Tenure Track Assistant Professor in Production Engineering, Faculty of Technology

The University of Oulu is a multidisciplinary, international research university, with about 3,600 employees who produce new knowledge based on high-standards research and provide research based education to build a more sustainable, smarter, and more humane world. The University of Oulu community has about 17,000 people in total. Our northern scientific community operates globally and creates conditions for the emergence of innovations.  

We are now looking for

Assistant Professor in Production engineering

to join us in the Research unit at the Faculty of Technology.

Materials and Mechanical Engineering Research Unit (MME) is one of the twelve units in the Faculty of Technology at the University of Oulu. The study fields in the MME unit includes Automotive and Mobile Machinery Engineering, Machine Design, Materials Engineering and Production Engineering. In the MME there are 6 professors and 3 emeritus professors focusing on the production, properties, and applications of steel and steel products as well as the design and modeling of machines. There are also twelve teachers to help fulfil the undergraduate teaching requirements. In addition, there are 6 post-doc researchers, twenty-five doctoral researchers, 6 other researchers and five laboratory staff. 

MME is a key part of the Centre for Advanced Steels Research (CASR) and is one of the profiling areas at the University of Oulu.

The research in the MME is divided between 3 research groups and this tenure track position will be in the research group of Machine and Vehicle Design (MVD) which drives sustainable application of digitalization for industry transformation via developing virtual methodologies enabling the development of guaranteed zero-emission technology to give a green competitive edge to the European industry.

About the job

The field of the tenure track position is production engineering, especially virtual manufacturing, design and analysis of industrial production machinery. The candidate must show their expertise in some of the following research areas: application of production engineering in manufacturing of machine parts, modelling of manufacturing machine operation and interaction of machines with the environment and the products, life cycle management of machines, and/or creativity in production engineering.

Job Responsibilities, Required Qualifications and Language Proficiency

A person appointed to the position is responsible for developing the research and teaching of design and analysis of industrial production machinery and his/her task is to lead the machine design research team. The candidate is required to have in-depth knowledge and evidence of research-based teaching in the field. The candidate is expected to have strong evidence of national and international networking, as well as planning of international and national projects, acquiring extramural funding (e.g. industrial financing, Business Finland, Academy of Finland, EU funding programs, others) and leadership skills. The applicant is also expected to be active in the scientific community and to have experience in supervising doctoral dissertations in the field. Industrial experience and industrial contact networks are considered as merits.

The teaching language at the University of Oulu is Finnish. It is also possible to teach in English.

What we expect?

Our tenure track is positioned for exceptionally talented researcher with a high potential to advance in their careers. The top candidates undergo an evaluation by external experts and are required to reach top scores (5-6 on a scale from 1 to 6 for scientific activity and as the overall score), in order to be recruited.

We expect you to have an applicable doctoral degree, preferably in mechanical engineering with specialization in production, as well as evidence of scientific knowledge and experience required for the position. You must have the ability to lead a research group and we expect you to be familiar with the most relevant funding instruments, for example the European Union, Research Council of Finland, and Business Finland. We also appreciate candidates with experience in industrial R&D and strong collaboration with industries. To succeed in the position, you are required to have sufficient and relevant experience in international scientific work and evidence of international cooperation.

What we offer?

We offer you a fixed-term 5-year contract for an interesting and versatile position in the Materials and Mechanical Engineering Research Unit and the possibility to develop yourself professionally with the help of an experienced and enthusiastic team. On the tenure track, you have a guaranteed opportunity to advance your career through external evaluation. Furthermore, we offer the development opportunities of a big organization with flexible working hours, excellent work-life balance and occupational healthcare services. Regular salary is paid 12 months per year, including paid leave and an additional holiday bonus in the summer. Finnish government provides benefits to residents and their families, for example, the possibility to the national healthcare system and high-quality affordable childcare and school services.

• Wellness benefit ePassi covering sport, culture and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• We have an HR Excellence in Research -quality label which is a recognition awarded by the European Commission for the development of researchers’ working conditions and careers.
• Our Buddy Programme and Spouse Network support you and close ones in settling into Oulu.
• If you are moving from abroad, we offer comprehensive relocation packages to support your smooth relocation to Oulu.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life, safety, an excellent education system, and competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Salary

The position is fixed term for 5 years as of 1.5.2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. A trial period of 6 months is applied in the position. A researcher appointed to a tenure track position has the opportunity to advance systematically through the tenure track career levels towards permanent professorship, provided that the performance criteria are met.

The salary will be based on the levels 5-6 (assistant) of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Starting gross salary will be approx. 3800-4300 (assistant) per month (before taxes).

Applications

Apply online latest on 8.12.2024. The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. A letter of motivation with contact information
2. Curriculum vitae following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. A complete list of publications preferably with DOI identifications, with the ten most important ones marked, following the guidelines of the Academy of Finland
4. A brief account of research merits
5. A brief account of teaching merits or a teaching portfolio
6. Details regarding the acquisition of research funds
7. A brief research and action plan
8. Contact information of 2–4 persons available for recommendation.

Find out more about our tenure track system, entry criteria, evaluation procedure and advancement on our careers website.

Selection process

The selection process follows the University of Oulu tenure track guidelines. The process is carried out by a recruitment committee and the candidates are subjected to publication analyses based on their publication lists. The candidates that are considered most suitable by the recruitment committee will also undergo an expert evaluation.

The applicants who succeed in the expert evaluation will be invited to an interview and to an on-line teaching demonstration. Applicants will get information on their own progress in the selection process.

Further information

Further details about the position can be requested from Professor Emil Kurvinen, emil.kurvinen@oulu.fi, Phone: +358505695969.

Further information on the selection process can be asked from recruitment committee chair Toni Liedes, toni.liedes@oulu.fi and secretary Satu Pitkäaho, satu.pitkaaho@oulu.fi.

1. Satu Pitkäaho, +358403593434