Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. We are committed to identifying and solving grand societal challenges and building an innovative future. Aalto University has six schools with 12 000 students and nearly 400 professors. Our main campus is in Espoo, Finland, along the metro line to Helsinki, the capital of Finland.

School of Engineering is an international unit with nearly 70 talented professors and 3400 full-time students. Currently, the Department of Built Environment has 29 professors together with lecturers, post-doctoral researchers, doctoral students, and technical staff. In total, the number of departmental personnel is about 200. Aalto University School of Engineering, Department of Built Environment invites open applications for Research Assistant in Water Engineering

We are looking for MSc student to work as Research Assistant for working with technical field equipment development related to HYDRO-RI-Platform project (which is part of the larger Freshwater Competence Center) led by Assistant Prof. Eliisa Lotsari. The work position is at the Water and Environmental Engineering Research group, BE department. This technical assistant would be assisting in the field in autumn and also work with technical details.

The assistant would have a possibility to also gain a Master thesis, based on the obtained results and assistance work done in the 6 months period. Therefore, we are looking for an enthusiastic person, with technical skills also for field work conditions, for 6 months (starting mid-August 2022). Salary would be 2310 e per month. MSc thesis is instructed by Dr. Erik van Rooijen and supervised by Assistant Prof. Eliisa Lotsari.

The aim of the project is to integrate and renew national water related research by establishing a hydrological research infrastructure (RI), and the long-term goal is to become part of international RI clusters. The new autonomous and remotely controlled survey and measuring platforms and mapping approaches will have game-changing impacts for studying hydrological processes, water quality, fluvial processes, river habitats and freshwater management, and renewing science related to sustainable water management. 

Our mission is to conduct innovative science by interpreting multilevel high-resolution sensor data to understand, predict and communicate the role and response of freshwater systems in a changing hydrological regime, and by open access sharing at national, EU and global level. The cross-disciplinary research goals include: 1) Provide advanced techniques to analyze interactions and responses in the hydrosphere by using novel integrated spatially and temporally covered monitoring approaches linked to modeling, management and decision making, and 2) Integrate these improved monitoring and modeling techniques and data management across disciplines to develop better information products which guide sustainable management of our waters under pressure of climate change and various land-use activities.

The themes of the 6 months of research assistant work will relate in particular to the development of the measurement approaches for and data analyses of data obtained by an underwater drone. The work would include development, testing and analyzing the underwater drone system, consisting also of a swathe sonar, water quality sensors, and different cameras attached to the underwater drone for underwater photogrammetry.

The work would be done at different river sites, such as Pulmanki, Oulanka and Vantaa Rivers in Finland. Knowledge/experience/interest in programming (pref. Python), GPS, geospatial analysis, remote sensing and electronics (e.g. Raspberry Pi) would be an asset for the applicant. If you have worked on projects related to these themes, you can provide a link to your github page.

Please, attach in your application (in a single pdf-file):

  • your study record
  • if you have any degree certificates (such as Bachelor degree)
  • motivation letter
  • CV

The deadline for the application would be 10th of June 2022. Applications are asked to be sent via the official link. Further questions can be sent to eliisa.s.lotsari@aalto.fi by 10th of June.

Apply now

More about Aalto University:

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 12 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 000 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.

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