The University of Turku is a world-class multidisciplinary research university, hosting a vibrant community of 25,000 students and employees from over 100 different countries. As one of the leading universities in Finland, University of Turku offers study and research opportunities in eight faculties. At the Faculty of Technology, Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering brings together experts in physics, chemistry and engineering in a drive towards innovative materials engineering for future technologies and key societal challenges.

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering is now looking for a Doctoral Candidate /Project researcher to join the group of Prof. Milica Todorović. In this position, you will have a chance to make an impact by applying tools from artificial intelligence (AI) to the computational design of materials. Our goal is to implement Bayesian optimization tools for multi-fidelity machine learning simulations of advanced functional materials, and in the process, carry out multi-objective optimization of materials properties for device applications.

The task of the doctoral candidate is fixed-term and lasts four years. The starting time for this position would be 01.09.2021, or upon mutual agreement, and the contract duration will be 4 years from the starting time.

Your role and goals

You will carry out computational explorations of the microstructure and functional properties of organic/inorganic materials and determine how to tune properties through microstructure engineering. You will also be developing and implementing machine learning approaches to manage the complexity of materials optimization and achieve multiple materials design objectives for functional applications. You will manage large-scale supercomputer simulations alongside AI algorithms and data analytics tools.

Requirements

We welcome candidates with a Master’s degree in physics, chemistry, materials science or computer science who are curious about applied machine learning in natural sciences. Prior coding and machine learning experience is a bonus, but not a must. We seek colleagues who enjoy coding, scripting and analytics, and are keen to push the boundaries of computational materials design. This project requires creative thinking and programming and a broad understanding of electronic phenomena in organic and inorganic materials. We further appreciate willingness to travel, teach and mentor, collaborate and communicate science.

The qualification requirements of the positions are stated in the University of Turku rules of Procedure. A person selected for the post of a doctoral candidate is required to have a higher university degree. In addition, when acquiring his or her degree or otherwise, he or she is required to have demonstrated the ability and motivation to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan. The degree must be completed before the end of the application period.

In this position, you will apply for the study rights for doctoral studies at the University of Turku (in this case Autumn 2021/Spring 2022). Thus, please check the student information and application criteria. In particular, please pay attention to the mandatory skill level in English. Fluent oral and written communication skills in English are required.

The qualification requirements of the position are stated in the University of Turku Rules of Procedure: https://www.utu.fi/en/university/organisation

What we offer

In the Digital Materials Laboratory group, led by Prof. Milica Todorović, we combine electronic structure simulations and machine learning to pursue innovative applications for future technologies. We are a multi-cultural and cross-disciplinary team. You will train in machine learning applications with experienced developers, meet our global network of collaborators, join us at scientific meetings, help us organize research workshops and get involved in academic and diversity outreach. In combination with the academic development courses at the University of Turku, we will help you grow a competitive career profile.

Salary

The salaries are determined in accordance with the university salary system for teaching and research personnel. For a doctoral candidate/project researcher, the salary is at levels 2-4 on the job demands chart. The salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience based on the University salary system and will at the beginning of the employment be approximately 2202,97 – 2410,79 €/month. There is a trial period of six (6) months.

Ready to apply?
Applications must be submitted by 16^th of August 2021 (23:59), using the electronic application form of the University of Turku at the following address: https://www.utu.fi/en/university/come-work-with-us/open-vacancies The link to the application system is at the beginning of this announcement (Apply for the job). Applications documents in English should include:

(1)   Letter of motivation

(2)   CV

(3)   Degree certificates and academic transcripts

(4)   Contact details of at least two referees (or letters of recommendation, if already available) 

The position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. For additional information, kindly contact Prof. Milica Todorović milica.todorovic@utu.fiUniversity of Turku reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, reopen the application process, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.