Vacancies

Ph.D. Students & Postdoctoral Candidates

We do not currently have any open positions for PhD students or postdoctoral researchers. Nevertheless, we are always interested in discussing potential research opportunities with highly motivated candidates. If you have a well-defined project idea that aligns with our research interests, we would be happy to explore potential funding opportunities and support the preparation of fellowship applications, including the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellowships, Research Council of Finland Fellowships, the UEF Fellowship Programme, and other national or international funding schemes.

Topics for M.Sc. Thesis or Diploma Work in Pharmacy for ERASMUS students

1. Design of Novel Transporter-Utilizing Compounds for Targeted Drug Delivery

  • Methods: Molecular dynamics simulations, computer-aided drug design, docking 
  • Main supervisor: A. Prof. Kristiina Huttunen, Ph.D., Dr. Maija Lahtela-Kakkonen , Ph.D., Ville Kuorikoski, M.Sc., and Mikko Nikunen, M.Sc.
  • Contact: kristiina.huttunen (at) uef.fi
  • Other information: In this project, the student will use molecular modelling techniques to understand the structure-function relationships of selected transporter(s), screen and discover (sub)structures for novel drug candidates, as well as design novel transporter-utilizing compounds for targeted purposes. Prepared prodrugs are then studied further against either neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, or cancer in our in vitro and in vivo laboratories. The project requires basic knowledge of computer-aided drug design and can be combined with the synthesis of the design molecules, if wished. The subprojects are scalable both to the Master’s Thesis level as well as for the ERASMUS students. The designed compounds depend on the current state of the research and can be combined with the synthesis of the designed molecules.

2. Synthesis of Novel Transporter-Utilizing Compounds for Targeted Drug Delivery

  • Methods: Design (database), Synthesis (organic chemistry) and Structural Characterization (NMR, MS, elemental analysis) of Drug Molecules
  • Main supervisor: A. Prof. Kristiina Huttunen, Ph.D., (Seyed)Hamed Maljaei, M.Sc., and Mikko Nikunen, M.Sc.
  • Contact: kristiina.huttunen (at) uef.fi
  • Other information: IIn this study, novel designed prodrugs of different active agents are synthesized and purified by chromatographic or crystallographic methods and finally characterized by NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) and mass spectroscopy. In this project, the student will learn to design multistep reaction routes by using several databases and published literature as well as to perform essential methods in organic chemistry. Prepared prodrugs are then studied further against either neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, or cancer in our in vitro and in vivo laboratories. The project requires basic knowledge of organic/synthetic chemistry. However, the subprojects are scalable to both the Master’s Thesis level as well as for the ERASMUS students. The prepared compounds depend on the current state of the research and they can be combined in most cases with bioanalytics.

3. Evaluation of Novel Transporter-Utilizing Compounds for Targeted Drug Delivery

  • Methods: Chemical and enzymatic stability, solubility, unspecific protein binding, cellular studies, HPLC (UV/MS), targeted/untargeted proteomics
  • Supervisors: A. Prof. Kristiina Huttunen, Ph.D., Janne Tampio, M.Sc., Adela Kralova, M.Sc.; Judith Glaser, M.Sc., and Thanavit Thongsodsaeng, M.Sc.
  • Contact: kristiina.huttunen (at) uef.fi
  • Other information: In this study, novel prodrugs of different active agents are evaluated in different vitro assays and by selected analysis methods. These include e.g., basic characterization of physicochemical and pharmaceutical properties of novel prodrugs, such as aqueous solubility, chemical stability, unspecific plasma/tissue protein binding, enzymatic bioconversion and release of the active parent drug in various biological matrices (plasma, microsomes, liver/brain homogenate) and/or with pure enzymes, as well as cellular uptake studies, cell viability studies, and/or anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory efficacy studies in selected cell lines. For each prodrug, a simple HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) or LC-MS (mass spectrometry) method is developed, by which the samples are analyzed. Selected biomarkers are followed to evaluate the efficacy of novel prodrugs compared to their parent drugs by either targeted orr untargeted proteomic/lipidomic methods with LC-MS. In this study, the student will learn basic pharmaceutical techniques, such as sample preparation and working with cells,  and to analyze properties of compounds from various sample matrices and work with cells. The project requires basic knowledge of analytical chemistry. However, the subprojects are scalable to both to Master Thesis level as well as to ERASMUS students. The studied compounds depend on the current state of the research.
    • There may also be possiblity to participate in analyzing in vivo samples, to evaluate e.g., pharmacokinetic properties and brain-targeting efficacy of novel prodrugs collected from mice. Furthermore, selected (or untargeted) metabolic, proteomic or lipidomic biomarkers can be followed e.g., from mice induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS; inflammation) with LC-MS. The student will learn essential sample preparation techniques (extraction, protein precipitation) of plasma and tissue samples (brain, liver, kidney, pancreas, etc.) and to analyze compounds from biological matrices by a feasible LC-MS methods, which will be developed for each compound. 
Specific subtopics (2026-2027):
  1. Brain and glial cell or neuron-targeted prodrugs of anti-inflammatories and antioxidants
    • Neuroinflammation and oxidative stress are related to many CNS-diseases and being originated from glial cells and then affecting the neurons in the brain. Therefore, intrabrain-targeted OATP2B1 or OATP1C1-utilizing prodrugs of anti-inflammatories that are selectively distributed into the glial cells have greater potential to reduce inflammatory response, while neuron-targeted OATP3A1-utilizing prodrugs or or CAT1/3 (cationic amino acid transporter 1or 3) of antioxidants are the most beneficial to support neuronal health. Thus, these compounds will be designed / synthesized / evaluated in this project, which is also applicable for other inflammatory diseases, such as metabolic diseases, that can benefit e.g., pancreatic targeting with a suitable transporter.
  2. PP2A activators and their targeted prodrugs in CNS diseases and cancer
    • Protein Phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is the major tau phosphatase in the human brain, diminishing tau hyperphosphorylation. It is inactivated in many central nervous system (CNS) diseases, but also in several cancers. Therefore, activating this protein site-selectively by utilizing LAT1- or OATP-utilizing prodrugs of novel PP2A agonists (that are designed / synthesized / evaluated in this project) can have a huge impact on tauopathologies, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, but also in cancers.
  3. ADAM-17 inhibitors and their brain-targeted prodrugs
    • ADAM-17 is a metalloprotease, also called TACE, that contributes to neuroinflammation and neuronal injury. Inhibiting ADAM-17 by novel brain-targeted LAT1- or OATP-utilizing prodrugs can therefore reduce selectively neuroinflammation related to many CNS diseases. Thus, these compounds will be designed / synthesized / evaluated in this project, which is also applicable for other inflammatory diseases, such as metabolic diseases, that can benefit e.g., pancreatic targeting with a suitable transporter.
  4. Piezo1 agonists and their brain-targeted prodrugs
    • Piezo1 is a mechanosensitive ion channel and activating this channel is known to have neuroprotective effects. Therefore, novel Piezo1 agonists and their brain-targeted LAT1- or OATP-utilizing prodrugs can have beneficial effects in the treatment of several neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, these compounds will be designed / synthesized / evaluated in this project, which is also applicable for other inflammatory diseases, such as metabolic diseases, that can benefit e.g., pancreatic targeting with a suitable transporter.
  5. Cancer cell-targeted metformin analogues 
    • Metformin usage is known to reduce cancer risk. Therefore, improving the targeting to cancer cells and increasing the apoptosis-inducing effects of novel metformin analogues have a great potential in future chemotherapy. In this project, the aim is to utilize OCT1/3 (organic cation transporter 1 or 3) that are overexpressed in many cancers, and to design / synthesize / evaluate metformin analogues that are selectively delivered to cancer cells via these transporters without compromising the apoptosis-inducing effects.
  6. Cardiac muscle cell-targeted prodrugs of creatine 
    • In heart failure, creatine transport into heart muscle cells is impaired. Since creatine is a key player in heart contraction and energy metabolism, a compensatory transport mechanism (surrogate transporter) may offer a solution to improve the physical activity of myocardiocytes. Thus, in this project, cardiomyocyte-selective SGLT1 (Sodium-glucose cotransporter) or MCT1 (monocarboxylate transporter 1)-utilizing prodrugs or creatine are designed / synthesized / evaluated.
  7. Mitochondrial-targeted prodrugs of electron scavengers
    • Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cells, and their malfunction generates oxidative stress in cells, which in turn supports the progression of a variety of human diseases, including many brain diseases. In this project, novel brain and mitochondria-targeted prodrugs of electron scavengers are designed / synthesized / evaluated by utilizing OCTN2 (organic cation transporter novel type 2) or MCT1 (monocarboxylate transporter 1), with the aim of improving the homeostasis of mitochondria.