Doctoral researchers in electrical engineering

The LUT Department of Electrical Engineering is looking for two junior researchers (doctoral researchers) in electrical engineering. 

Your project will be either Off-Grid Water Electrolysers Supplied by Solar and Wind Power (OffGridH2) or Technoeconomic Modelling and Optimization of Heavy Electric Transportation. 

Are you interested in becoming part of our success story? Would you like to explore key technologies for tackling the climate crisis? If you are passionate about conducting top international research and are aiming to become a doctor and highly valued expert in your field, you might be just the person we are looking for. Join our internationally recognized hydrogen research team.

1. Off-Grid Water Electrolysers Supplied by Solar and Wind Power (OffGridH2)

LUT’s hydrogen research team has participated in the internationally recognized projects Neo-Carbon Energy, Soletair, Neo-Carbon Food, P2XEnable, FinH2, Bio-CCU, and StoRIES. In 2017, LUT’s Soletair project was the world’s first to make Fisher-Tropsch fuels using air and solar electricity. In summer 2019, the Neo-Carbon Food pilot was the first in the world to produce protein-rich biomass from air with an in-situ electrolyser. Our research has led to the establishment of several spinoff companies, such as Solar Foods, Elstor, and Neovolt. We collaborate closely with industry and universities in Finland and beyond.

Description of the position

In the project OffGridH2, funded by the Research Council of Finland, you will work in the hydrogen research group. Green hydrogen is a promising pathway to achieving emission reduction targets and the decarbonization of the entire power-generating and -consuming industry. The production of renewable hydrogen is therefore expected to increase radically. Water electrolysers will play a key role in this evolution. LUT’s research contributes to water electrolyser development and is thus likely to offer competitive advantages for the whole electricity sector. Your work will continue LUT’s research on multi-objective optimization and control water electrolyser systems.  

What we expect

You must have a university master’s degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant field (e.g., electrical engineering, applied physics, applied mathematics) and the ability to complete the doctoral studies within the normative duration of the studies for the degree. To achieve the objectives of your work, you must be able to use existing electrolysis system component models and develop new ones. Further, you need to apply known multi-objective optimization methods in the MATLAB environment. 

Further information on the project: Professor Antti Kosonen, antti.kosonen@lut.fi, +358 45 676 9878.

2. Technoeconomic modelling and optimization of heavy electric transportation

Description of the position

The position will focus on the technoeconomic modelling and optimization of heavy electric transportation. You will work as part of a team and collaborate closely with other researchers. Your primary objective is to design and develop modelling, simulation, and optimization methods and apply them to selected case studies focusing on the electrification of heavy-duty vehicles. The position is part of the PHOENIX project, funded by the Strategic Research Council, an independent body operating within the Research Council of Finland. PHOENIX is an internationally connected national research collaboration project aiming to provide decision-makers with new research-based insights, actions, and tools to support a just and resilient energy transition in Finland.

What we expect

You must have a university master’s degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant field (e.g., electrical engineering, energy technology, applied physics, applied mathematics) and the ability to complete the doctoral studies within the normative duration of the studies for the degree. To achieve the objectives of your work, you must be able to use existing component models, simulations, and optimizations and develop new ones. The ability to approach problems with systems thinking or a systemic perspective is an advantage. Knowledge of MATLAB is beneficial. 

Further information on the project: Professor Jero Ahola, jero.ahola@lut.fi, +358 40 529 8524.

Employment relationship and pay

A junior researcher must submit an application for the doctoral study right with all required appendices to the LUT Doctoral School within the first two months of employment relationship.

The objective is to complete the doctoral degree within the target time of four years. The work starts with a one-year term including a six-month trial period, and it can be extended by three years provided that the studies have progressed satisfactorily in the first year.

The jobs are located at the Department of Electrical Engineering at LUT in Lappeenranta. The salary is based on the current collective agreement for Finnish universities. The typical gross annual starting salary for a junior researcher is approximately 32 500 euros (plus a holiday bonus). 

What we offer

In addition to a competitive salary, the wide range of benefits that come with the job include a holiday bonus, generous annual leave, a research incentive scheme with personal rewards for high-quality publications, flexible working hours, occupational health care, a collegial working environment, and continued commitment to your support, learning, training, and development.

How to apply 

Please fill out the online application form and attach the following documents in English: 

• Motivation letter
• Curriculum vitae (CV) following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
• Scanned copies of your original bachelor’s and master’s degree certificates and transcripts of records; if the original documents are not in English, each document must be accompanied by an official certified translation into English

The work will begin once candidates eligible for doctoral studies have been selected.

Only applications submitted through the online recruitment system will be considered. Suitable applicants will be invited to a video interview.

Read more about LUT as an employer.

Read more about the information for international staff. 

Read more about LUT Doctoral School.  

LUT University | Clean energy, water and air are life-giving resources for which we at LUT University seek new solutions with our expertise in technology, business and social sciences. We help society and businesses in their sustainable renewal. Our international community consists of over 9,000 members. Our campuses are in Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland. We are one of the world's top universities for climate action. lut.fi/en

Technical support for using the recruitment system: recruitment@lut.fi.