Postdoctoral Researcher, Heating and Cooling within an Energy System

Are you interested in the role of heating within the energy system and looking for a postdoctoral opportunity in the field? Would you like to develop innovative technology with superb colleagues who are top experts in their field? Do you want to build an excellent science career and work at the interface of 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 2200 brilliant minds is focused on creating impact through science-based innovation. Get to know us further by exploring VTT's tech & infra.

We are now looking for Postdoctoral Researcher to join our District Heating and Cooling team!

VTT started 2023 a Postdoc programme to develop new ways to support scientific excellence and to strengthen career paths from universities to VTT. We want to provide development opportunities for recent university PhDs in applied research and industry collaboration. As a Postdoctoral Researcher at VTT, you will have the opportunity to focus on scientific work (e.g. publishing, and mentoring junior researchers), and you are able to make an impact on our customers and society. Our researchers work closely together with industry, often in interdisciplinary research groups. VTT has excellent research infrastructure and internal services to support your research work.

In this Postdoctoral Researcher position, you will have an essential role in model-based analysis of the heating and cooling sector within a future energy system. Our team District Heating and Cooling works on developing next generation, low-carbon and city-wide heating and cooling systems. Our approach is systemic, but having a deep insight into the components that the system consists of is essential. The impact of our work is not limited to heating and cooling only; the systems have to support the overall decarbonisation of the energy system, built environment and society in general. But heating and cooling sector as itself is massive in scale; almost 50% of final energy consumption in Europe is heating or cooling! The role is fixed-term of approximately 2 and a half years, lasting until 30 June 2026.

Your responsibilities as Postdoctoral Researcher:

• Advancing sustainable, flexible, resilient and robust heating and cooling solutions in specified projects, that contribute to solving the systemic challenges related the energy transition
• Evaluate the feasibility of new, low-carbon heat sources and thermal energy storages in context of a future energy system with a high share of renewable energy
• Collaborating in research team and project group with co-writing and project work, a leading role in writing at least two scientific articles during the post-doc period
• Supervising and tutoring our junior team members​

Who we are looking for:

• You have recently (max 5 years ago) gained your doctoral degree in Energy systems, energy technologies or a closely related field.
• You have a strong interest, expertise and background in studying the energy transition, especially within the heating and cooling sector
• You have plans and ideas on how to build on your current experience & expertise, contributing to the overall topic - and you are proactive in bringing these forward
• You are familiar with energy system modelling and optimisation as a tool, and with have used these in research on topics such as integration of renewable and excess heat sources, low-temperature distribution in district heating and solutions for increasing flexibility within heating and cooling sectors.
• You have excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.
• Ambition to do industry collaboration for creating an impact is appreciated.

As a person, we hope that you are:

• Curious, hands-on, open-minded and cooperative: research is a team effort. In addition to your work, research is advanced through discussion with your colleagues, the scientific community and all the related stakeholders within our society.
• An open-minded and innovative person with a vision of longer-term research needs.
• You are eager to work with new topics and methods, even out of your comfort zone to achieve the set ambitious goals.

With VTT, you’ll enjoy:

• Science with an impact. At VTT, we seek to solve large societal challenges and drive a sustainable future through applied research and innovation. With us, you’ll get to work on research projects that make a concrete, positive impact in the world. Read more about our strategy, the path of exponential hope, and our organisational culture as the builder of the world's most meaningful place to work.
• Support for your postdoc research. During your postdoctoral term, we offer training in project management, scientific writing, communication, and commercialisation. You’ll have the opportunity collaborate with industry on projects, access our research infrastructure and internal support services, explore interdisciplinary research, and secure funding for your postdoc term. At VTT, you’ll enjoy flexibility and independence in your work, with a blend of academic research and engaging customer projects for an exciting career path.
• Open culture of innovation. We have 80 years of experience in science-based innovation, a strong international reputation and global networks. We work truly across disciplines, and house all the cutting-edge sciences from quantum computing to synthetic biology under one roof. At VTT, you’ll join a community of over 2200 multidisciplinary experts who foster a culture of trust, openness and sharing knowledge. Collaborating with amazing colleagues is a source of learning, inspiration, and fun.
• Nordic work–life balance. Working in Finland, the happiest country in the world, enables a great quality of life. At VTT, we make our people’s well-being a strategic priority. We offer 6 weeks paid vacation a year, and our benefits include extended occupational healthcare, and a range well-being services, such as exercise and culture benefits and hobby clubs. Read more about the benefits of living in Finland and VTT’s support for relocation.

Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds!

Please send your CV and application with your salary request via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 26 November 2023. We will process applications as they come in, and fill in the position as soon as we find the right candidate. A security clearance procedure may be conducted during the recruitment process.

Interested and want to know more?

For further information, please contact Research Team Leader Miika Rämä, miika.rama@vtt.fi or tel. +358405924000 on Friday 10 November at 10:00–11:30 or 23 November at 9:00–11:00 (Finnish time UCT+2).

We look forward to hearing from you!

Apply between 7 November 2023 and 26 November 2023 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

Employment type: Full-time, Fixed-term from earliest 1 January 2024 until 30 June 2026

VTT

VTT is a visionary research, development and innovation partner. We drive sustainable growth and tackle the biggest global challenges of our time and turn them into growth opportunities. We go beyond the obvious to help the society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have 80 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.

VTT – beyond the obvious.