Filip Tuomisto begins work as Professor of Nuclear Engineering
08.05.2012
Filip Tuomisto, Doctor of Science (Tech.), stepped into his position as Professor of Nuclear Engineering at the School of Science on 1 May 2012.
[Image:Professori Filip Tuomisto]
![[Image:Professori Filip Tuomisto]](http://www.aalto.fi/fi/current/news/filip_tuomisto.jpg){kind=link}
Professor Filip Tuomisto, 33, has a background in material physics and researching the structure of materials at their atomic level. As professor, one of his key areas of research will be examination and prediction of the resistance to radiation of the structural materials used at power stations.
"The purpose of this research is to facilitate development of new materials that are more resistant to radiation. However, no material can be made to last forever. Better predictions and models are needed for how long materials will remain resistant to radiation. This will help in knowing how often different components in power stations need to be changed," said Professor Tuomisto.
From material physicist to Professor of Nuclear Engineering
Professor Tuomisto explains that he chose Nuclear Energy Technology as his major during his studies at the Department of Applied Physics.
“Energy and the issues surrounding it have always interested me. In twenty years, the world’s energy needs will be significantly larger than currently. We will need all possible forms of power production.”
After working as a summer assistant in a research laboratory, Mr. Tuomisto decided to change his major to Applied Physics. Around this same time a future in the science world began to interest him. Mr. Tuomisto’s Master’s thesis as well as his Doctoral dissertation, which he completed in under 3 years, are both in the field of material physics, but his interest in energy persevered.
”As construction materials used at power stations are in contact with radiation and are under an immense mechanical load, stations need a multitude of information on the atomic structure and durability of materials.”
Responsibility for nuclear safety a part of education
According to Professor Tuomisto, it is of primary importance that education promotes responsibility in the use of nuclear technology.
"At Aalto University we teach students about radioactivity and radiation as well as how to operate when working with these. Not all forms of radiation are alike, and thus their effects on surrounding materials will vary.
Filip Tuomisto was appointed to the Tenure Track system as an Associate Professor for a fixed-term from 1 May 2012 to 30 April 2017. He is also the head of the Positron Physics research group.
