Postdoctoral Researcher (Civil Engineering/Architecture) in New Technologies

 

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.

Aalto University, invites applications for a
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER (Civil Engineering/Architecture) in New Technologies

The Department of Civil Engineering, seeks highly qualified and motivated individuals from the field of Civil Engineering and/or Architecture with enthusiastic attitude towards multidisciplinary, high-quality research in new technologies to join us as a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher for a period of 2 years.

The open position is to strengthen and complement the department´s present process of extending existing infrastructure and testing facilities to a full cyber-physical lab with the aim of increasing the level and extent of digitalization, digital processes and new technologies, and in close collaboration with the professorship of Structures and Architecture. The cyber-physical lab that can be seen as both, a facilitator of research as bidirectional process between the physical and the virtual, or a subject of research by exploring new relationships, meanings and processes for example by linking to AI and machine learning. Therefore, proposed topics can focus on specific aspects or the significant improvements through an integrated approach, synergistic integration of information technologies (including e.g.  VR, AR, MR) into a project´s lifecycle from its design-, simulation-, fabrication-, assembly-, construction- process to its use, disassembly, and reuse. The research is open to all sorts of materials, but research proposals with aspects of sustainability and/or smart geometry for design and digital fabrication are encouraged.

Aalto University's strategy focuses on shaping a sustainable future, building on three core values of collaboration, courage and responsibility as well as three cross-cutting approaches of sustainable solutions, radical creativity and entrepreneurial mindset. So, the applications should consider Aalto's strategy and also clearly state the respective character of the planned research. The candidates are also encouraged to consider how their research links to the three cross-cutting approaches of Aalto's strategy.

Teaching duties of the position are limited to about 10% of working hours and are related to Master’s programs of the Department of Civil Engineering, but can include students from other disciplines such as architecture. In addition, modest activity in fund raising and guiding doctoral and master students is also expected.

Research environment

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 infra and access to national scientific computing services.
The Postdoctoral Researcher in New Technologies will closely collaborate with the Professor of Structures and Architecture, a joint position between the Department of Civil Engineering at ENG, the School of Engineering and the Department of Architecture at ARTS, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture. At the Department of Civil Engineering, the Postdoctoral Researcher´s activities will be embedded in the Building, Design and Construction research group. The departments have good laboratory facilities including laboratories of structures, concrete, structural physics, fire safety, soil mechanics and asphalt technics. Presently, the department is in the process of extending existing infrastructure to a full cyber-physical lab with the aim of increasing the level and extent of digitalization, digital processes, and new technologies.

Requirements and Qualifications

You have a completed doctoral degree in Civil Engineering or Architecture or another field relevant for the position and the setting, you manifest a strong background in the research area you are applying for, and you can show a strong publication record or equivalent artistic work. Well demonstrated collaboration skills are essential and fluent command in English is prerequisite. Experience in multidisciplinary research approach, acquiring funding for research projects, and co-operation with building sector and research organizations are considered advantages.

Timeline

The positions are for a period of 2 years, with a mid-term review, and should start during 2022 but 1st of January 2023 at the latest. The positions are intended for full-time work.

Remuneration, benefits and about Finland as a country to work and live in

Salary will be defined according to Aalto University’s payroll system. 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 day care, health care, and free schools, which are ranked among the best in the world. Finland is among the best countries in the world, according to many qualities of life indicators, including being three in a row the happiest country in the world (UN study 2020). We are one of the world’s most reliable and stable nations with high level of safety. With high investments in R&D, a strong innovation culture, open data and advanced state of digitalization, we are a nation of innovation and entrepreneurship. The Nordic values of equality and co-operation are rooted deeply into our society. Gender equality, flexibility and low hierarchy are at the core of our Nordic working environment.

Your application should include

• Motivation Letter (including full contact information), which should outline the multidisciplinarity of the project and indicate, which of the above-mentioned aspect(s) the proposed research focuses on or connects (max 1 A4 page)
• Research plan for your future research clearly stating the theme(s) of the planned, multidisciplinary research and its link to new technologies and Aalto University's strategy (max 3 A4 pages)
• CV including publications and contact information for 2 reference persons (max 3 A4 pages)
• Summary of the Doctoral Thesis (max 1 A4 page), and a certified copy of doctoral degree certificate and its translation, if the originals are not in Finnish, Swedish or English
• Proof of proficiency in Finnish, Swedish or English if the applicant is not a native speaker of or educated in any of them
   

All material should be submitted in English in a single pdf-file (compiled with an order specified above).

If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our eRecruitment system Workday via the link “Apply” no later than on 31.03.2022. Email applications will not be taken into account.

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.

For more information

• For general information, please follow the links of this call.
• For information regarding the Building, Design and Construction research group,the setting of the position at the Department of Civil Engineering at ENG, the School of Engineering and connection to the Department of Architecture at ARTS, the School of Arts, Design and Architecture please contact Prof. Günther H. Filz, guenther.filz[at]aalto.fi
• For questions related to recruitment process, please contact HR Coordinator Merja Seppänen merja.seppanen [at]aalto.fi

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

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