Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Thin film oxide ceramics) 1-2 positions, / Tutkijatohtori (Oksidi[...]

Tampereen yliopisto; Pirkanmaa; On-site; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Finland is seeking 1-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellows to advance research in functional oxide coatings. The successful candidate will engage in the synthesis, characterization, and performance evaluation of advanced materials, collaborating with industry partners. The position offers a stimulating environment, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal development in an innovative field.

Benefits

Occupational health care

Flexible work schedule

Access to modern facilities

Qualifications

• Experience in vacuum-based thin film deposition techniques.
• Knowledge of mechanical testing theory and methods.
• Understanding of fracture toughness testing methods.

Responsibilities

• Fabricate amorphous oxide coatings using vacuum-based techniques.
• Characterize structure and properties of coatings.
• Collaborate with industrial partners to test coating properties.

Skills

Experience in Materials Sciences (Ceramics/Glasses/Metals)

Materials characterization techniques

Fluent in spoken and written English

Education

Doctoral degree (PhD) in Materials Science, Chemistry, or Physics

Tools

Electron microscopy

XRD/tomography

Spectroscopy methods

Atomic force microscopy

Job description

Overview

Tampere University invites applications for 1-2 Postdoctoral Research Fellows to join the research team of Academy Research Fellow Dr. Erkka J. Frankberg working within the laboratory of Ceramic Materials and the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (ENS). The team studies the synthesis and mechanical properties of damage tolerant oxide thin films and has discovered a ceramic material capable of room temperature plasticity.

Tampere University focuses on multidisciplinary, high-impact research and education in technology, health and society. The open positions focus on the research of damage tolerant amorphous oxide coatings, such as amorphous Al2O3 and Ga2O3, tailored for industries that contribute to future products and sustainable development, including solid oxide fuel cells, Li-ion batteries, damage tolerant future electronics, damage tolerant tooth laminates, and PFAS-chemical replacement in cooking utensils. The emphasis is on advanced vacuum-based thin film deposition and characterization, with mechanical resilience studied using application-relevant methods such as bending, scratching and nanoindentation. ENS has state-of-the-art facilities for materials synthesis, characterization and mechanical testing.

Job Description

You will contribute to cutting-edge research in the field of functional oxide coatings, exploring their synthesis, structure-property relationships, and performance in demanding industry-relevant environments.

Key responsibilities of the position include:

• Fabrication of amorphous oxide coatings using vacuum-based thin film deposition techniques, mainly focusing on pulsed laser deposition.
• Characterization of the structure and properties of the deposited coatings using electron and light-based techniques, XRD techniques, and mechanical testing.
• Collaboration with industrial and institutional project partners to test the coating properties in relation to specific industrial demands.

The work will be done within the project “Damage tolerant ceramics in the technology industry - VASIKER” co-funded by the European Union. Companies involved include Elcogen Oy, Pulsedeon Oy, Seldeon Oy, Stick Tech Oy, Heirol Oy, and the Turku Clinical Biomaterials Centre from the University of Turku.

The goal is to publish cutting-edge research results in peer-reviewed journals and to contribute to project coordination, reporting and dissemination, and assist in planning of future research projects. The fellowship provides training to apply for personal research funding and transferable skills for industry collaboration.

Tampere University is a multidisciplinary community with values of openness, critical thinking, diversity, learner-centredness, courage, erudition and responsibility.

Requirements

A successful candidate will have a doctoral degree (PhD) in Materials Science, Chemistry, or Physics with experience in Materials Sciences (Ceramics/Glasses/Metals) and in materials characterization techniques, such as electron microscopy, XRD/tomography, spectroscopy methods, atomic force microscopy or other relevant techniques. The candidate should be able to conduct research independently and be fluent in spoken and written English. Previous international experience and networks are appreciated.

In addition, previous experience in any of the following topics is considered assets: 1) vacuum-based thin film deposition techniques and devices (e.g., pulsed laser deposition, sputtering, ALD, evaporation); 2) Mechanical testing theory and methods for ceramic/glass/thin film materials (e.g., bending, nanoindentation, micromechanical testing); or 3) Fracture toughness testing theory and methods (notched cantilever methods, FIB fabrication).

We offer

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow position offers international, high-quality postdoctoral training and the opportunity to develop your research ideas for an academic career. The role involves collaboration with co-funding companies and training in applying for personal grants; a career development plan will be prepared with the PI.

The position is for a fixed-term period of up to 32 months. Start date is negotiable but preferably as soon as possible. A six-month trial period applies to new employees.

The salary follows the Finnish University Salary System. The position is on job demands level 5-6 (teaching and research staff). Typical starting salary is around 3700–4000 EUR/month.

The team is part of the Engineering Materials Science subunit at Tampere University, hosting 11 laboratories and encouraging collaboration. Amorphous oxide materials are studied also by computational methods within the team for a comprehensive understanding of materials and mechanisms at the atomic scale.

As a Tampere University staff member, you will have access to competitive benefits, including occupational health care, flexible work schedule, research infrastructure, modern facilities and a personal fund for sports and cultural activities. Read more about working at Tampere University and Tampere University as an employer.

Finland is a stable, safe country; Tampere is a major academic hub in the Nordic region with a vibrant entrepreneurial community and rich cultural scene. Read more about Finland and Tampere City:

• Visit Finland
• This is Finland
• Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment: Welcome to Finland
• Visit Tampere

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system. The closing date for applications is October 5th, 23:59 EEST / UTC +3. Applications should be in English and in PDF format.

Please include the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae including the list of scientific publications
• Contact information of 1–2 referees
• Letter of motivation in free form (max. 1 page) highlighting achievements and relevant skills

For more information, contact: Academy Research Fellow, Team leader Dr. Erkka Frankberg, tel. [phone], [e-mail]

Finnish version follows.

Finnish summary: Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu etsii 1-2 tutkijatohtoria materiaalitieteen ja -tekniikan alalta projektin VASIKER parissa. Tehtävänkuvaus, hakuohjeet ja hakuajat on mainittu englanninkielisessä ilmoituksessa.