Aalto University is 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. Our community is made up of 12 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 000 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland.

We believe that people from diverse backgrounds can together reach the best results. Diversity is part of who we are. Over 40% of our academic faculty come from outside Finland. We warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply, as we want to ensure the continued diversity and inclusiveness of our community. Aalto is committed to equal and transparent recruitment procedures. 

At Aalto, high-quality research, art, education and entrepreneurship are promoted hand in hand. Disciplinary excellence is combined with multidisciplinary activities, engaging both students and the local innovation ecosystem. Our main campus is quickly transforming into an open collaboration hub that encourages encounters between students, researchers, industry, startups and other partners. Aalto University was founded in 2010 as three leading Finnish universities, Helsinki University of Technology, the Helsinki School of Economics and the University of Art and Design Helsinki, were merged to strengthen Finland’s innovative capability.

The School of Engineering is an international unit with nearly 70 professors and 3400 full-time students. Currently, the Department of Civil Engineering has 19 professors together with lecturers, post-doctoral researchers, doctoral students, and technical staff. In total, the number of personnel is about 110.

We are located at Aalto University campus in Otaniemi, Espoo where several research institutions and organizations have their laboratories. The Department and School have well-equipped research facilities and access to national scientific computing services.

Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering invites applications for a doctoral researcher position in ‘Characterization, aging and modelling of polymeric fire-stop materials’.

Fire-stops are used in many industrial and residential buildings to ensure fire compartmentation within fire-resistant walls and floors with cable or pipe penetrations. Fire-stop materials range from cementitious, cast-in-place materials to functional polymers and modular systems that react and deform when heated. In the context of nuclear power plant fire safety, the aging of fire-stop materials is a concern when the working life of the operating plants is extended with tens of years. Numerical modelling capabilities are needed, when assessing the performance of fire-stops in non-tested applications.

The goals of the research are i) to develop analytical and numerical techniques for the evaluation of fire-stop performance in special applications that cannot be tested using standard fire-resistance furnaces, and ii) to estimate how much the performance deteriorates with age, by applying accelerated thermal aging and the numerical models developed. The research is funded by the Finnish research program on nuclear safety (SAFER2028) as well as other national funding agencies for fire protection

The position is expected to start in early 2024.

Research Group

The selected candidate will work under the supervision of Prof. Simo Hostikka as a part of the Fire Safety Engineering -research team https://blogs.aalto.fi/fire  The work is supported by laboratory personnel.

The position mentioned above is within the domain of the Building Design and Construction research group in the Department of Civil Engineering; see https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-civil-engineering/building-design-and-construction

For more information on the research and teaching of the Department, please, visit https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-civil-engineering.

Requirements:

• We expect a MSc degree in chemistry, engineering, physics, or other relevant field.
• We look for demonstrated skills in analytical chemistry, thermodynamics and heat transfer.
• Previous experience in the use and development of numerical methods is beneficial.  
• We appreciate excellent success in the previous studies, with Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4 or better in scale 1-5.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English is mandatory.
   

The applicant for doctoral studies must satisfy the admission requirements of Aalto University: https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/aalto-doctoral-programme-in-engineering#4-how-to-apply-

The position may not be opened if no qualified candidate is found.

Financing, duration, and salary

Aalto University applies the salary system of Finnish universities. Currently, the starting salary for doctoral students is 2667 € per month and is increased with the progress towards the doctoral degree to over 3300€ per month. The position is contract-based. The financing is subject to the availability of funding.

The doctoral project lasts four years and consists of writing at minimum three international journal articles and a summarizing thesis. In addition, 40 ECTS worth of studies are part of the decree. The candidate will have work contract with the Civil Engineering Department of Aalto University during the project. Contract is first made for two years, and then continued for another two years upon successful progress of the studies and research. There will be a compulsory midterm review which will be completed during the second year. More info here https://into.aalto.fi/display/endoctoraleng/Midterm+review+of+doctoral+studies

In addition to the salary, the contract includes occupational health care and retirement benefits. Finland offers a safe and healthy environment for living. Excellent state-subsidized services include affordable daycare, health care, and free schools, ranked among the best in the world. According to many qualities of life indicators, Finland is among the best countries in the world, including being six years in a row the happiest country in the world (UN study 2023). We are one of the world's most reliable and stable nations with a high level of safety. With increased investments in R&D, a strong innovation culture, open data, and an advanced state of digitalization, we are a nation of innovation and entrepreneurship. The Nordic values of equality and cooperation are rooted deeply in our society. Gender equality, flexibility, and low hierarchy are at the core of our Nordic working environment.

For more information

Additional information regarding the post may be obtained from Simo Hostikka, e-mail: [email protected].

For submission related queries, contact [email protected]

How to apply

The open applications for the doctoral student position are to be submitted through the eRecruitment system Workday via the link “Apply” no later than November 10, 2023.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via our internal system Workday -> find jobs (not external aalto.fi webpage on open positions) by using their existing Workday user account.

The application for the position should contain:

• A 1-page cover letter motivating the interest for the position
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae including degrees and publications' list
• Transcript(s) with grades (in the original language and English)
• English language proficiency proof, as specified in the Admission Requirements
• Certified copy of the master's diploma. At the application stage, certification is not required; note that its English translation must accompany the certificate in its original language

All material should be submitted in English. The application documentation will not be returned.

Shortlisted candidates will be requested to prepare a short presentation for the interview. The successful candidate will be required to provide all the necessary application documents.

Espoo, Finland 11.10.2023

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