Assistant Professor of Structural Mechanics

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. Diversity is a part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

Aalto University School of Engineering invites applications for

TENURE TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, STRUCTURAL MECHANICS

The call is targeted to ambitious individuals seeking for a full-time Assistant Professor position in the Aalto University tenure track system: https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track/tenure-track-career-path .

The vacancy is open at Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University: http://civileng.aalto.fi/en/ . The department has 18 professors supported by lecturers, post-doctoral researchers, doctoral students and technical staff. In total, the number of personnel is about 120. The department and school have well-equipped research infrastructures and access to national scientific computing services. Furthermore, the department and school are located at the Aalto University campus in Otaniemi, Espoo, where several other research institutions and organizations have laboratory and office premises.

Job description

Department of Civil Engineering seeks for an expert prepared and potential to develop the field of structural mechanics known to have a crucial role in the safety, durability, reusability and recyclability of buildings and structures. The future high-quality scientific research of the discipline is expected to integrate such fields as materials science and mechanics of materials with the physics of solids and structures. The research activities of structural mechanics are expected to develop and apply modern scientific methodologies and technologies, but the nature of research activities can be diverse: theoretical, computational or experimental. More broadly, this professorship is expected to serve as a link between the two focus areas of the department – Mineral-based Materials and Mechanics and Building Design and Construction – in the on-going development process of interdisciplinary research and teaching. In particular, the professorship is expected to strengthen and complement the research and education of the disciplines close to structural mechanics: structural engineering, concrete technology, architecture, building physics and geoengineering.

Professors of Aalto University are expected to perform high-quality research and teaching, and to supervise students on the doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate levels. This professorship will take responsibility of, or contribute to, some of the departmental teaching activities in the following disciplines: continuum, solid and structural mechanics; structural dynamics; stability of structures. The main teaching responsibilities of the department consist of two Master’s Programmes (Building Technology, Geoengineering) and one Bachelor’s Programme (Civil Engineering).

Professors are also expected to be proactive members of the university and international scientific communities, and to exhibit leadership and service for society.

Requirements

Applicants must have a position-relevant doctoral degree as well as such international research activities and teaching experience that can be qualified as relevant for the position.

Well-demonstrated collaboration skills and a fluent command of English are essential as well. Merits and potential of the applicants will be appraised via a holistic evaluation based on the quality and quantity of research, teaching and academic leadership, in addition to the overall activity in the scientific community and society. A bibliometric analysis will be conducted for supporting the evaluation of research merits.

Scientific awards and recognitions as well as experience in acquiring and applying for funding, preferably academic competitive funding, are considered as important advantages. Interdisciplinary research activities, roles in research organizations, pedagogical studies, student supervision and co-operation with industry are considered as advantages as well.

When recruiting for the first-term assistant professor position, the “evaluation is mainly based on the potential of the candidate” with respect to the evaluated dimensions (as notified by the tenure track evaluation criteria of Aalto University: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/tenure-track-evaluation-criteria ).

What we offer

Aalto University offers a possibility to work within a well-resourced learning community where students are rigorously selected and highly motivated. According to its strategy, Aalto University targets at shaping a sustainable future by renewing society with research-based knowledge, creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset. The values of the university are responsibility, courage and collaboration.

Salary will be defined according to Aalto University’s payroll system taking into account applicant's experience and qualifications, but a salary request can be provided. In addition to the salary, Aalto University provides its employees with occupational health care services and retirement benefits. 

Finland offers a safe and healthy environment for living with excellent state-subsidized services including affordable daycare, health care, and free schools ranked among the best in the world. Finland is among the best countries in the world, according to many quality-of-life indicators, including – for the fifth year in a row – being the happiest country in the world (UN study 2022). We are one of the world’s most reliable and stable nations with a 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 form the core of our Nordic working environment. More information about living and working in Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto/for-international-staff .

For more information

For additional information, please contact Associate Professor Jarkko Niiranen, Department of Civil Engineering, tel. +358 50 350 3196. In questions related to the recruitment process, please contact HR Coordinator Merja Seppänen, tel. +358 50 593 7712. E-mail addresses follow the form [email protected].

How to apply

The application material for the position must consist of the following documents:

• cover letter – addressed to Dean of School of Engineering, including a summary of merits, most important achievements and motivation for this position of Aalto University(maximum 2 pages)
• curriculum vitae – including contact information, following the structure given by Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity: https://tenk.fi/en/advice-and-materials/template-researchers-curriculum-vitae (maximum 2 pages)
• publication list – with the five most important publications marked
• research work portfolio – including a plan for future research in the position (4–10 pages)
• teaching portfolio – including a plan for future teaching in the position (4–10 pages)
• referee list – including 4–6 names (available to provide recommendations for short-listed candidates) with positions, affiliation(s) and e-mail addresses.
  

These documents must be combined, in the given order, into a single pdf-file finally attached to the online application.

The application material must be written in English. The application material will not be returned. Applications, including a single pdf-file consisting of the required application material listed above, must be submitted online through the electronic recruitment system of Aalto University until June 30, 2022.

A link to the recruitment system can be found in the end of this job advertisement via the text “Apply now”. The general instructions and evaluation criteria for applicants, including language requirements and guidelines for compiling the application material, are given online as well: https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track/interested-in-joining-our-tenure-track .

Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via the internal HR system Workday (keyword Find Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions).

In Espoo, May 4, 2022

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Tenure track in Aalto University

The tenure track is open to talented individuals who have excellent potential for a scientific career. Individuals placed on the Aalto University tenure track for professors have the possibility to advance in their career through regular performance assessments, which consider their merits in all areas of their scope of duty. Launched in 2010, the Aalto University tenure track position has been widely noticed and it has attracted a large number of international applicants. Aalto University has had the opportunity to recruit top experts as well as young research talents to join the Aalto University community. For more information about the tenure track system of Aalto University: https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track

More about Aalto University and Finland

Aalto University works in a hybrid way nowadays, the primary workplace is the Otaniemi campus in Espoo. The campus is a thriving and connected community of 100 nationalities, 12 000 students and 4 500 employees. Life at the transformed campus is vibrant and filled with appraised architecture, calming nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants and other services and excellent commuting connections along the recently opened metro line. For more information about the campus, please take part in a virtual tour: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/ .

As a living and working environment, Finland consistently ranks high in quality-of-life. For more information about living and working in Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto/for-international-staff .

Aalto University on the web and social media

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