Postdoctoral Researcher, Pain Research, Industrial Postdoctoral Programme

Shape the Future of Drug Discovery and Development

At Orion Pharma, we believe that scientific breakthroughs are built through strong collaboration between academia and industry. The Industrial Postdoctoral Program offers an exceptional opportunity for early-career researchers to apply their scientific expertise to real-world challenges within a leading pharmaceutical company. 

As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you will work at the interface of cutting-edge academic research and industrial innovation, contributing to projects with the potential to advance drug discovery, development, and patient care.

Orion's Pain Therapy Unit is offering the following postdoctoral research opportunities, each focused on generating novel insights and technologies to support the development of future pain therapies.

Computational Discovery of Next-Generation Chronic Pain Targets

This project leverages large-scale transcriptomic and proteomic datasets to uncover the biological drivers of chronic pain and identify promising new therapeutic targets. The postdoctoral researcher will integrate and analyze public and proprietary omics data to generate actionable insights that support target validation, prioritization, and the discovery of next-generation pain therapies.

Physics-Based Prediction of Membrane Permeability for Beyond-Rule-of-Five Compounds

This project focuses on advancing computational drug design by developing predictive models for the membrane permeability of complex beyond-rule-of-five (bRo5) molecules. The postdoctoral researcher will combine molecular dynamics simulations with advanced sampling techniques to better understand permeation mechanisms and improve the prediction of drug-like properties in challenging chemical spaces.

Translational Neuro-Inflammation Pharmacology for Pain Programs

This project aims to strengthen the understanding of neuro-inflammation as a key contributor to chronic pain and translate this knowledge into drug development. The postdoctoral researcher will apply advanced flow cytometry and glial biology approaches to investigate neuro-immune mechanisms, build experimental capabilities, and support ongoing and future pain research programs.

About the Program

The Industrial Postdoctoral Program combines academic excellence with industrial impact. You will work closely with Orion Pharma scientists, external academic collaborators, and other subject matter experts to drive a research project that aligns with both scientific and business objectives. The project is expected to generate new scientific knowledge while also addressing challenges relevant to the pharmaceutical industry. Learn more about the program through PoDoCo: podoco.fi

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute an independent postdoctoral research project.
• Design, conduct, analyse, and interpret scientific studies.
• Develop innovative solutions to research questions relevant to the pharmaceutical industry.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams within Orion and external academic partners.
• Prepare high-quality scientific reports, publications, presentations, and project updates.
• Present research findings to internal and external stakeholders.
• Contribute to scientific discussions, innovation activities, and knowledge sharing.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality, safety, data integrity, and intellectual property requirements.

What We Are Looking For

Required qualifications

• PhD in a relevant scientific discipline, such as:
  • Oncology
  • Pain
  • DMPK & Safety 
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Biology
  • Structural Biology 
  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Computational Sciences
  • Bioinformatics
  • Drug Discovery or a related field
• PhD completed within the last four years (excluding maternity leave, military service and non-military service)
• Doctoral candidates, who have not yet graduated but are graduating during the next 6-9 months may also apply. In such cases, assurance from the guiding professor must be enclosed with the application.
• Strong scientific publication record relative to career stage.
• Experience in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific problem-solving.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in multidisciplinary environments.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience in translational research or industry collaboration.
• Knowledge of pharmaceutical R&D processes.
• Experience with advanced technologies relevant to the project area.
• Demonstrated ability to drive research activities from concept to outcome

What We Offer

• A two-year project combining academic research with industry experience. During the second year, the selected candidate will be employed by Orion Pharma under a fixed-term employment contract and become part of our research community.
• A unique opportunity to conduct high-impact research in collaboration with leading industry and academic experts.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities and technologies.
• Exposure to pharmaceutical research and development in an international environment.
• Opportunities to build professional networks across academia and industry.
• Support for scientific publications and conference participation, subject to program guidelines.
• A collaborative culture where innovation, learning, and scientific excellence are valued.

How to Apply

Please submit your application through our recruitment system by September 30, 2026. Applications submitted by email will not be considered. 

Selected applicants will further develop their project proposal and prepare the PoDoCo application in close collaboration with the relevant Orion stakeholders. The final funding decisions will be made by the PoDoCo programme.

Your application should include:

• CV
• Motivation letter
• List of publications
• Contact details of referees
   

#LI-ORION

Approved medical examination which also includes drug testing is required prior to the employment. We will also carry out a security clearance prior to the employment for the selected person.

Your new team 

Orion’s pharmaceutical innovations are created within its R&D organization. We employ over 400 top professionals in the field of drug discovery and development. We work globally: in Espoo and Turku in Finland, in Nottingham and Cambridge in the UK, and in Cambridge, MA, USA. Orion R&D and the Innovative Medicines business division are dedicated to making a transformation to become a global player in the pain and oncology therapy areas.