Postdoctoral Researcher in high-resolution large-scale modelling of sea ice (aalto)

Job Description

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 been ranked the 9th best young university in the world (Top 50 under 50, QS 2018) and one of the world’s top technology challenger universities (THE 2017), for its outside-the-box thinking on research collaboration, funding and innovation. Aalto has six schools with nearly 11 000 students and 4000 employees of whom close to 400 are professors. Our main campus is located in Espoo, capital area of Finland.

Postdoctoral Researcher in high-resolution large-scale modelling of sea ice

The Ice Mechanics Group at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Aalto University studies how sea ice deforms and fractures in different scales and applications. Detailed insight on the mechanical response of sea ice to external forcing and understanding of the deformation processes of sea ice are key factors in improving models used for studies on the effects of climate change on sea ice cover. This insight must be based on solid mechanical principles, since ice behavior changes with ice properties that are affected by the warming. Empirical knowledge is not sufficient for understanding such changes. The importance of research on this topic is enhanced by global warming, which is both increasing the fragmentation of ice and changing the mechanical properties of ice; processes related to mechanical sea ice deformation, such as ice break-ups and ridge building, will become more frequent and stronger. Novel numerical models for sea ice behavior and failure form a central part of the research on this topic and are developed and used by the Ice Mechanics Group.

Simulations are often used to predict the future of the ice-covered seas, but simulating sea ice is challenging. Large-scale continuum models are capable of modeling ice behavior with a resolution of some tens of kilometers. Such models do not accurately describe small-scale processes related to deformation and failure of ice. The ice properties, such as compressive strength, must be then tuned so that the models to present observed ice behavior. Predictive power of the large-scale models suffers from this. Engineering-scale ice mechanics, on the other hand, is performed on scales ranging from one meter to one kilometer, where continuum approach does not suffice, but ice failure processes must be modelled in detail. Here we wish to link large-scale sea ice modeling with detailed engineering-scale understanding on sea ice deformation processes by using computational tools with a capability accounting for both scales.

The work will be primarily performed by using discrete element method. We have readily validated in-house high-resolution discrete element tools dedicated for sea ice modeling, which we have thought to use in the modeling related to this work. You can, however, also suggest using some other tool for the work (include justification into your research plan).  We are also considering moving towards machine learning-accelerated computational models and this step may also form a part of your research. The main aim, in any case, is to increase the insight on the large-scale sea ice dynamics; we wish to both further develop and apply high-resolution large-scale simulation tools to answer central questions related to sea ice behavior across scales.

Requirements

The research performed is mostly computational. The applicant should have good understanding of computational mechanics and computational sea ice dynamics, computational methods (preferably discrete element method), and they should feel comfortable with programming. Suitable background may come from sea ice dynamics and/or ice mechanics, geophysics, applied and computational mechanics, mechanical engineering, or engineering physics. All experience on parallel computing and machine learning are beneficial. Good skills in English, writing and oral, are required. You may apply even if you are still in the process of writing your doctoral thesis. If this is the case, indicate it clearly in your application.

Employment

Aalto University follows the salary system of Finnish universities. The starting salary of a postdoc is about 4000 €/month (gross), with a possible increase based on achievements. The annual workload of research and teaching staff at Aalto University is currently 1612 hours. The employment contract includes occupational health care, and Finland has a comprehensive social security system. The employment relationship is full-time, fixed-term (period of two years) employment at Aalto University. If funding allows, the employment can be extended.

Join us!

To apply for the position, please submit your application electronically through our online recruitment system and provide the following documents in English merged in to one document:

• Concise research plan where you clearly justify how your planned research will align with the above-described aims of the research (maximum length 3 pages)
• CV including list of publications
• Degree certificates and academic transcripts
• Letters of recommendation from at least two referees or a list of references that we may contact

The deadline for applications is 22.5.2024, at 23:59 Finnish time (UTC +2) and the position will be filled as soon as possible. Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, and reopen the application process.

Further information

For additional information, please contact Associate Professor Arttu Polojarvi (email: firstname.lastname@aalto.fi). In questions related to the recruitment process, please contact HR Generalist Elmeri Martikainen (firstname.lastname@aalto.fi).

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