Professor, Soft Matter Modelling

Updated: almost 2 years ago
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 31 May 2022

Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. We are committed to identifying and solving grand societal challenges and building an innovative future. Aalto has six schools with nearly 11 000 students and a staff of more than 4000, of which 400 are professors. Our main campus is located in Espoo, Finland. Diversity is 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. 

The unique competitive edge of the Department of Chemistry and Materials Science is based on combination of chemical synthesis and materials developments. We have world class expertise on developing Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) methods, electrochemical material and on molecular modelling. We have also several groups focusing on synthesizing of soft materials. The research in the department focuses on advanced and functional materials, chemical synthesis, energy storage and conversion as well as molecular and materials modelling.

The Department of Chemistry and Materials Science at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering invites applications for

Professor, Soft Matter Modelling 

The position will be filled at the Assistant, Associate or Full Professor level of the Aalto University tenure track system. The contract is full-time and either fixed-term or permanent depending on its positioning on the tenure track.

We are looking for a dedicated professional with ambition for ground-breaking academic work in the field of Soft Matter Modelling. The application areas of modelling we are interested in are related to biobased materials, nanocellulose, and bioengineering. Systems can be studied on different length-scales from molecular to mesoscale, with approaches including atomistic to coarse-grained. Surfaces, self-assembly, and colloidal systems are of interest. The professor is expected to collaborate with other research groups working in Soft Matter areas to solve challenging materials science problems.

Your role and our expectations

As a professor, we expect you to establish a high-level research group in the field of soft matter modeling. This requires capability to obtain external funding, supervise researchers and ability to collaborate with other research groups. On long term, we also expect you to teach in B.Sc., M.Sc. and doctoral levels. Teaching will relate to statistical mechanics, physical chemistry, and computational methods.

The School of Chemical Engineering hosts several research groups focusing on Soft Matter research. Most of our research focuses on sustainable materials like biobased materials, biomacromolecules, nanocellulose, bioengineering. The School of Chemical Engineering is hosting a prestigious Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence LIBER and Flagship FinnCERES. Both focus on sustainable approaches for soft matter research and they are potential collaborators with the new professor.

A doctoral degree in chemistry, physics or in a related field is a prerequisite for the position. We expect you to have expertise of molecular modelling from atomic scale to µm scale. Proven ability or potential to obtain external funding and experience of researcher supervision is valued. We appreciate experience of multiscale or coarse-grained simulations and/or machine learning.

What we offer 

A possibility to work within a well-resourced learning community where the students are rigorously selected and highly motivated. This results in an unusually interactive and intellectually challenging atmosphere.  Department of Chemistry and Materials Science where this position is located has three active molecular modelling groups which will offer a stimulating environment for the professor and their research group. Finland’s national supercomputing centre CSC offers world class resources for computational research.

The salary is determined based on the applicant's experience and qualifications. Aalto University provides its employees with occupational health care services and retirement benefits.

Finland is a healthy and safe living environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services including affordable day care, free schools and universities, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world. More information about living and working in Finland https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto/for-international-staff

Ready to apply? 

If you want to join our community, please submit your application no later than 31 May 2022 through our recruiting system by using the "Apply" link.

If you are an employee or visitor at Aalto, please note: you should apply for the position via our internal system Workday (not via the external aalto.fi webpage on open positions). Use your existing Workday user account.

To apply, please share the following application materials with us in English and in PDF (the maximum size of each document is 5MB and the maximum number of documents is 5).

  • Cover letter

  • Curriculum Vitae— please use the template recommended by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity. Please also include names and contact information for references.

  • List of publications, with the most significant publications highlighted

  • Research portfolio—a concise (4-10 pages) reflection on the merits, long-term vision, and research plan.

  • Teaching portfolio according to Aalto University’s guidelines—see Teaching portfolio guidelines for candidate

General instructions for applicants including evaluation criteria, language requirements and guidelines for compiling your CV are given at https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track/interested-in-joining-our-tenure-track . 

Aalto University will use external reviewers to support the evaluation of applicants during the recruitment process. Based on the application materials and external evaluations, the Departmental Committee will choose the most suitable applicants to visit the Department of Chemistry and Materials Science and deliver teaching demonstrations, if the pandemic situation allows (if not, the teaching demonstrations will be delivered remotely).

If you wish to hear more about the position, you can reach out to Professor Kari Laasonen. In questions related to the recruitment process, HR Coordinator Isabella Itäpalo. Emails ([email protected]).

Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k_og_6zUJQ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUfEGVM-ZP8&feature=youtu.be   

Check out our new virtual campus experience: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/

Tenure track in Aalto University 

The position will be placed on the Aalto University Tenure Track. Individuals on the tenure track have the possibility to advance in their career through regular performance assessments, which take into account their merits in all areas of their scope of duty. Launched only in 2010, the tenure track has attracted a wide range of international applicants, giving Aalto University the possibility of recruiting top experts and young talent to join the Aalto University community. 

Throughout their careers, those in the academic tenure track system are expected to exercise and guide artistic/scientific research and/or artistic/design work, to provide related higher academic education, to follow the advances of their field, to participate in service to the Aalto University community, and to take part in societal interaction and international collaboration in their field. For more information on the tenure track system of Aalto University, please see https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track . 

About Finland 

Finland is a great place for living with or without family – it is a safe, politically stable and well-organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality of life and was just listed again as the happiest country in the world: https://worldhappiness.report/news/its-a-three-peat-finland-keeps-top-spot-as-happiest-country-in-world/ . For more information about living in Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/services/about-finland  

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