Are you interested in plastics research and looking for a new job opportunity in the field? Would you like to do impactful research in the cutting edge of natural sciences with superb colleagues who are top experts in their field? Do you want to build a science career and work in a versatile role at the interface of academy and industry? VTT might be just the place for you.
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 focuses on creating impact through science-based innovation. Get to know us further by exploring VTT's tech & infra .
We are now looking for a Research Scientist or Senior Scientist to join our Materials processing and circular solutions team.
In this position, you will have an essential role in initiation, management and implementation of projects in the field of sustainable plastics, and in plastics’ recycling methods.

Your responsibilities include initiation of public research projects and private industrial commission work. You will also be managing or executing on-going projects, which includes planning and supervising experiments from the laboratory to the pilot scale. You will be part of plastics development team and you will be providing your material science expertise to our R&D projects. Depending on your previous experience, you can contribute to wide range of sustainable plastics or recycling topics including e.g. waste plastic washing or sorting processes and mechanical recycling.

Our team, Materials processing and circular solutions, focuses on developing and up-scaling various novel thermoplastic polymer compounds and routes for better circularity of plastics. The team works with all kinds of thermoplastic materials covering most relevant industrial applications areas. We have unique plastic processing pilot facilities and a recognized team with competence more than 20 years in collaboration with industry from different sectors.

See this video to find out more about our research: Sustainable multimaterials and composites

Your responsibilities will include:

• Applying your multidisciplinary materials science skills to a wide range of R&D projects related to plastics and plastics recycling.
• Initiating, managing and implementing customer and collaborative funded research projects both in Finland and internationally.
• Mastering a wide range of plastics processing and physical characterisation tools and techniques relevant to polymer materials science.
• Increasing visibility by writing articles in peer-reviewed journals and presenting research results at international conferences.

We expect you to have:

• A Master's or Ph D degree with a focus on polymers, plastics or environmental engineering.
• Experience in plastics or plastics recycling technologies.
• Previous experience in industrial R&D.
• Good knowledge of English, both written and spoken, is required. Knowledge of Finnish is an advantage.

In addition, it is an advantage if you have participated in multinational R&D projects at international or European level.

As a person, we hope that you are:

• We are looking for a colleague who can work efficiently and proactively in our research team and independently take responsibility for carrying out project assignments. You have motivation and capacity to build and manage projects in an international, multi-project environment. Good communication and team working skills are required, as you will be collaborating regularly with scientists, technicians, and other stakeholders. You love to learn and develop your expertise.

With VTT, you’ll enjoy:

• Natural sciences with an impact. VTT works on the cutting-edge of natural sciences, and we've invested in building state-of-the-art research facilities for natural sciences, such as the Bioruukki pilot infrastructure for bio- and circular economy. Our research agenda is dedicated to solving systemic and technological challenges, such as reaching carbon neutrality and unleashing the power of synthetic biology. That means that at VTT, your expertise in natural sciences will go towards creating a real impact. Read more about our strategy – the path of exponential hope.
• Superb colleagues and community. With VTT, you'll join a community of over 2300 multidisciplinary experts who foster a culture of trust, openness, and sharing of knowledge. We work across disciplines and house all the cutting-edge sciences, from quantum computing to synthetic biology, under one roof. Collaborating with superb colleagues is a source of learning, inspiration, and fun. Read more about our organisational culture as the builder of the world's most meaningful place to work.
• Excellent career in research. At VTT, excellence in research is a strategic priority. We offer long-term positions and stable career paths in top-level research. People tend to stay with us for over ten years since there are always new roles and responsibilities to grow into. A combination of cutting-edge academic research and applied customer projects keeps your career path interesting.
• Support for your well-being. Our people are our main asset, so we take good care of them. We aim to nurture excellent team spirit and leadership and offer versatile well-being services to enable a good work-life balance. On top of 6 weeks of paid holidays annually (after one year of work), we offer exercise and culture benefits, hobby clubs, and voluntary well-being services such as meditation and cognitive ergonomics training.

Apply now and join our community of brilliant minds!
Please send your CV and application with your salary request via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 6 October 2024. We will process applications as they come in and fill 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 know more?

For further information, please contact Research Team Leader Mika Paajanen mika.paajanen@vtt.fi,+358407370910, on Friday 20.9. 13 – 14 or Tuesday 24.9. 13 - 14.
We look forward to hearing from you!