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Aerosol Physics Laboratory group at the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Science is looking for a Doctoral Researcher. The group studies how aerosol particles form from combustion, atmospheric processes, nanoparticle synthesis, nanostructured coatings, and more. 

Job description

We are looking for a Doctoral Researcher in the area of atmospheric science with a focus on understanding the oxidation reactions of gaseous vapours that lead to the formation of aerosol. This is an opportunity for a researcher who is excited to pursue important discoveries regarding how human activities affect local and global climate.

Successful candidates will pursue a doctoral degree at Tampere University. Full-time doctoral studies are generally completed in four years.

Depending on your experience and interests, you will start work on one of the following topics:

1)    Computational quantum chemistry: Elucidating the oxidation mechanisms of aromatic hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. Your work will include using computational quantum chemical methods and kinetic modeling. The aim is to improve the parameters that go into the current chemistry transport models to better predict the formation of aerosol in the atmosphere.

2)    Experimental mass spectrometry: Performing flow reactor experiments using chemical ionization mass spectrometry methods. You will work with a chemical ionization mass spectrometer connected to a flow reactor to measure the differently oxidized products of aromatic hydrocarbons. This includes developing ionization techniques that are selective towards not only molecules with different elemental compositions, but also to different structural isomers. The aim is to develop a technique that extracts structural information from the mass spectra.

3)    Combination of 1 and 2: You will have the opportunity to balance the theoretical and experimental aspects of the project, developing your skills in both, and gaining a deeper understanding of the role that aromatic hydrocarbons play in forming atmospheric aerosol.

Requirements

Applicant should have (by the date of starting) a master’s degree in chemistry, physics, atmospheric science or related fields. Prior experience with quantum chemical computations or chemical ionization mass spectrometry is an asset, but not a requirement. An ideal applicant will be excited at the prospect of academic research and capable of working both independently and as a member of an international and diverse team. All genders and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates must be pursuing or will be accepted to study towards a doctoral degree in the doctoral programme of the discipline. Please visit the admissions webpage https://www.tuni.fi/en/study-with-us/programmes/doctoral-programmes for more information on eligibility requirements.

Tampere University is a unique, multidisciplinary and boldly forward-looking, evolving community. Our values are openness, diversity, responsibility, courage, critical thinking, erudition bildung, and learner-centredness. We hope that you can embrace these values and promote them in your work.

We offer

The doctoral degree takes approximately 4 years to complete and the position is full-time. The starting date is as soon as a suitable candidate is found. A trial period of six (6) months applies to all our new employees.

The salary will be based on both the job requirements and the employee’s personal performance in accordance with the salary system of Finnish universities. According to the criteria applied to teaching and research staff, the position of a Doctoral Researcher is placed on level 2—4 of the job requirements scale. A typical starting salary for Doctoral Researchers is approximately 2600 EUR/month. 

We are inviting you to be a part of a vibrant, active and truly international research community. We value interdisciplinarity, as it allows you to expand your research network and exposes you to new perspectives and ideas to solve complex research problems and pursue novel research findings. We are strongly committed to the highest level of scientific research and the provision of high-quality doctoral education. 

As a member of staff at Tampere University, you will enjoy a range of competitive benefits, such as occupational health care services, flexible work schedule, versatile research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities and a safe and inviting campus area as well as a personal fund to spend on sports and cultural activities in your free time. Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find more information about us and working and living Tampere by watching our video: Tampere Higher Education Community - our academic playground.  

Finland is among the most stable, free and safe countries in the world, based on prominent ratings by various agencies. Tampere is the largest inland city of Finland, and the city is counted among the major academic hubs in the Nordic countries. Tampere region is the most rapidly growing urban area in Finland and home to a vibrant knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial community. The city is an industrial powerhouse that enjoys a rich cultural scene and a reputation as a centre of Finland’s information society. Tampere is also surrounded by vivid nature with forests and lakes, providing countless opportunities for easy-to-access outdoor adventures and refreshment throughout the year. 

Read more about Finland and Tampere: 

•   Visit Finland
•   This is Finland
•   Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Welcome to Finland
•   Visit Tampere

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is 13.10.2023 (23:59 EEST / UTC +3). Please write your application and all the accompanying documentation in English and attach them in PDF format.

Please attach only the following documents to your application: 

• A letter of motivation and description of your research interests 
• Curriculum vitae according to the TENK template  (including the contact details of two referees).
• Diplomas and complete transcripts of records in English (BSc and MSc degrees). Students that will finish the M.Sc. until September 2023 are still invited to apply.
• Either in the application documents or in the second stage of the selection process, an accepted English proficiency test will be necessary. For more details, see (www.tuni.fi/en/study-with-us/programmes/doctoral-programmes/language-requirements).

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Siddharth Iyer, siddharth.iyer (at) tuni.fi, tel. +358 41 729 5811 (Mon-Fri 09:00 - 17:00)

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Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat korkeakouluyhteisön, joka uskoo ihmiseen ja tieteeseen. Tekniikan, terveyden ja yhteiskunnan huippuosaajat muuttavat maailmaa Suomen toiseksi suurimmassa monitieteisessä ja innostavassa tutkimus- ja oppimisympäristössä. 

Aerosolifysiikan laboratoriossa on avoinna väitöskirjatutkijan tehtävä. Tohtorintutkinnon tavoitteena on tutkia kaasufaasin hapetusreaktioita kvanttimekaanisen laskennan sekä massaspektrometrimittausten avulla. Väitöskirjatutkija pääsee oppimaan taitoja, jotka ovat korvaamattomia tutkittaessa ilmakehän aerosoleja ja niiden vaikutuksia ihmisten terveyteen ja ilmastoon.

Lisätietoa tehtävästä sekä hakuohjeet löytyvät yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi sähköpostitse (siddharth.iyer@tuni.fi).

Lisätietoja: 

Dr. Siddharth Iyer, siddharth.iyer (a) tuni.fi, puh +358 41 729 5811 (Ma-Pe 09:00 - 17:00)