NMR Research Unit

The focus of our unit is the research in modern nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). We are developing and applying modern experimental as well as computational magnetic resonance methods to create new tools to characterize physical properties of molecules, materials and nanosystems and to reliably interpret the acquired data with high accuracy using quantum-chemical calculations.

We also provide teaching in many courses in the physics curriculum, and supervise B.Sc. and M.Sc. theses, which are based on our research. More information about offered B.Sc. and M.Sc. projects (in Finnish).
Finnish version of our group webpages can be found here.

@NMR.Oulu

News

18/03/2024

Open 3-year PhD position "Advanced NMR for nanostructured cellulose materials"

NMR spectroscopy is one of the most powerful and versatile methods in chemical and materials characterization. This doctoral training project aims at developing sensitive, efficient, and information-rich NMR methods and applying them in the characterization of nanostructured cellulose materials. The NMR methods include, e.g., ultrafast Laplace NMR, which provide detailed information about the dynamics of molecules. The project will study porous materials and chemical structures of novel hybrid cellulose nanomaterials as well as their function in applications ranging from separation processes to electronics. Specific qualifications: Background related to NMR methods is important. Moreover, knowledge on cellulose/soft materials is a benefit.
Application deadline: April 14, 2023.
For more information, see the application form.

18/01/2024

Kesätöihin NMR-tutkimusyksikköön

Haluatko päästä osaksi huippututkimusta ja huippumukavaa tutkimusryhmää? Hae kesätöihin NMR-tutkimusyksikköön! Tarjolla on paikkoja joka lähtöön, kokeellisesta menetelmänkehitystyöstä laskennallisteoreettiseen tutkimukseen, ja sovelluksia bio- ja akkumateriaaleista syöpäsolujen aineenvaihduntaan ja ilmakehän aerosoleihin. Kiillota CV ja opintorekisteriote ja lähetä hakemus eetteriin 11.2. mennessä!
Hakulinkki

Alla on lisää linkkejä, joista löytyy tietoa NMR-tutkimusyksikön toiminnasta. Tärkeimmät tiedot on kerätty tämän viestin liitteenä olevaan esittelykuvaan. Tänne saa myös tulla rohkeasti kyselemään ja tutustumaan!
Yksikön kotisivut
Kesätyöntekijöiden fiiliksiä kesältä 2023
Esittelyvideo

15/09/2023

Postdoctoral Researcher position in modelling of NMR spectroscopic parameters of porous materials

The project aims to develop efficient approaches to model NMR parameters in large molecular systems at real physical conditions. This is achieved by combining state-of-the-art quantum chemical (QC) methods at relativistic level for heavy-element containing systems with atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations utilizing modern semi-empirical and machine learning (ML) approaches. The work is carried out in close collaboration with local and international experimental NMR researchers, where modeling is essential part providing predictions and microscopic interpretations of experimental observations. As a post-doctoral researcher, you will focus on developing QM/MD/ML-methods for large length- and time-scale simulations in new porous materials. The developed approaches will have great impact on materials NMR studies.
Application deadline: October 15, 2023.
For more information, see the application form.

06/06/2023

More funding from Academy of Finland

Perttu Lantto has obtained financial support from Academy of Finland for a project about realistic modelling of NMR parameters of porous materials. Congratulations!

16/05/2023

Academy of Finland funding

Otto Mankinen has received funding for Academy Research Fellow position from the Academy of Finland for Ultrafast Laplace NMR for biomaterials and energy solutions. Congratulations!

01/03/2023

Computational Chemistry Days 2023

On May 11-12 our group will take turn in organizing the Finnish Computational Chemistry Days (CCD2023) here in Oulu. The registration and abstract submission is now open until April 14th. For more information click here.

20/10/23

Meet our summer workers

Last year we organized a short survey about the experiences of our summer workers at our unit. You can find their answers here (in Finnish only).

We are also hiring for this summer! Some of the topics were are studying can be found in this link or click the image. Come and ask if you are interested and apply for the position here by 5th February.

16/01/23

M.Sc. Thesis Award 2022 for Perttu Hilla

Our doctoral researcher Perttu Hilla has been awarded by Section for Computational Chemistry of the Finnish Chemical Societies for his thesis ”Molecular Dynamics of Xenon in Cryptophane-A”. Congratulations! Perttu will give a seminar about his thesis on Thursday January 26th. You can find more information about how to follow the seminar online on the webpages of the Finnish Chemical Societies.

04/11/2022

Two postdoctoral positions are open in the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant and Academy of Finland project “Ultrafast Laplace NMR”

The project aims to significantly shorten the experiment time of multidimensional relaxation and diffusion experiments and, at the same time, improve sensitivity by several orders of magnitude by modern hyperpolarization methods. This enables one to observe fast molecular processes in real time, and much lower concentrations become detectable. The method has many interesting applications in various disciplines, including chemistry, biochemistry, materials science and medicine; for example, they are utilized to better understand the role of aerosols in climate change, developing novel biosensors and characterization of alternative sustainable biomaterials and cements. In addition, it has potential to contribute significantly to the development of advanced, cost-efficient, low-field and mobile NMR techniques.
Application deadline: December 31st, 2022
For more information about the position, see the application form.

01/11/2022

Experimental and computational PhD positions in NMR at the University of Oulu

Five PhD student positions in the NMR field can be applied for at the University of Oulu, within the I4WORLD doctoral programme:

  1. Novel xenon NMR biosensors
    PI: prof. Ville-Veikko Telkki; Short description of the position
  2. Advanced characterization of 3D printed structured catalysts using NMR spectroscopy and imaging
    PI: assoc. prof. Vladimir Zhivonitko; short description of the position
  3. Computational paramagnetic NMR of complex materials for environmental remediation and resource recovery
    PI: prof. Juha Vaara; short description of the position
  4. NMR analysis of green modifications/solvent systems exploited in sustainable processing of lignocellulosic side streams
    PI: prof. Henrikki Liimatainen; short description of the position
  5. Advanced NMR analysis techniques for mining
    PI: prof. Elena Kozlovskaya; short description here

These positions are fully financed and for the duration of four years, starting at the latest on September 1, 2023. The application deadline is January 31, 2023. Detailed application instructions are given on the website of the doctoral programme.

22/06/2022

Academy of Finland project for optical detection of NMR

Our researcher Anu Kantola has received funding from Academy of Finland for a project investigating optical detection of NMR. Congratulations!

04/05/2022

Editors’ Highlights in Nature Communications

Our article Hyper-CEST NMR of metal organic polyhedral cages reveals hidden diastereomers with diverse guest exchange kinetics that was recently published in Nature Communications has been picked for Editors’ Highlights in section Inorganic and physical chemistry.

04/03/2022

Master's thesis prize by Finnish Physical Society

Katja Tolkkinen next to NMR spectrometer and Perttu Hilla in his office

The master's theses of Katja Tolkkinen and Perttu Hilla were selected among the finalists, and got honorary mentions for their work in the competition for Master's thesis prize by Finnish Physical Society. Katja worked on experimental NMR cryoporometry of porous materials and articular cartilage and Perttu theoretically modelled dynamics of xenon atoms for applications in biosensors. Both Katja and Perttu are now continuing their postgraduate research in our group. Congratulations!
Katja's blogpost and her thesis
Perttu's video and his thesis

17/02/22

Finnish cultural foundation grant from Kalle and Dagmar Välimaa fund

Finnish Cultural Foundation has awarded grants for 2021 October call. Our postdoctoral researcher Otto Mankinen has received 30 000 EUR for development of ultrafast Laplace NMR of biomaterials, such as biofuels and lignin. Congratulations!

02/02/22

Four summer work positions in our group

Are you interested in working with experimental or computational NMR? We are offering up to four summer work positions in our unit, both in experimental and computational group. Apply here. Deadline is 20 February.

19/11/21

Award for exemplary doctoral thesis

Otto Mankinen received an award for exemplary doctoral thesis in Technical and Natural Sciences from the University of Oulu graduate school. Congratulations!

15/10/21

Awards to scientists from our group

We are pleased to congratulate to our group members who have recently received prizes for presentations of their research. Jing Li has won the poster prize at AMPERE Summer school for her poster about Xe NMR in geopolymers. Sarah Mailhiot has been awarded Best Oral Presentation by a young scientist (funded by Magritek) at Compact NMR Conference II on her work about measuring D-T2 correlations in the magnetic stray field. Congratulations!

03/06/21

Academy of Finland project for Professor Ville-Veikko Telkki

Professor Ville-Veikko Telkki has received funding from Academy of Finland for the project "Ultrafast Laplace NMR in biochemistry". Congratulations!

30/04/21

Prof. Juha Vaara a new member of Finnish Academy of Science and Letters

Professor Juha Vaara has been selected as one of the new members of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters. Congratulations!

18/09/20

Novel ultrafast nuclear magnetic resonance method for investigating molecular exchange

The exchange of molecules between different physical or chemical environments due to diffusion or chemical transformations has a crucial role in a plethora of fundamental processes such as breathing, protein folding, chemical reactions and catalysis.
Our Unit developed an NMR method to speed up the detection of molecular exchange to 10000-fold. The method is exploited in the climate change research to understand the composition of atmospheric aerosols in collaboration with the Nano and Molecular Systems (NANOMO) Research Unit at the University of Oulu. See the original article in Nature Communications.
[Spectroscopy Europe] [Finnish news agency (In Finnish)] [University of Oulu news (in Finnish)] [AlphaGalileo] [phys.org] [@UniOulu twitter] [Kemia (in Finnish)]

11/09/20

Kvantum Institute funding for our unit

Our unit has received funding for a project Advanced NMR for sustainability as a part of Kvantum institue of the University of Oulu.

24/08/20

Video feature on application of hyperpolarization for nuclear magneto-optics

On July 27-29 the first Parahydrogen Enhanced Resonance Meeting (PERM) took place as a virtual conference, featuring a wide selection of exciting science. You can now watch a video recording of the contribution from our group detailing our recent progress in the field of nuclear magneto-optics.

17/08/20

New course on molecular magnetism in autumn 2020

Our group will open a new course Molecular magnetism in the upcoming second period the autumn semester 2020. For more information see the course description link or contact Akseli Mansikkamäki.

16/06/2020

Academy of Finland project funding for prof. Juha Vaara

Professor Juha Vaara, head of the theoretical group in our unit, has received funding from Academy of Finland for the project Multiscale simulation of magnetic resonance physics. Congratulations!

13/05/2020

Congratulations to Akseli Mansikkamäki, a recipient of Academy of Finland postdoctoral grant

Akseli Mansikkamäki has received a postdoctoral grant from the Academy of Finland for the research focusing on properties of single-molecule magnets.

30/04/2020

Evidence that NMR chemical shifts depend on magnetic field strength

Researchers from our group have confirmed predictions made in 1970 that NMR chemical shift depends on the strength of the magnetic field. See article in Chemistry World and original article in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics featured in 2020 PCCP HOT Article Collection.
[Finnish News Agency (in Finnish)] [University of Oulu news (in English) (in Finnish)] [@UniOulu twitter] [Tekniikka & Talous (in Finnish)] [Kemia (in Finnish)]

10/09/2019

New method for material research gets hundred times stronger

Our recent article "Low-Concentration Measurements of Nuclear Spin-Induced Optical Rotation Using SABRE Hyperpolarization", published in prestigious The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, has been featured in multiple news outlets. You can read the full article about the emerging field of nuclear magneto-optics here.
[Finnish News Agency (in Finnish)] [Spectroscopy Europe] [Phys.org] [Nanowerk] [AlphaGalileo]
[@UniOulu twitter] [University of Oulu news in English (in Finnish)] [Tekniikka & Talous]

11/06/2019

Congratulations to Vladimir Zhivonitko, a recipient of Academy Project funding

Vladimir Zhivonitko has received Project funding from the Academy of Finland for the research focusing on development of metal-free activators for parahydrogen to create biosensors for NMR and MRI studies.

08/05/2019

Congratulations to the Academy of Finland postdoctoral position for Sarah Mailhiot

Sarah Mailhiot has received a postdoctoral position from the Academy of Finland. Her project concerns application of NMR and MRI methods for investigation of new sustainable cement materials with low or zero carbon footprint.

22/10/2018

XLI Finnish NMR Symposium announced

The XLI Finnish NMR Symposium will take place on 5-7 June 2019 in Rokua Health & Spa. We are pleased to host three plenary speakers

  • Mathilde Lerche ( Technical University of Denmark )
  • Andrew Pell ( Stockholm University )
  • Leif Schröder ( Leibniz Forschunginstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie im Forschungsverbund Berlin )

Further information and registration dates will be announced on the official website of the conference http://nmrsymposium.fi/2019/.

17/05/2018

Academy of Finland postdoctoral position awarded to Petr Štěpánek

Petr Štěpánek has received the postdoctoral researcher position from the Academy of Finland for the project concerning nuclear magneto-optic spectroscopy.

30/11/2017

ERC project funding

Ville-Veikko Telkki received an ERC consolidator grant (2.6 M€) for the development of ultrafast Laplace NMR.
News in English
News in Finnish

30/11/2017

Large funding for the research group at the University of Oulu for development of pioneering NMR method

Suuri rahoituspotti Oulun yliopiston tut­ki­ja­ryh­mäl­le - kyseessä uraauurtavan NMR-menetelmän kehittäminen (in Finnish).

30/11/2017

Ville Telkki revolutionalizes NMR spectroscopy

Ville-Veikko Telkki featured in a series about Finnish physicists (in Finnish) http://blogs.helsinki.fi/sfs-70/2017/11/30/ville-telkki-mullistaa-nmr-spektroskopiaa/

Archived news

Contact

The NMR research group can be found at the Linnanmaa Campus, corridor G (red), G2 staircase, 3rd floor.

Internal University address: 3KEM

If you are interested in our research, collaboration, or want to study in our group, please contact prof. Juha Vaara or prof. Ville-Veikko Telkki.

Postal address

NMR Research Unit
Faculty of Science
P.O. Box 3000
FIN-90014 University of Oulu
Finland
Tel: +358-294-48 1343 (theory)
Tel: +358-294-48 1309 (experiment)