Senior Scientist, AI-driven biomaterials design

VTT; Espoo; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Impactful research

Collaborative culture

Long-term career

Well-being benefits

Job summary

VTT in Espoo, Finland, seeks a Senior Scientist to advance AI-driven biomaterials design. You will develop diffusion-based generative models for protein design within the VTT ProperTune framework and collaborate across teams to accelerate data-driven materials innovation.

Ideal candidates hold a Master's or PhD in ML, computational biology, or physics, with experience in biotech ML, MD simulations, and strong English communication.This role combines research excellence with industrial

Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Physics, or a related field.
• Experience applying ML to biotechnology, protein modelling or biomolecular systems.
• Familiarity with integrating ML with simulation approaches (e.g. molecular dynamics).
• Good communication skills and ability to build high-value research collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to novel bio-based materials with tailored properties.
• Lead development of diffusion-based generative models for protein design.
• Advance hierarchical, conditional generation methods for biomolecular systems.
• Design motif-aware infilling and constrained sequence design workflows.
• Integrate ML models into DBTL pipelines with active learning.
• Connect generative models with data pipelines and physics-based simulations (e.g. MD).
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across Europe.
• Mentor and support research scientists and junior researchers.

Skills

Machine Learning

Computational Biology

Biomolecular Modelling

MD Simulation

English Proficiency

Collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD in ML/Computational Biology/Physics

Tools

Molecular Dynamics

Diffusion Models

Job description

Are you interested in the latest AI and ML 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 the academy and industry? 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 from 55+ different nationalities focuses 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 tech & infra .

We are now looking for a Senior Scientist focused on AI-driven biomaterials design

In this position you get to do top notch research supporting advanced materials development and production. You will be developing next-generation generative AI models, with a particular focus on diffusion-based approaches for protein and biomaterial design. Our team thrives on collaboration, working seamlessly with many other teams across VTT and beyond to achieve shared goals.

You will work to developVTT ProperTune®, which is a unique, Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) based methodology to solve complex material problems and to invent totally new materials with unprecedented properties. VTT ProperTune® combined with tailored experimental capabilities and powered by data and AI methodology, form together Materials Acceleration Platform (MAP) concept utilized at VTT. Combining high-quality data with advanced data analytics and the use of AI is the booster for research productivity and new research services for VTT’s customers. In addition to applying AI methods for materials research, we work on High Performance Computing utilizing fastest supercomputer in Europe, the LUMI, and VTT’s own quantum computers. Our objective is to accelerate new material development with data driven and computationally fast solutions and that way to support the development of new materials needed in green transition and enabling development of new material applications.

Read more about our VTT ProperTune® concept: https://www.vttresearch.com/en/ourservices/computational-material-design-vtt-propertune

Your responsibilities as Senior Scientist:

• Contributing to the creation of novel bio-based materials with tailored functional properties, aligned with VTT’s strategic focus
• Lead the development of diffusion-based generative models for protein design, including transformer-based and masked diffusion approaches
• Advance hierarchical, conditional, and multi-objective generation methods for biomolecular systems
• Design and implement motif-aware infilling and constrained sequence design workflows
• Integrate ML models into DBTL pipelines, including active learning and iterative model improvement
• Connect generative models with data pipelines and physics-based simulations (e.g. MD, coarse-grained modelling)
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across Europe and contribute to bio-based materials innovation
• Mentor and support research scientists and junior researchers, guiding technical work and professional development

Who we are looking for:

• Masters or doctoral degree in Machine Learning, Computational Biology, Physics, or a related field
• Familiarity with integrating ML with simulation approaches (e.g. molecular dynamics)
• Experience in applying machine learning to biotechnology, protein modelling or biomolecular systems
• Good communication skills and ability to build high value research collaboration in the area
• You have experience on project proposal drafting or some other relevant experience related to different funding instruments such as Horizon Europe and Business Finland.
• You are proficient in English language.

It’s a benefit if you also have

• Expertise in generative models (especially diffusion models), transformer architectures, deep learning or active learning / optimisation workflows
• Experience or interest in protein language models and multi-objective or conditional generative modelling

As a person, we hope that you are:

• A proactive team player who possesses a self-driven mindset
• Excited to organise, draft and coordinate project proposals, socially skilled & eager to grow into a project manager direction
• Ready to jump into different project tasks when needed, proposing and delivering solutions.

With VTT, you’ll enjoy:

• Natural sciences with an impact. VTT works on the cutting-edge of natural sciences, and we've invested in building state-of-the-art research facilities for natural sciences, such as the Bioruukki pilot infrastructure for bio- and circular economy. Our research agenda is dedicated to solving systemic and technological challenges, such as reaching carbon neutrality and unleashing the power of synthetic biology. That means that at VTT, your expertise in natural sciences will go towards creating a real impact. Read more about our strategy – Chain reaction for growth .
• Superb colleagues and community. With VTT, you'll join a community of over 2000 multidisciplinary experts who foster a culture of trust, openness, and sharing of knowledge. We work across disciplines and house all the cutting‑edge sciences, from quantum computing to synthetic biology, under one roof. Collaborating with superb colleagues is a source of learning, inspiration, and fun. Read more about our organisational culture as the builder of the world's most meaningful place to work.
• Excellent career in research. 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 for over ten years since there are always new roles and responsibilities to grow into. A combination of cutting-edge academic research and applied customer projects keeps your career path interesting.
• Support for your well-being. Our people are our main asset, so we take good care of them. We aim to nurture excellent team spirit and leadership and offer versatile well‑life balance. On top of 6 weeks of paid holidays annually (after one year of work), we offer exercise and culture benefits, hobby clubs, and other versatile services aiming to support your occupational wellbeing.

Interested and want to hear more?

For further information, please contact Napat Vajragupta, [e-mail], phone: [phone].

VTT is a forerunner in research, development and innovation, and one of Europe’s leading research organisations. We develop cutting-edge technologies and transform them into growth together with our customers and partners. Our solutions address the greatest challenges of our time while creating sustainable growth, jobs and wellbeing. With more than 80 years of experience, we accelerate the journey from innovation to impact. By thinking beyond the obvious, we drive growth, renewal and resilience. VTT – beyond the obvious Location: Tekniikantie 21, Espoo