by a chance, but it’s been incredibly transformative experience. Along the key stages of bringing my project to life, I’ve gained fresh perspectives on what the future of academia could look like. What left the biggest impression on me is the dedicated support from team members and personalized mentoring from supervisor during the project’s implementation”.

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