Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Aalto has six schools with more than 13 000 students and 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland.

Aalto University School of Science invites applications for a tenure-track professor position in the field of advanced energy materials

Your role and goals 

The tenure-track position in advanced energy materials is open to individuals holding a doctorate in physics or a closely related field, with the intent for pursuing an academic career at the Department of Applied Physics. Materials is one of the strategic focus areas of Aalto University, and the development of advanced materials in energy production and storage are among the key research areas at the Department of Applied Physics. Applicants who have demonstrated outstanding research in experimental materials physics are invited to apply. In particular, we seek candidates with scientific expertise in experimental materials physics in the field of renewable energies and energy storages. Materials for nuclear applications are omitted from the call. The posted position is at the assistant professor level, but exceptional candidates would be also considered for associate or full professor levels.

We seek expertise in energy materials for applications in energy production, conversion, transmission, or storage or for reducing the power consumption and increasing the efficiency of existing devices. Example areas of interest include photovoltaic materials and devices, fuel cells, batteries, supercapacitors, and materials for hydrogen generation and storage. 

The successful candidate is expected to develop and lead an outstanding research program integrated into the general experimental and theoretical research in the Department of Applied Physics and utilizing the existing infrastructure at the department, for example the Otanano Micronova Cleanroom and Nanomicroscopy Center for the fabrication and characterization of energy materials. The development of own laboratory facilities is encouraged. The nominated candidate is expected to contribute to education in the fields of energy and materials at the Bachelor’s and Masters’ level, to develop curricula for new courses in the department and to supervise students at the Bachelor’s, Masters’ and doctorate level.

Your experience 

Candidates in the academic tenure track system are expected to exercise and guide scientific research, to provide related higher academic education, to follow advances in their field, to participate in service to the Aalto University community, and to take part in societal interaction and international collaboration in their field. 

We seek applicants who have

• A doctorate in physics or a closely related field. 

• Potential to carry out research independently and to attract research funding at the highest level. 

• Potential to collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment.  

• Potential to take responsibility for education and researcher training in material sciences and renewable energies.

• Ability to be an effective teacher in the undergraduate and graduate degree programmes of the School of Science.

The applicants will be reviewed on the basis of their merits in research, teaching, academic/technological leadership, and activities in the scientific community, including in R&D, in accordance with their career stage. A more detailed description of the tenure track system at Aalto University is available at https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track/tenure-track-career-path 

Aalto University is committed to promoting diversity, equality and non-discrimination in all its activities. Thus, we promote equal opportunities to learn, acquire knowledge, participate and to make a difference. We encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds and especially women, who are underrepresented in this field, to apply. As an equal-opportunity employer, Aalto University founds its recruitment decisions on applicants’ competencies, skills and aptitudes. Aalto’s recruitment processes are clearly defined, transparent and fair, and allow the relevant areas to be emphasized when recruiting people to positions in the various career systems and levels. Career breaks due to periods of parental leave and other obligatory absences, such as military service, will be taken into account to your benefit when considering applications. 

What we offer 

The professor will join an inspiring and supportive work community of experienced professionals and high-quality students. Aalto University follows the salary system of Finnish universities, but applicants may also provide salary requirements. As an employer, Aalto University provides excellent staff training and mentoring programmes as well as occupational health care services, commuter ticket benefits and campus sport facilities. In addition, we offer extensive research support services such as grant writing and project management. The position will be located at the Aalto University Otaniemi Campus. 

For more information 

For additional information, please contact the Chair of the tenure track committee, Professor Mathias Groth, tel. +358 50 433 1470, [email protected], and for questions related to the recruitment process HR Partner Lotta Maltolahti, tel. +358 504351512, [email protected].

Ready to apply? 

The application material for the tenure track position includes

• Cover letter  

• Curriculum Vitae (using template recommended by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (TENK)). 

• Summary of merits and highest achievements in research (max. 2 pages) 

• List of publications in which the 10 most significant publications/patents are highlighted 

• A teaching portfolio, including information on teaching, responsibilities regarding course preparation, experience on supervising theses and development of teaching in general. The portfolio summarises the candidate’s teaching competence, vision, experience and education, and includes a self-assessment of teaching development during the candidate’s career.  (4-10 pages) 

• A research portfolio describing past research and plans for future research (4-10pages). Please include a description of the facilities you need and a cost estimate, as well as of your possibilities of utilizing the existing infrastructure and/or sharing your equipment. 

General instructions for applicants including language requirements and guidelines for compiling the teaching portfolio, research portfolio and CV are at https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track/interested-in-joining-our-tenure-track 

For existing experimental infrastructure see the equipment of the Department of Applied Physics (https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-applied-physics/experimental-equipment-of-the-department-of-applied-physics) and Otanano national infrastructure (https://www.aalto.fi/en/otanano) which includes Micronova (https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/about-micronova) and Nanomicroscopy Center (https://www.aalto.fi/en/otanano/nanomicroscopy-center). For existing computational infrastructure see Triton high-performance computing cluster (https://scicomp.aalto.fi/triton/), CSC – IT Center for Science (www.csc.fi) and LUMI supercomputer (https://www.lumi-supercomputer.eu/about-lumi/).  

All material should be submitted in English and must be enclosed as a single standard pdf file with file name “lastname_firstname_application.pdf”. The first document of the pdf file is the cover letter, followed by the appendices in the order given in the list above. Applications should be written using a minimum font size of 11 pt. The application materials will not be returned. Please also note that our recruitment system will accept only a limited number of attachments - consequently please abide by our request to combine materials to a single pdf-file.

Applications for tenure track positions should be addressed to the Dean of Aalto University’s School of Science and sent through the electronic recruitment system. The deadline for applications is midnight 31.05.2023 Eastern European Time / Eastern European Daylight Time. Please refer to the title of the position concerned in your application.

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period or to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period. 

Why Aalto University? 

For applicants selected for tenure track positions, the university provides relocation support, such as assistance with finding housing and kindergartens/schools located on campus and nearby, and career support for accompanying partners. Aalto University encourages flexible working hours to allow a healthy balance between work and family life. For all new staff members and their families, Aalto University provides dedicated introductory social and cultural events around the year. The university has six schools with nearly 13 000 students and more than 400 professors committed to building both foundations and innovative applications that shape the future through science, technology, art, and business, with excellent opportunities for collaboration with local partners at Aalto University, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and University of Helsinki. In addition to its strong academic community, the Helsinki region is a vibrant technology and innovation hub with easy access to major partners, both private and public. 

The Department of Applied Physics is located at the main Otaniemi Campus of Aalto University, 15 metro minutes away from the center of Helsinki. Helsinki International Airport (HEL) is one of the primary hubs of air traffic between Europe and Asia, with direct flights to many destinations around the world. 

About living in Finland

Finland is a great place to live; it is a safe, politically stable and well-organized Nordic country with high-quality free education and affordable health care and childcare. Finland consistently ranks highly in terms of quality of life: http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/finland/. For more information about living in Finland, see: https://www.aalto.fi/services/about-finland. 

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