Doctoral Researcher Position to Study Condensation of Water at Nanoscale

Doctoral Researcher Position to Study Condensation of Water at Nanoscale

Organisation/Company: AALTO UNIVERSITY
Research Field: Chemistry, Engineering, Physics
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2), First Stage Researcher (R1)
Country: Finland
Final date to receive applications: 15 Jan 2026 - 00:00 (UTC)
Type of

Contract:

Other
Job Status: Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

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.

At the Department of Applied Physics, our pioneering research in physical sciences creates important industrial applications that hold great technological potential. Our research focuses on Materials physics, Quantum technology, Soft & living matter, and Advanced energy solutions. Topics extend from fundamental research to important applications. We educate future generations of research and development professionals, data specialists, technology experts, inventors, and scientists for industry and society.

A Doctoral Researcher position to study condensation and interfacial phase change at nanoscale is available at the Soft Matter and Wetting (SMW) group, Department of Applied Physics (School of Science) at Aalto University. We are looking for an enthusiastic doctoral researcher to experimentally investigate condensation processes at surfaces with molecular precision. The work focuses on developing advanced methods for controlling wetting and nucleation, combining cutting‑edge surface engineering with high‑resolution experimental techniques.

Potential applications span from energy‑efficient heat exchangers and water‑harvesting surfaces to antifogging and anti‑icing coatings.

We expect the ideal candidate to be passionate about exploring new frontiers in interfacial science and eager to push beyond the current state of the art, aiming at obtaining a PhD degree. Our research is curiosity‑driven, interdisciplinary, and highly collaborative.

Your role and goals

• Design and conduct experiments on condensation and interfacial phase change at nanoscale.
• Develop and apply advanced surface modification and characterization techniques.
• Collaborate with a diverse team of physicists, chemists, and engineers.
• Present findings in scientific journals and at international conferences.

Your network and team

The Doctoral Researcher will be based in Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University at the SMW group. SMW is a multidisciplinary team studying functional soft materials and surface wettability and developing wetting characterization instruments. More information about our group can be found in: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Your experience and ambitions

We offer a hands‑on, multidisciplinary research environment combining experimental surface physics, nanotechnology, and fluid dynamics. In return, we are looking for a candidate who has:

• A suitable academic background in physics, chemistry (physical chemistry), fluid mechanics, or a related field
• Strong interest (and experience) in thermodynamics, interfacial science, phase change phenomena, or micro/nanoscale heat transfer
• Good data analysis and programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar)
• Strong motivation, good communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Proficiency in English (Finnish is not required)

What we offer

The doctoral researcher position will be based in Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University with high‑tech facilities in this department along with…