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 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, 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.

Water and Environmental Engineering Research Group at Aalto University is looking for

Staff scientist in Water and Environmental Engineering (incl. Fluvial Research and Hydrosphere processes)

The Water and Environmental Engineering (WAT) research group at Aalto University has a vacancy for a highly talented and motivated Staff Scientist, who will be working within and related to the research themes of Digital Waters (DIWA) Flagship (www.digitalwaters.fi) funded by Research Council of Finland. In particular, the work would relate to research themes of fluvial and hydrosphere processes. The flagship is a leading research and innovation ecosystem, bringing research and new innovations together to support decision-making and management in the water sector - digitally. DIWA enables a transition towards the digital representation of real-world water systems (Digital Twin) to reproduce hydrological storages, their states, fluxes and processes, as well as ecosystem responses with novel options for improved scenario analyses, planning and governance.

Measurement tools and equipment as well as related codes, models and data are critical infrastructure for the WAT group. DIWA enlarges these research infrastructure (RI) and we now seek a person to manage, guide and support researchers working on the new DIWA-RI. During DIWA Flagship at WAT, the goal is to develop watershed scale Digital Twins, which embed real-time water monitoring. These multi-sensor observation networks encompass a pool of equipment for measuring unique hydraulic, morphodynamic, water quality and hydrological processes, and  include also autonomous sensor  and customizable in-situ facilities for continuous observations. The new measurement capabilities will provide enhanced datasets temporally and spatially, and hence, a metadata service and hydrological data sharing platform are designed and established. In order to achieve these goals, Staff Scientist will be hired to work with these equipment systems and data.

The aims of the Staff Scientist are:

• to maintain and develop the equipment pool (i.e. research infrastructure) related to DIWA Flagship during the first four years of DIWA (until end of 2027).
• to develop quality assurance, analysis, and modelling approaches related to the field data produced with the available equipment pool (i.e. camera systems, aerial and underwater drone systems, water quality sensors, soil moisture sensors, flow measurement equipment, among others).
• to develop researchers' knowledge and skills in handling equipment, and the data transfer systems for enabling the construction of the Digital Twins adhered to the supersites of the DIWA Flagship.
• to participate in the concentrated field campaigns with the DIWA Flagship research team and contribute to the processing of the data to utilizable forms for further research.
• to produce/develop short courses for both students and researchers to ensure the best and most secure knowledge for everyone to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digitalisation of water systems and their monitoring from different seasons.
• to enable continuity in field measurement practices and their development.
• to bring together researchers and students who use similar methods, thus allowing, for example, field measurement practices and code-sharing between groups, which would create collaboration and strengthen peer support.

Formal requirements
The position requires a doctoral degree from the relevant field, such as (but not limited to) water engineering, physical geography, or similar. Special expertise requirements include knowledge of utilization and development of field measurement equipment, and technical skills (mechanical, coding, IT), but also skills in data management and modelling are required for the position. Experience on digitalisation methods in water research is seen as an asset. The candidate is expected to have a high motivation and aptitude for research and to enjoy working as part of a team. Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English are essential. A driver’s license (valid in Finland) is needed during the possible additional field campaigns, as more field data will be needed to gather with the research team. The candidate must be able to generate bright scientific ideas and propose new methodological solutions. We expect the candidate to work independently, write scientific articles and participate in teaching activities. The candidate is also expected to participate in the activities of Water and Environmental Engineering team, and within the larger DIWA consortium.

What we offer
The successful applicant will join a young and dynamic team of world-class researchers at Aalto University’s School of Engineering.

• We offer you an interesting job in an inspiring and multidisciplinary work environment. We will familiarize you with your work tasks, and you will be part of a competent team that will provide you with support for your tasks. We encourage and offer opportunities for continuous development of your own expertise.
• You will become part of a wide and unique network of doctoral researchers, early career and senior researchers, and supervisors within the DIWA Flagship.
• Funding for the Staff Scientist is available until 31.12.2027. The expected starting date is preferably on June 1, 2024, or after that as soon as possible.
• Aalto University follows the salary system of Finnish universities. The starting salary is approximately 4700 €/month (gross), which may be gradually increased over time according to performance.
• The annual total workload of research and teaching staff at Aalto University is 1612 hours.
• The contract includes Aalto University occupational health care.
• We work in a hybrid way with flexible office hours, and the primary workplace is at our active university campus in Otaniemi, Espoo.

How to apply
To apply, please submit the following application materials through our recruitment site by Sunday May 12, 2024 (23:59 EET ). Click “Apply now!” at the end of the page.

• Letter of Motivation (1-2 pages), where you introduce yourself and describe your motivation for the position. Also clearly indicate your competence in the key themes of the position.  
• Curriculum Vitae (2-3 pages), including details of all academic merits, your language competence as well as contact details of two relevant referees. You are also encouraged to include links to your possible LinkedIn page or other similar website. 
  • Important: include in the CV an outline of the experience in field work, technical methods, programming/coding and research related to fluvial processes / water engineering research.
• List of Publications, including a link to your Doctoral Thesis (if available)

All materials should be submitted in English in a single pdf-file (compiled in the order specified above, name it as “firstname_lastname_application.pdf”). (Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions).

Applications are considered only if submitted through the recruitment site. Kindly note that we will start to go through the applications and may also invite suitable candidates to interview already during the application period. The position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified: this can happen already before the application period closes. You are thus encouraged to submit your application as soon as possible.

Aalto University reserves the right to leave the position open, extend the application period, reopen the application process, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

Further information
Content-related questions about the vacancy may be directed via email to Eliisa Lotsari (Research Fellow and Assistant Professor in Water Engineering, eliisa.s.lotsariaalto.fi) while recruitment-related questions may be directed to Sanni Mero (HR Partner, sanni.meroaalto.fi). Please send your possible inquiries latest on 26 April 2024.

Further information about working at Aalto University can be found at https://www.aalto.fi/aalto-university/international-staff-information-package.

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