Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Mechanical and railway engineering)

Karlstad University; Tampere; On-site; EUR 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Flexible work hours

Research facilities

Sport/cultural fund

Job summary

Tampere University seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in mechanical and railway engineering to explore wheel-rail contact mechanisms, vibration analysis and condition monitoring for sustainable asset management. The role includes split assignments between Tampere and VR Fleetcare, and access to full-scale lab testing facilities.

You will supervise PhD/MSc students, prepare grants, and contribute to the research labs, while collaborating with industry and maintaining high English proficiency.

Qualifications

• Motivated, self-guided with strong theoretical background in wheel-rail contact and vibration analysis.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.

Responsibilities

• Supervise PhD/MSc students and contribute to grant preparation.
• Collaborate with railway industry and test technology in lab and field.
• Support general activities of the research labs.

Skills

Vibration data analysis

Finite element analysis

Thermomechanical fatigue analysis

Multibody dynamics

English proficiency

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Tools

FEA software

Multibody dynamics tools

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Mechanical and railway engineering)

Tampere University is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We are building a new model for higher education and research in F…

Tampere University and Tampere University of Applied Sciences create a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our universities community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society. www.tuni.fi/en

Our group concentrates on machine dynamics, contact modelling, vibration experimental and numerical railway vehicle dynamic analysis that can be used for model-based condition monitoring of different machine system.

We are looking for one (1) Postdoctoral Research Fellow in mechanical engineering and/or civil engineering. You will focus on the research of Monitoring, Mechanism Analysis, and Mitigation for Sustainable Asset Management of Railway Wheel Out-of-Roundness. You will collaborate closely with Finnish train maintenance company, VR Fleetcare. You will work one year at Tampere University and another year at VR Fleetcare. At the same time, you will have opportunity to test your technology on full-scale wheel-rail lab (Full-Scale Wheel-Rail Lab | Tampere University) at Tampere University and real train owned by VR Fleetcare.

In addition, activities include supervision of PhD / MSc students, preparation of grants and support of the general activities of the research labs.

Requirements

We seek a motivated and self-guided person with strong theoretical background who is interested working on wheel-rail contact mechanism and vibration analysis, motivating to closely collaborate with railway industry and work on the laboratory and field measurements. If you have background in railway engineering, it will be a plus for this position.

Following background are needed:

• Vibration and data analysis of the measurement (mainly accelerometer).
• Finite element analysis especially thermomechanical, fatigue and contact mechanism analysis (wheel-rail contact mechanism will be preferable).
• Multibody dynamics (railway dynamics will be preferable).

You should have a PhD degree in a relevant field. We expect a competence to pursue independent scientific work and adequate teaching skills. You should be fluent in spoken and written English.

We offer

The position will be offered for a fixed-term period of 2 years. The starting date is expected between Oct. 2026 and Dec. 2026 (or as mutually agreed). A trial period of six (6) months applies to all our new employees.

As a member of the dynamic and innovative international community of Tampere University, you will have access to a range of competitive benefits, including occupational health care services, flexible work schedules, versatile research infrastructure, modern teaching facilities, and a safe and inviting campus area. You will also have a personal fund to spend on sports and cultural activities during your free time. Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find more information about us and working and living Tampere by watching our video: Tampere Higher Education Community - our academic playground.

Tampere is the largest inland city in Finland and is considered a major academic hub in the Nordic countries. The region is home to a vibrant, knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial community, and the city is an industrial powerhouse with a rich cultural scene and a reputation as a centre of Finland's information society. Additionally, Finland is known for being one of the most stable, free, and safe countries in the world, based on various ratings by prominent agencies. Tampere is surrounded by stunning nature, with forests and lakes offering countless opportunities for easy-to-access outdoor adventures and refreshment throughout the year.

Salary

The salary will be based on both the job demand level and the employee's personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. According to the criteria applied to teaching and research staff, the position of the Postdoctoral Research Fellow is placed on the job demand level 5-6. In addition, employees will receive performance-based salary. Therefore, typically, Postdoctoral Research Fellow´s salary varies between 4000 Euro - 4500 Euro.

Job details

Title

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Mechanical and railway engineering)

2026-09-27 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)
2026-09-27 22:59 (CET)

Closing on: 2026-09-20 (Europe/Helsinki)

Closing on: 2026-10-05 (Europe/Helsinki)

Closing on: 2026-09-17 (Europe/Helsinki)

Tampere University is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We are building a new model for higher education and research in F…