Postdoctoral researcher, Electrochemical biosensing

Are you interested in medical devices and biosensing 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? Are you enthusiastic about working with fascinating projects in state-of-the-art research facilities? VTT might be just the place for you. If you are an international talent searching for a new opportunity, read more about the benefits of living in Finland and VTT’s support for relocation here!

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 2300 brilliant minds from almost 60 different nationalities 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 a Postdoctoral Researcher to join our Medical devices and in vitro diagnostics team in Oulu for a fixed-term three-year contract starting in January 2025!

VTT started a Postdoc programme in 2023 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 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 Sensing and integration research area, that develops hardware and software solutions for Healthcare and MedTech. Besides focusing on applied research, our teams are experienced with high-volume manufacturing technologies working close with national and international customers. The candidate will work in Medical devices and in vitro diagnostics team in Oulu, Finland. Team is developing point-of-care diagnostic and wearable devices, incl. microfluidics, lateral flow test trips, electrochemical sensors as well as optical biosensors.

Read more about our research: VTT pilot manufacturing for diagnostics and wearables (youtube.com)

Your responsibilities as a Postdoctoral Researcher:

• Conduct self-initiated and collaborative research on electrochemical biosensor development with an expert team of biochemists, optics and electrical engineers.
• Develop cutting-edge electrochemical sensors that are applicable for novel biosensors such as wearable epidermal sensors, smart solutions for continuous monitoring, extracellular vesicles detection systems.
• Participate in activities and projects that lead to cutting-edge technologies for high-quality academic publications and/or patents
• Build and plan multidisciplinary research projects and contribute in new project funding applications
• Collaborate with customers and research partners and participate in offering our expertise and know-how.
• Participate in project management and reporting activities.
• Lead the electrochemistry research projects and guide junior researchers

Who we are looking for:

• A candidate with a doctoral degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, material science or other applicable field. Training should include electrochemistry.
• Minimum 3 years of experience on electrochemical biosensor development including hands-on experience on electrochemical sensor fabrication, functionalization, characterization and testing
• Strong background in thermodynamic and kinetic analysis, transport phenomena and biosensor design.
• Sound knowledge on surface science, adhesion, bonding, wetting, micro/nano functionalization techniques. 
• Experience in academic writing, documentation and peer-review publication process.
• Interest and motivation in learning high volume fabrication techniques and instrumentation development.
• You have recently (max 5 years ago) gained your doctoral degree in chemistry, chemical engineering or material science , or a closely related field.
• You have experience in biosensor development  research field and knowledge of electrochemistry .
• You have excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken.

As a person, we hope that you are:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage with research partners and potential customers
• 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. On top of 6 weeks of paid holidays annually (after one year of work), 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 via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 31th of September 2024. 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 hear more?

For further information, please contact Research Team Leader Christina Liedert, christina.liedert@vtt.fi, +358 40 5133894 on Thu 19.9 at 13.00-15.00 o’clock or on Fri 20.9 at 13.00 -15.00 o’clock (Helsinki, UTC +2)

We look forward to hearing from you!

This postdoc position is part of Postdoctoral Programme for Research Institutes. The Programme has been granted 40 million euros in funding based on the Finnish government's multi-annual research and development (R&D) funding plan. This funding enables recruitment of 85 PhD-level experts to 12 Finnish government research institutes between 2025 and 2028. The aim of the Programme is to strengthen RDI competence in areas important to society and business. Postdoctoral researcher will conduct goal-oriented high-level research at the interface between the academic community, industry and administration. The Programme supports postdoctoral researcher’s networking and mobility between sectors

Employment type: Fixed-term, 3 years (from the beginning of January 2025 until the end of December 2027)

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 society and companies to grow through technological innovations. We have 80 years of experience in top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.

VTT – beyond the obvious.

Apply between 9 September 2024 and 30 September 2024 23:59 (Europe/Helsinki)

Employment type: full-time, three years contract

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 in cutting-edge research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.

VTT – beyond the obvious