Junior researchers (doctoral students) in optimization of water electrolyser systems

The LUT School of Energy Systems is looking for junior researchers (doctoral students) in the optimisation of water electrolyser systems.

LUT’s hydrogen research team has participated in the internationally recognised projects Neo-Carbon Energy, Soletair, Neo-Carbon Food, P2XEnable, and FinH2. 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 have, for example, developed models for industrial-scale alkaline water electrolysers and optimised green hydrogen production in off-grid systems based on solar and wind power. We collaborate closely with industry and universities in Finland and beyond.

Are you interested in becoming part of our success story? Would you like to research key technologies and solutions to tackle the climate crisis? If you have the motivation and ambition to conduct international high-level research and aim to become a doctor and a highly valued expert in your field, you might be just the person we are looking for. Join our internationally recognised hydrogen research team.

Description of the position

You will be a researcher in the hydrogen research group. Green hydrogen is considered a promising pathway to achieving emission reduction targets and the decarbonisation of the entire power-geneating 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 optimisation and control water electrolyser systems.  

You must have a university master’s degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant field (e.g., electrical engineer, 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 optimisation methods in the Matlab environment.

In addition, you must obtain the right to complete doctoral studies at LUT before the start of the contract.

Employment relationship and pay

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 job is located at the LUT School of Energy Systems 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). 

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 starts when we find qualified candidates who have been admitted to doctoral studies at LUT. 

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

Further information

For further information, please contact Professor Antti Kosonen, antti.kosonen@lut.fi, +358 45 676 9878.

Read more about LUT as an employer and 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 nearly 8 000 members. Our campuses are in Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland. We’re one of the top universities in the world for climate action. lut.fi/en

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