Senior / Research Scientist, design for the circular economy, waste prevention and design for...

Are you interested in circular economy and circular materials and looking for a new job opportunity in the field?  Do you want to build an excellent science career and work at the interface of academy and industry? Are you enthusiastic about working with fascinating projects in the state-of-the-art research facilities? VTT might be just the place for you. 

VTT is one of the leading applied research organisations in Europe. What unites us are curiosity, a passion for learning and a purpose: to solve the biggest challenges of our time and turn them into sustainable growth and well-being. Our cross-disciplinary community of over 2000 brilliant minds is focused on creating impact through science-based innovation. 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 Senior / Research Scientist to join our Industrial circular economy team.

As a Senior / Research Scientist, your key goals are to work in the field of circular design for waste prevention and design for recycling.

You are an expert in circular economy and circular materials, especially related to waste prevention and/or design for recycling supporting design for recovery. Your competences may include additionally circular systems thinking and circular impact assessment methods, and to understanding the operational environment concerning waste and secondary raw materials.

Our team, Industrial Circular Economy, works on supporting shift linear economy to sustainable circular economy. We are working with customers and experts in the field of design for circular economy. We develop circular design solutions e.g. for battery value chain and circular construction sector. Our research is connected to questions like:

• How to design for recycling and recovery or how to design to multiple use cycles?
• How systemic approach support waste prevention?
• How to design out waste?
• How circular impact assessment supports secondary raw materials use?

• act as an expert in the field of sustainable circular economy, circular design, especially focussed on waste prevention, design for recycling and secondary raw materials
• work with international experts in the field, writing publications and present you work in Finland and in international seminars
• have an active role in international research networks and customer relations within you focus area
  

We expect to you have at least master level university degree in relevant field, with few years of experience in the field relevant for circular economy, such as environmental engineering, waste and/or recycling. As a practiced expert, you already have solid background in circular economy and you are used to work in international projects and networks.

You have knowledge and background on the following topics:

• Waste prevention and recycling
• Chemistry or materials from the circular economy solutions point of view
• Additionally, knowledge about systemic approach and product lifecycle thinking (LCA environmental) is preferential
  

• customer focused and willing to take on new challenges and responsibilities
• team player, who is collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders across different fields of science and technology
• innovative opportunity hunter. We appreciate curiosity, passion as well as the ability to take the long-term perspective and find beyond-the-obvious solutions
• efficient and well organized. You take proactive approach to your work and you are eager to achieve things.
  

• Visionary work in technology. We offer positions at the cutting-edge of technology and engineering from next generation microelectronics and quantum technology to automation and robotics, energy systems and more. Our research agenda is dedicated to creating sustainable growth by solving systemic and technological challenges, so your work will go towards creating real, positive impact. Read more about our strategy – the path of exponential hope .
• Fascinating projects, excellent research environment. Our researchers get to work on a combination of cutting-edge academic research and applied customer projects, both locally and internationally. At VTT, you’ll have state-of-the-art research facilities at your disposal, such as Micronova, the Finnish research infrastructure for micro-, nano- and quantum technologies.  
• Great career opportunities, superb colleagues. At VTT, excellence in research is a strategic priority. We offer long-term positions and stable career paths in top-level research. People tend to stay with us over 10 years since there are always new roles and responsibilities to grow into. Collaborating in a cross-disciplinary community with superb colleagues is a source of learning, inspiration, and fun.
• Support for your well-being. Our people are our main asset, so we take good care of them. We aim to nurture great team spirit and leadership and offer versatile well-being services to enable a good work–life balance. On top of 6 weeks of paid holidays, we offer exercise and culture benefits, hobby clubs, and voluntary well-being services such as meditation programmes and trainings on cognitive ergonomics.

Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds!

Please send your CV and application with your salary request via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 17th October 2021. We will process applications as they come in, and fill in the position as soon as we find the right candidate.

For further information, please contact Research Team Leader Päivi Kivikytö-Reponen on 30.9.13-14.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Employment type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Espoo or Tampere, Finland.

Apply between 28 September 2021 and 17 October 2021 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

Employment type: Full time, Permanent

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.