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Join the FERNS Network of Doctoral Researchers in Sustainable Electronics Across Europe!

We are looking for a motivated Doctoral Researcher to join the team focusing on Sustainable Industrial Transformation Research in the Operations and Supply Chain Research Group in the Industrial Engineering and Management Unit at Tampere University. The research team generates scientific knowledge on environmentally, socially and economically sustainable solutions in different industrial contexts for industrial product and service systems. The research areas range from sustainability-oriented product and service development, circular economy business models, and sustainability-oriented technology strategies to research on sustainable energy transition and infrastructures.   

The research team is participating in a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network project called “Holistic integration of eco-Friendly dEsign tools and mateRials, fabrication techNologies for the responsible co-creation of future Sustainable integrated electronic systems (FERNS)" that started in October 2025. Funded by the Horizon Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks programme, FERNS offers early-stage researchers the chance to work across disciplines and countries, addressing the environmental impact of electronics and advancing circular design principles. The project focuses on three application areas: fitness technologies, short-use health devices, and smart farming solutions.  

The project is a consortium formed by 10 universities and research centres in 8 countries around Europe. The project aims to train 15 research fellows to adopt a holistic approach that is necessary to dismantle the linear economic model of make, use, dispose and to promote circularity, in support of EU and national environmental policies, enforcements and ambitions. More information on the project can be found at Tyndall Institute webpage.

Job Description 

We are looking for doctoral student to join the project and develop into an expert in circular business model innovation for circular product service systems (PSS).  

• Objective: development of circular business models for circular product service systems with a focus on co-creation and testing with users / customers to ensure acceptance.  
• International secondments: Ecoforma, Netherlands (3 months) and Brandenburg University of Technology, Germany (7 months). 
• Supervisor: Assoc.Prof. Ulla A. Saari (Industrial Engineering & Management Unit, Tampere University).

Key responsibilities

• Perform high quality research in the focus area of the project 
• Work as part of an international team with FERNS partners.  
• Engage in the dissemination of the data through scientific publications, report writing and conference presentations 
• Engage in appropriate training and professional development opportunities 
• Undertake planned secondments with consortium partners. 
• Carry out any additional duties as may reasonably be required within the general scope and level of the post. 

Requirements  

For the position, we require fulfilling the Marie Skłodowska-Curie/Doctoral Network criteria: 

• M.Sc. degree in industrial engineering and management with excellent grades 
• Knowledgeable about the circular economy and sustainability requirements especially related to business model development and PSS development
• Theoretical and practical skills and some experience relevant to the position  
• Candidates must not be already in possession of a doctoral degree
• Be in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers 
• The successful candidate will be expected to work as part of an interdisciplinary team and will be required to develop a wide-ranging skill set.

In addition to the above, the following are additional relevant criteria:  

• A very good command in both spoken and written English 
• Ability to conduct systematic scientific research, inquiring mind and problem-solving skills 
• Ability to work in a team and communicate clearly in a multidisciplinary and international environment but also work and think independently 
• Ability to carry out the abovementioned secondments abroad as well as to travel to consortium meetings and international conferences

According to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) mobility rule, the researcher must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Finland for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.  

The formal requirements need to met by the end of the application period (e.g. degree completion). The successful candidates need to apply for and be granted a study right for a doctoral degree in the doctoral program of the discipline at Tampere University.  Please visit the admissions webpage for more information on eligibility requirements: Applying to Tampere University doctoral programmes and Doctoral Programme in Business and Technology Management.

We offer

The positions will be filled for a fixed-term period of three years. The starting date will be mutually agreed, but expected to start before April 2026. A trial period of six months applies to all our new employees. The salary will be set in accordance with MSCA rates and the gross monthly salary in the employment contract is in Finland about 3800 EUR/month plus family allowance if applicable. 

Tampere University offers many benefits to its employees, e.g. occupational health services, flexible working hours, high-quality sport services and affordable lunch opportunities on campus. International HR services off er their help with e.g. official issues in settling in Finland and  Tampere.  

Tampere region is one of the fastest growing city areas in Finland. Tampere is the largest inland city in the Nordic countries and a traditional centre of the Finnish industry. Today, the city is best known for its high-tech expertise and extensive knowhow in various fields. Tampere is also the most popular city in Finland for higher education studies.

 How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system (link below). The  closing date for applications is Sunday 16 November, 2025 at 23:59 (EET / CET +2). 

Applications and all accompanying documentation must be in English. 

The following documents should accompany your application: 

• a CV (with a list of publications, if applicable) 
• a free-form application letter including names of two referees (max. 1 page) 
• degree certificates and transcript of records (M.Sc. and B.Sc. studies) 
• other relevant documents that support your application (e.g. M.Sc. thesis, the most relevant publications regarding the call (max. 2), etc.) 

For questions and more information, please contact: 

Associate Professor Ulla A. Saari (Industrial Engineering & Management) ulla.saari (at) tuni.fi, phone +358503015526 

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Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat yhdessä Suomen  toiseksi suurimman monitieteisen, innostavan ja vaikuttavan tutkimus- ja oppimisyhteisön.  Korkeakouluyhteisömme osaamiskärjet ovat tekniikka, terveys ja yhteiskunta. Lue lisää: www.tuni.fi 

MSCA väitöskirjatutkija (Kiertotalouden liiketoimintamallien innovointi) 

Tehtävänkuvaus 

Haemme motivoitunutta väitöskirjatutkijaa liittymään tutkimusryhmään, joka keskittyy kestävän teollisen muutoksen tutkimukseen Tampereen yliopiston teollisuustalouden yksikössä. Tutkimusryhmä osallistuu Marie Skłodowska-Curie Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network -projektiin “Holistic integration of eco-Friendly dEsign tools and mateRials, fabrication techNologies for the responsible co-creation of future Sustainable integrated electronic systems (FERNS)”. Projekti käynnistyi lokakuussa 2025 ja siihen osallistuu kymmenen yliopiston ja tutkimuskeskuksen muodostama konsortio kahdeksasta Euroopan maasta. Tavoitteena on kouluttaa 15 tutkijaa omaksumaan kokonaisvaltainen lähestymistapa, joka on tarpeen lineaarisen talousmallin – tee, käytä, hävitä – purkamiseksi ja kiertotalouden edistämiseksi EU:n ja kansallisten ympäristöpoliittisten linjausten, säädösten ja tavoitteiden tukemiseksi. 

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi yliopiston sähköisellä hakulomakkeella (linkki löytyy tämän ilmoituksen alta).  

Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 16.11.2025 klo 23:59:00.