The North changes the world – more sustainable, more intelligent, more humane. We at the University of Oulu work as part of the international science community to produce new scientific information and science-based solutions. We are committed to educate future pioneers to build a more sustainable, intelligent and humane world. Creating new, taking responsibility and succeeding together build strong foundation in all our actions. We offer a working environment where individuals can cultivate their skills, do meaningful work, and develop professionally. Our university's several specialized research and service units enable extensive and diverse development and career opportunities for experts in various fields.

Kvantum Institute is one of the four strategic focus institutes supporting high-quality research, coordinating multidisciplinary research activities and doctoral training. Kvantum’s science-based expertise meets global challenges in the focus areas Sustainable materials and systems and Changing climate and northern environment. The Institute promotes interdisciplinary networking of research groups as well as co-operation between groups and national and international partners.

We are now looking for

• One Doctoral Student (first principles modelling of photocatalytic nanomaterials) will be focusing on first principles calculations for analyzing the structure, bond formation, short- and long-range interactions, reaction dynamics, and reaction driving forces in radical and product formation of heterojunction photocatalysts for hydrogen production and water purification. The calculations are expected to provide the optimized electronic structure and understanding of the undergoing working mechanism for the charge and energy transfer in these heterojunction systems. The theoretical work will be used to confirm experimental results within the project, and for unveiling the catalytic mechanism on the quantum mechanical level. The work will be performed as a part of an international and multidisciplinary research team combining both experiments and theory. Your other tasks include publishing the results in leading international scientific journals as well as contributing to the teaching and supervision activities of the NANOMO research unit.

Description of the research environment

Nano and Molecular Systems Research unit (http://http://www.nanomo.fi) is a highly international research environment presently formed by 2 professors, 3 associate professors (tenure track) and around 40 other researchers. The focus is on molecular scale materials physics and novel applications of spectroscopic and imaging techniques. The research topics include electronic structure research especially in nanomaterials, functional materials (steel, CO₂ negative materials, nanocatalytes for sustainability), biomedical research, mesoscopic quantum structures in materials, and physics didactics. The main external funding sources are the European Union ERC, Horizon2020 programs, EU EIT-RawMaterials and ERDF funds, Academy of Finland and other national and international funds. The unit coordinates Finnish national participation in the MAX IV facility, participates in operation of the FinEstBeAMS beamline, and contributes to the European Free Electron Laser Eu-XFEL project.

For selection criteria and how to apply, please see here

Further information

Professor Matti Alatalo
NANOMO Research Unit
email: [email protected]