Are you all about science and technology? Would you like to work in a meaningful role with real responsibility and excellent learning opportunities? Do you want to join us in solving future sustainable energy questions with our customers and work with superb colleagues who are experts in their field? 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 2000 brilliant minds is focused on creating impact through science-based innovation. Get to know us further by exploring VTT’s research infra at VTT World.
We are now looking for three Master’s Thesis Workers to join our Material processing and circular solutions research team. Join us - and let’s make an impact together!
As a Master’s Thesis Worker, you will be involved in the European research project TREASoURcE, which is about systemic transition to circular economy. The goal for the theses is to create an overview of operational environment including a state-of-the-art review, regulatory review and stakeholder interviews for three value chains: recycling plastics, reuse of electric vehicle batteries as energy storage, and bio-based side and waste streams for biogasification, composting and circular nutrients. For the plastics thesis, it might be possible to also incorporate experimental work to the thesis as well based on the applicant’s background.
TREASoURcE will innovatively circulate by refurbishment, reuse and recycling currently incinerated, exported, landfilled, underutilized or dumped CEAP-listed plastic, batteries and biobased side and waste streams by deploying systemic circular economy solutions. The overall objective of TREASoURcE is to initiate systemic change by implementing sustainable systemic circular economy demonstrations that significantly increase product and material circulation of highly consumed and waste generating plastics, batteries and biobased side and waste streams in the Nordics and Baltic Sea Region together with companies, societies (including citizens, consumers, communities and regional actors) and experts in the field. The combination of the cities and regions will enable large reach and bigger impact and boost the replicability and scalability potential of the CE solutions.
Each value chain will have a dedicated Master’s Theses Worker (1. Plastics, 2. Batteries, 3. Bio-based side and waste streams). Each theses will follow the same methodology, but from their specific value chain perspective. The Master’s Theses Workers are expected to create a small research theses group that will spar each other and in the end, come together to synthesize possible lessons learnt and scalability between the value chains to enhance circularity.
Ideally, the starting date would be on 15.8.2022, but it’s negotiable. In August, there will be a 3-day kick-off in Helsinki for the EU project, which would be beneficial for the theses workers to participate. The theses work will begin by creating thesis plans and structuring the work, which is further followed with literature reviews (state-of-the-art, best practices, regulatory framework), data gathering, and interviews of stakeholders. The aim is that the theses would be ready within a 6-month period.
We expect that you have an interest towards developing yourself as scientist and that you have some know-how in chemistry and environmental sciences. It can be a benefit to have previous experience from EU regulations, and knowhow on material value chains and processing technologies.
Please send your CV, transcript of records and a free form application (and mention in which value chain theses position you are applying for: a) plastics, b) batteries c) bio-based side and waste streams) via our recruitment system as soon as possible but at the latest by 5 of July 2022.
We will process applications as they come in and fill in the position as soon as we find the right candidate.
For further information, please contact Anna Tenhunen-Lunkka, Senior Scientist and Project Manager (via anna.tenhunen-lunkka@vtt.fi) on during the application period.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Location: Espoo or Tampere.
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 over 75 years of experience of top-level research and science-based results. VTT is at the sweet spot where innovation and business come together.
VTT – beyond the obvious.