Doctoral Researcher (Light-responsive electronic actuator devices) / Väitöskirjatutkija (Valoherkät elektroniset aktuaattorit)

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

The Spectroscopy and Light-Active Materials (SLAM) group is looking for a doctoral researcher for PhD work on light-responsive organic electronic actuator devices. The SLAM group’s main focus is on the fields of time-resolved optical spectroscopy, spectroelectrochemistry of organic electronic devices, and high-efficiency light-emitting materials. We are a part of the Chemistry & Advanced Materials (CAM) research cluster, the PREIN Flagship on Photonics Research and Innovation, and the LIBER Centre of Excellence.

Job Description

Actuators composed of soft active materials possess characteristics for biomimetic systems and artificial biohybrid robotics that are impossible to achieve with conventional rigid systems, such as flexibility, physical resilience, and low elastic moduli that enable mechanical compatibility with biological tissue. What makes soft actuators unique is their ability to change shape or generate motion by using environmental stimuli: electricity, heat, and light. The main goal of the research will be to combine stretchable electronics with soft robotics in order to build novel materials that possess multifunctional electronic control, sensing, and signaling coupled with actuation in response to environmental stimuli, such as heat and light. It will be realized by fabricating interpenetrating conducting polymer networks inside actuators composed of a liquid crystal elastomer (LCE), one of the best candidates for microscale soft robotics. These materials will be utilized to fabricate electronic devices with shape-changing properties as a response to external stimuli.

The exact direction of the research is determined by the project tasks. However, both the research focus and responsibilities can be customized to align with the candidate's skills, experience, and interests. The position also involves collaboration within a multidisciplinary team to push the boundaries of current knowledge and technology in this field, publishing research findings in reputable journals, presenting at international conferences, and a possibility for mobility to a Swedish partner during the research stages for collaborative work. 

Requirements

Applicants are expected to meet the following criteria:

Educational Qualification: Must hold a master’s degree in chemistry, materials science, physics, photonics, or a related field at the time of application.

Academic Background: A solid background in chemistry or photonics is required. Additional knowledge in organic electronics and materials characterization is highly desirable.

Technical Proficiency: Existing skills in Labview or Python-based programming are desirable. Candidates should also be willing to further develop their programming skills.

Language Skills: Proficiency in both written and spoken English is required. Applicants should possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Proficiency in Finnish is not required.

Working Style: Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Candidates should demonstrate a balance of autonomy and collaborative skills.

Please note that before commencing the position, the selected candidate must apply for a study right within the doctoral program at Tampere University, unless they already have one. Please visit the admissions webpage https://www.tuni.fi/en/study-with-us/programmes/doctoral-programmes for more information on eligibility requirements.

Tampere University is a unique, multidisciplinary, forward-thinking, and evolving community. Our values are openness, critical thinking, diversity, learner-centeredness, courage, erudition, and responsibility. We hope you can embrace these values and promote them in your role. 

We offer

The position will be filled for a fixed-term period of four (2 + 2) years, commencing in September 2024 or as soon after that as possible. A trial period of six (6) months applies to all our new employees.

The salary will be based on both the job requirements 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 a doctoral researcher is placed on level 2-4 of the job requirements scale. A typical starting salary for a Doctoral Researcher is approximately 2650 EUR per month. The salary increases based on the progress of doctoral studies to up to 3650 EUR per month.

Tampere University is strongly committed to the highest level of scientific research and the provision of high-quality doctoral education. The unit and the faculty support the doctoral students by offering training and peer support. The University offers a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several on-campus restaurants and cafés with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University.

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.

Read more about Finland and Tampere: 

•   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 (link below). The closing date for applications is 16 September 2024 (at 23:59 EEST / UTC +3).

Please write your application and all accompanying documentation (listed below) in English and combine them into a single PDF file named “LastnameFirstname.pdf”. Please note that other file formats will not be accepted.

A cover letter (maximum length 2 pages) explaining your background, motivation for pursuing a research career, rationale for applying for the position, and reasons you are particularly suited for this role.

Curriculum vitae, including:

• Personal details and the date of the CV.
• Degrees (including all degrees you have, along with their dates (month/year)).
• Other education and expertise.
• Language skills.
• Previous work experience.
• Research output (list of publications, patents, etc.), if any.
• Other key academic and non-academic merits.
• Software skills (with your own evaluation of your level, from low to excellent) – include links to any open-source code you have on Github or other repositories, if applicable.
• The contact details of up to two referees. References will not be contacted during the initial review process.

Degree certificates and supplements:

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees and any other relevant diplomas in their original language. Provide an official translation if the original language is not English.

Transcripts of records for bachelor’s, master’s, and other completed programs in their original language. Provide an official translation if the original language is not English.

A certificate of English language proficiency or other means to prove your English language skills.

Other relevant documents that support your application (optional).

Please follow the above instructions carefully. Incomplete or non-compliant applications will not be accepted for evaluation. 

For more information, please contact:

Assistant Professor Tero-Petri Ruoko, tero-petri.ruoko(at)tuni.fi

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences | Chemistry & Advanced Materials

https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/spectroscopy-and-light-active-materials-slam

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Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat korkeakouluyhteisön, joka uskoo ihmiseen ja tieteeseen. Tekniikan, terveyden ja yhteiskunnan huippuosaajat muuttavat maailmaa Suomen toiseksi suurimmassa monitieteisessä ja innostavassa tutkimus- ja oppimisympäristössä. Lue lisää: www.tuni.fi

Spektroskopia ja valoaktiiviset materiaalit (SLAM) tutkimusryhmä etsii väitöskirjakoulutettavaa työskentelemään valoherkkien elektronisten aktuaattorien parissa. SLAM ryhmän keskittyy pääasiassa aikaerotteiseen spektroskopiaan, orgaanisten elektronisten laitteiden spektrosähkökemiaan ja tehokkaisiin valoa emittoiviin materiaaleihin. SLAM-ryhmä on osa kemia ja uudet materiaalit tutkimusyhteisöä, PREIN fotoniikan lippulaivaa ja LIBER Suomen Akatemian huippuyksikköä.

Työn kuvaus:

Pehmeistä aktiivisista materiaaleista tehdyt aktuaattorit mahdollistavat ominaisuuksia biomimeettisille järjestelmille ja keinotekoisille biohybridiroboteille, joita on mahdotonta saavuttaa perinteisillä jäykillä materiaaleilla, kuten joustavuus, fyysinen sitkeys ja alhaiset elastiset moduulit, jotka mahdollistavat mekaanisen yhteensopivuuden biologisen kudoksen kanssa. Pehmeät aktuaattorit ovat ainutlaatuisia kyvyssään muuttaa muotoaan tai tuottaa liikettä käyttämällä ympäristön virikkeitä: sähköä, lämpöä ja valoa. Tutkimuksen päätavoitteena on yhdistää venyvä elektroniikka pehmeään robotiikkaan, aikaansaaden materiaaleja, jotka omaavat monitoimisen sähköisen ohjauksen, aistimisen ja viestinnän yhdessä muodonmuutoksen kanssa vastauksena ympäristön virikkeisiin, kuten lämpöön ja valoon. Materiaali valmistetaan muodostamalla aineen läpäiseviä johtavia polymeeriverkkoja nestekide-elastomeerikalvoissa (LCE), jotka ovat yksi lupaavimmista pehmeän robotiikan rakennusosista. Näitä materiaaleja käytetään elektronisten laitteiden valmistamiseen, jotka pystyvät muuttamaan muotoaan vastauksena ulkoisiin virikkeisiin.

Tutkimuksen tarkka suunta määräytyy projektin tehtävien mukaan. Sekä tutkimuksen painopiste että vastuut voidaan kuitenkin räätälöidä vastaamaan ehdokkaan taitoja, kokemusta ja kiinnostuksen kohteita. Tehtävään sisältyy myös yhteistyötä monitieteisessä tiimissä alan nykytiedon ja teknologian rajojen työntämiseksi, tutkimustulosten julkaisemista arvostetuissa aikakauslehdissä, esittelyä kansainvälisissä konferensseissa ja mahdollisesti muutaman kuukauden liikkuvuus ruotsalaisen kumppanin luo tutkimusvaiheiden aikana.

Hakuohjeet

Tarkemmat tehtävänkuvaukset ja tehtävään liittyvät tutkimusprojektit ovat esitelty ilmoituksen englanninkielisessä osassa.

Jätäthän hakemuksesi yliopiston sähköisellä hakulomakkeella (linkki löytyy tämän ilmoituksen alta). Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 16.9.2024 klo 23.59.

Lisätiedot:

Apulaisprofessori Tero-Petri Ruoko, tero-petri.ruoko(at)tuni.fi

Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences | Chemistry & Advanced Materials

https://www.tuni.fi/fi/tutkimus/spectroscopy-and-light-active-materials-slam