Master's Thesis Worker, Biofouling and Microbially Induced Corrosion of Stainless Steels

Are you all about science and technology? Would you like to work in a meaningful role with real responsibility and excellent learning opportunities? Do you want to work with superb colleagues who are experts in their field to drive a sustainable future and tackle the greatest challenges of our time? VTT might be just the place for you.

 VTT is one of the leading research organisations in Europe. What unites are curiosity, passion for learning and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our time and turn them into sustainable growth and well-being. In recent years, we have created ground-breaking innovations such as the world's fastest and most accurate radiation detector, a cancer-sniffing sensor device for smartphones, and a headphone set entirely made of microbial materials. Get to know us further by exploring VTT’s research infra at VTT World . 

We are now looking for a Master’s thesis worker to work as part of Materials in Extreme Environments -team. As a Master's thesis worker, you will be working in our biofouling and microbially induced corrosion project.

The project focuses developing methodology to identify microfouling initiating species on stainless steels as well as species involved in microbially induced corrosion of stainless steel in sea water and deep groundwater. The Materials in Extreme Environments -team focuses on solving material challenges in diverse industrial applications. In our team you will be working in close collaboration with researchers and scientist from many different domains in material research and testing as well as microbiology.

You will work in a project which aims project aims to characterize the microbial community forming biofilm on surface of stainless steel in sea water and ground water environment as well as recording the corrosion of steel in presence of naturally occurring microbial community.

In aqueous systems, microbes exist either in planktonic form floating freely in solution or in sessile form attached to solid surfaces forming biofilms. Biofilms that grow on the solid surfaces in aqueous environments, termed biofouling, impede underwater structures, such as ships, causing increased drag and materials degradation by microbially influenced corrosion. The major obstacle in developing more effective and environmentally and societally benign biofouling control strategies is the lack of mechanistic understanding on the microbe-surface interactions. The improved understanding of biofouling mechanism has globally important meaning as the novel control strategies enable longer lifetime of equipment and improved integrity of structures, improved hydrodynamics and lowered fuel costs. The new insights into the interactions between microbial cells and metallic surfaces will allow for minimizing the biofouling with the high impact of the environment.

The Master’s thesis project will look the phenomena behind biofouling and microbially induced corrosion by utilizing FISH-probing combined to microscopy techniques (epifluorescence, confocal and SEM), as well as quantitative PCR, amplicon sequencing, metallurgy and material sciences.

We are seeking a person with knowledge of microbiology, molecular biology, and laboratory work. Experience in material science and/or electrochemistry is considered as an advantage but not required. You are a Master’s student with educational background in microbiology, biotechnology, or molecular biology or in similar field. 

We hope that you have good collaboration skills, but you are also willing to work independently and to be able to carry on research of your own under the guidance from your supervisors. We hope that you are eager to learn new things. In addition, ability to critically analyze and interpret the results of your work and to work safely in a laboratory is essential.

• Impactful work for the future. As a leading applied research organization, we are on a mission to bring exponential hope to the world by joining together people, businesses, science and technology. We tackle the biggest challenges of our time – from climate change and resource sufficiency to industrial renewal and smart healthcare – and turn them into sustainable growth. Read more about our strategy – the path of exponential hope . 
• Career opportunities, top-level mentors. At VTT, young professionals' skills are appreciated and supported with the opportunity to learn from the top experts in their field. You’ll get to discover our community of over 2000 experts representing more than 40 nationalities working across cutting-edge fields of science and technology.
• Meaningful projects, real responsibility. At VTT, young talents get to take on on meaningful projects in research or supporting researchers’ work. We treat young talents as equals and give them real responsibility from the start. VTT is a caring employer that supports your growth and work–life balance and offers a range of well-being services.

Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds!

Please send your CV and application via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 30 August 2021.

For more information about the position, you can contact Pauliina Rajala, Senior Scientist, Materials in Extreme Environments: [email protected] , +358 405026456.

The length of the Master's Thesis work period is 6 months and the thesis work is fee paid. Position is filled as soon as we find the right candidate. The work will take place at VTT’s premises in Otaniemi (Kemistintie 3 and Tietotie 2, 02150 Espoo).

We look forward to hearing from you!

Apply between 9 August 2021 and 30 August 2021 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

Employment type: Full-time, Fixed-term (fee paid)

VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have over 75 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT´s turnover and other operating income is 258 M€. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.

VTT – beyond the obvious.