Doctoral Researcher in Industrial Wood Construction

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

Call for Applications: Doctoral Researcher in Industrial Wood Construction

Description:

We are currently seeking a skilled and highly motivated Doctoral Researcher interested in conducting research related to wood construction and structures. This position—Doctoral Researcher in Industrial Wood Construction—is a collaborative opportunity between Aalto University’s Department of Civil Engineering and XAMK (University of Applied Sciences) in Savonlinna. The candidate may be based either in Espoo or Savonlinna. If based in Espoo, periodic travel to Savonlinna is expected. The position offers full-time employment from Aalto for the full four-year duration of the doctoral studies.

The research topics are not strictly defined and should leverage the research facilities available at both Aalto and Savonlinna (Industrial Wood Construction and Technical Testing Laboratory – XAMK: https://www.xamk.fi/en/rdi/focus-areas/forest-the-environment-and-energy/fiberlaboratory/industrial-wood-construction-and-technical-testing-laboratory/)

In general, this position is part of a broader initiative to advance sustainable, high-performance wood construction through innovative materials engineering and industrialized building techniques. Potential research topics include, characterization of wood materials, particularly their mechanical properties, development of engineered wood products (e.g., CLT, LVL, GLT) and hybrid materials, strength grading, statistical and probabilistic modelling of mechanical behaviour, and/or development of wood construction technologies and industrial processes. The specific research topic(s) will be defined in collaboration with the supervising professor. Collaboration with the wood construction industry and related companies is expected.

Requirements:

The successful candidate should have:

• A Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Wood Science, or a related discipline
• Strong written and oral communication skills in English
• Experience conducting independent research and working effectively in a team

Additional skills and knowledge in the following areas are highly desirable:

• Structural mechanics
• Timber structural engineering
• Material testing
• Wood science and technology
• Statistics

What We Offer / Key Employment Details:

The initial contract period is 2 years, with a possibility of extension. There will be a compulsory midterm review which will be completed during the second year. More info here .

The applicant for doctoral studies must satisfy the admission requirements of Aalto University: Aalto Doctoral Programme in Engineering | Aalto University (Potential and interested candidates are encouraged to contact us even if they are still finishing their MSc degrees, as the starting time is flexible.)

The starting salary for a Doctoral Researcher is €2,960/month, with increases based on progress in the doctoral studies. The contract includes occupational health benefits and a holiday bonus. Finland offers a comprehensive social security system. The position can begin as soon as possible, with flexibility to agree on a later start date.

Join Us!

Please submit your application through our online system by September 15, 2025, using the “Apply Now!” button below. The application should be submitted as a single PDF and must include:

Aalto University reserves the right to leave the position open, extend the application period, reopen the process, or consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the official application period.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). Aalto University’s students and visitors should apply as external candidates with personal (not aalto) email. 

For additional information, please contact Professor of Practice, Steven Collins and matters related to the recruitment process contact HR Partner Merja Seppänen. E-mails: Merja.Seppänen@aalto.fi .

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