Doctoral Researcher (PhD student), Nano-optoelectronics

The University of Eastern Finland is inviting applications for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) position in Nano-optoelectronics at the Department of Physics and Mathematics on the Joensuu campus. The position will be filled for a 3-year term from 1 October 2025 onwards (or as agreed).

Please find more information below and submit your application by 31 August 2025.

Role and salary

We are seeking a highly motivated and talented Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) to join our newly established research group at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) — a leading hub for photonics research in Northern Europe. The Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) position is hosted by the Department of Physics and Mathematics at the Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology on the Joensuu campus.

The Spin-polarized Nanolasers Based on 2D Materials research project focuses on developing nanoscale light sources based on two-dimensional (2D) materials. This is a cutting-edge area bridging nanophotonics, quantum materials, and device engineering — with promising applications in quantum technologies and next-generation optoelectronics. As a Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student), you will collaborate with an interdisciplinary network of research groups specialising in optics and photonics, materials science, and condensed matter physics.

As our new Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) your main responsibilities will include:

• fabricating 2D material samples (exfoliation, pick-up, and transfer)
• conducting cleanroom nanofabrication using tools such as EBL, SEM, AFM, RIE, metal evaporation, and other standard tools
• performing optical spectroscopy including angle-resolved transmission, reflection, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence measurements, and spatial and temporal coherence measurements
• performing electrical characterization through IV measurements
• running and maintaining experimental measurement and fabrication setups
• data analysis and interpretation, drawing conclusions from experimental and simulated data
• publishing and presenting research findings
• contributing to group projects and discussions with collaborators

Additionally, your duties may include:

• conducting computational modelling by simulating optical properties using standard numerical tools, such as ANSYS Lumerical and COMSOL
• contributing to laboratory and/or lecture assignments
• co-supervising undergraduate students

The main duty of the Doctoral Researcher (PhD student) is to conduct research for their dissertation and to complete postgraduate studies.

The position will be filled for a 3-year term from 1 October 2025 onwards (or starting date as agreed). The position will be filled for a fixed term due to it pertaining to the Doctoral Researcher’s (PhD student's) own doctoral dissertation work and studies. A probationary period is applied to all new members of the staff.

The salary of the position is determined in accordance with the salary system for Finnish universities. The salary comprises two components: a job-related salary element and a personal salary element. For a Doctoral Researcher, the job-related salary element is based on levels 2–4 of the job requirement level chart for teaching and research staff depending on the stage of the applicant's doctoral research and postgraduate studies. The personal salary element is 6–50% of the job-related salary element. At the beginning of the employment, the total salary will be approximately EUR 2,650 – 2,785 /month.

Our requirements and expectations

We expect you to

• be eligible for postgraduate studies; i.e., to hold a Master’s degree in physics, nanotechnology, material science, photonics or a related field, awarded by a university or by a university of applied sciences, or to have completed an applicable study programme abroad which in the awarding country gives eligibility for corresponding postgraduate education
• meet the student admission criteria for the LUMETO doctoral programme (Doctoral Programme in Science, Forestry and Technology, website)
• have a good command of written and spoken English
• have basic experience in laboratory work and data analysis

Applicants who do not yet have the right to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Eastern Finland are not required to apply for study rights at the application stage. If the applicant is selected for the position and applies for postgraduate study rights, the selection will be conditional until the right to pursue postgraduate studies in the faculty’s doctoral programme has been granted. The application for postgraduate study rights is submitted through the Studyinfo (Opintopolku) service.

The following will be considered an advantage

• prior experience in 2D heterostructure fabrication, nanofabrication, optical measurements, and programming for experimental control and data analysis

Your benefits

You will have access to the university’s staff benefits, including

• the opportunity for flexible multi-location work
• extensive occupational health care
• a broad selection of staff training
• staff discount on lunch in our campus restaurants, as well as on a range of other services
• affordable sports services and tax-free bike benefit

Please read more in the Work at UEF section on our website.

You will have an opportunity to work in a meaningful role as part of our international, creative, participatory and inclusive academic community.

Enjoy your life in Finland! Known for its cleanliness, welfare know-how, modern technology and superb education system, Finland is an exotic and safe country to work in. Please visit the Life in Finland section on our website to learn more.

How to apply?

Submit your application by using our electronic application form no later than 31 August 2025 by 23:59 (midnight) Finnish time (UTC+3).

Please note that you must include the following appendices in your application

• a CV (Template for CV, TENK web page)
• a list of publications (Instructions, Research Council of Finland Web page)
• copies of your academic degree certificates / diplomas, and copies of certificates / diplomas relating to your language proficiency, if not indicated in the academic degree certificates/diplomas
• a transcript of records
• motivation letter (max. 1 page)
• other documents to demonstrate the applicant’s merits for the position

If your degree certificate is not in English, Finnish, or Swedish, you must provide official English translations of your degree certificate documents. All translations must be issued by the awarding educational institution or an authorized translator. Each page of the official translation must bear the translator's stamp and/or signature. Official translations must be accurate translations of the original documents. Translations made by the applicants themselves will not be accepted.

Questions?

For further information on the position, please contact Senior Researcher Antti Moilanen, email: antti.moilanen@uef.fi.

For further information on the application procedure, please contact HR Specialist Noora Hämäläinen, e-mail: noora.hamalainen@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4458302 or HR Specialist Iiris Korhonen, e-mail: iiris.korhonen@uef.fi, tel. +358 29 4458161.

Haemme väitöskirjatutkijaa Itä-Suomen yliopistolle. Tehtävä sijoittuu luonnontieteiden, metsätieteiden ja tekniikan tiedekuntaan fysiikan ja matematiikan laitokselle Joensuun kampukselle. Tehtävä alkaa 1.10.2025 (tai sopimuksen mukaan), ja se täytetään kolmen vuoden määräajaksi. Tässä tehtävässä tehtäväkohtainen palkanosa on vaativuustasoluokittelussa tasoilla 2–4. Lisäksi maksetaan henkilökohtaiseen suoriutumiseen perustuvaa palkanosaa, joka on 6–50 % tehtäväkohtaisesta palkanosasta. Tehtävässä edellytetään hyvää englannin kielen taitoa.​

Lue tarkemmat tiedot tehtävästä ja hakuohjeet yllä olevasta englanninkielisestä ilmoituksesta. Jätäthän hakemuksesi englanniksi. Hakuaika tehtävään päättyy 31.8.2025.