Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), Finite Element Technology for Smooth Problems

University of Eastern Finland; Kuopio; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible multi-location work

Extensive occupational health care

Staff training

Lunch discount on campus

Job summary

University of Eastern Finland invites applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) in Finite Element Technology for Smooth Problems at the Kuopio campus. The fixed-term position starts 1 January 2027, with a 3-year duration and options for teaching tasks up to 5% of time.

Salary aligns with Finnish university scale; initial monthly pay around 2,710–2,845 EUR. The role focuses on developing and applying advanced computational methods, with supervision by colleagues from EEF and RICAM

Qualifications

• Must be eligible for postgraduate studies with a Master’s degree in a related field.
• Strong command of written and spoken English.
• Final-year Master’s students may apply if degree is completed by 30 November 2026.
• Experience in scientific programming, preferably Python.

Responsibilities

• Develop, analyse and numerically implement finite element methods.
• Contribute to methodological development for smooth problems in continuum mechanics.
• Publish scientific results and participate in conferences and visits.
• Possibly perform up to 5% teaching-related duties and supervise exercises.

Skills

Scientific programming

Python programming

English proficiency

Education

Master’s degree in computational physics and engineering, mathematics, scientific computing, mechanical engineering or related field

Tools

Python

C++

Rust

Job description

Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), Finite Element Technology for Smooth Problems

The Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, Department of Technical Physics

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position in the field of Finite Element Technology for Smooth Problems at the Department of Technical Physics on the Kuopio Campus. The position will be filled for a fixed term of three years as from 1 January 2027 (or as agreed).

Please find more information below and submit your application by 16 November 2026.

Role and salary

We are seeking a motivated Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) to work on the development and application of advanced computational methods with a particular focus on finite element technologies for complex continuum and multiphysics problems. The research will combine methodological development, numerical implementation and applications to challenging problems in computational engineering. The research project will be supervised by Assistant Professor Adam Sky from the Department of Technical Physics at the University of Eastern Finland together with Dr. Michael Neunteufel from the Johann Radon Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics (RICAM) in Linz, Austria.

As our new Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), your responsibilities will include the development, mathematical analysis and numerical implementation of finite element methods, as well as the preparation and publication of scientific results. The position may also include a limited amount of teaching-related duties (max. 5% of total working hours), such as developing exercise materials and supervising exercise sessions. The Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) will also be expected to participate in scientific exchange through conferences, research visits and collaboration with the participating research groups and institutes.

The main duty of the Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) is to conduct research for their doctoral dissertation and to complete postgraduate studies.

The position will be filled for a fixed term of three years as from 1 January 2027 (or as agreed). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to the Doctoral Researcher’s (PhD Student’s) own doctoral dissertation work and studies. A trial period is applied to all new members of the staff.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. For a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), the job-related salary element is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff depending on the stage of the applicant’s doctoral research and postgraduate studies. The personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. At the beginning of the employment, the total salary will be approximately EUR 2,710–2,845 /month.

Our requirements and expectations

• be eligible for postgraduate studies; i.e., to hold a Master’s degree in computational physics and engineering, mathematics, scientific computing, mechanical engineering or a related field, awarded by a university or by a university of applied sciences, or to have completed an applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding postgraduate education
• have a good command of written and spoken English.

Students in the final stages of their Master’s degree may also apply, provided that they complete their degree and deliver a copy of their degree certificate to the faculty by 30 November 2026.

Applicants who do not yet have the right to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Eastern Finland are not required to apply for study rights at the application stage. If the applicant is selected for the position and applies for postgraduate study rights, the selection will be conditional until the right to pursue postgraduate studies in the faculty’s doctoral programme has been granted. The application for postgraduate study rights is submitted through the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service.

Other requirements

• a strong foundation in mathematics and continuum physics
• experience in scientific programming, preferably in Python.

Experience in the following areas will be considered an advantage

• generalised continuum theories
• scientific computing
• programming in C++, C or Rust.

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including

• the opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• extensive occupational health care
• a broad selection of staff training
• staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services

You will have an opportunity to work in meaningful as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

The Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology operates on the Kuopio and Joensuu campuses of the University of Eastern Finland. The mission of the faculty is to carry out internationally recognised scientific research and to offer research-education in the fields of natural sciences, forestry and technology. The faculty invests in all of the strategic research areas of the university. The faculty’s environments for research and learning are international, modern and multidisciplinary. The faculty has approximately 2,650 Bachelor’s and Master’s degree students and some 440 postgraduate students. The number of staff amounts to 650.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is the most multidisciplinary university in Finland. Our university employs approximately 3,200 employees, and our community includes approximately 17,000 degree students and 16,000 adult education students. Our campuses are located in Joensuu and Kuopio. We represent the world’s cutting edge of research in many fields and produce research-based knowledge, which is made openly available to benefit everyone.Learn more about our university at www.uef.fi/en .Read also about UEF as a working community and employer and the career stories of our employees .

Type of employment

Type of employment Temporary position

Contract type

Contract type Full time

First day of employment

First day of employment 1 January 2027 or as agreed

Salary Collective agreement for universities

Number of positions

Number of positions 1

Full-time equivalent 100%

City

County

Country

Country Finland

Reference number

Reference number 1262/01.01.03/2026