Open positions

Assistant/Associate Professor position in Pavement Engineering (tenure track)

5.2.2026

Application closes on

18.3.2026

Unit

School of Engineering

Job category

Faculty, professors

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by sparking the game changers of tomorrow and by creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13,000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other staff members working on our vibrant campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. 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.

The School of Engineering drives science and innovation in industrial and built environment technologies. We are committed to educating a new generation of experts who combine technical excellence with a deep understanding of sustainable development in shaping societies. Our research focuses on sustainable built environment, mechanics and materials, multidisciplinary energy technology, and design and implementation of technical systems. The strength of our school lies in close collaboration with stakeholders across research and education. About 45 doctoral candidates and 350 master’s students graduate from the school every year. The school is home to 700 staff members, including 70 professors. To learn more, please visit eng.aalto.fi.

The Department of Civil Engineering at the Aalto University School of Engineering invites applications for

Assistant/Associate Professor position in pavement engineering (tenure track)

The call is primarily targeted to individuals seeking junior positions at the Aalto University tenure track system. Appointment at the level of Associate Professor may also be considered. More information about the tenure track career path here.

We are looking for talented candidates for a full-time Assistant / Associate Professor position to work in a vibrant community of students, researchers and experts and to interact with industry.

Streets, roads, and highways are an essential part of municipal and national infrastructure. Future solutions within pavement engineering should restrain climate change, link new technologies with pavement engineering, utilize new materials with advanced structural solutions, and lead to functional and cost-effective traffic lanes. In Finland, bitumen has been the major binder material, and the maintenance of bituminous pavements and roads is a major on-going effort. The performance of pavements in cold region conditions or the use of alternative and recycled pavement materials are topical matters.

We are looking for an expert who is prepared to advance the field with an ambitious research agenda with a particular emphasis on bituminous materials and mixtures. Success in the position requires strong skills in interacting with the Finnish industry which has a history of supporting research with industry funding. The professorship includes teaching and course coordination responsibilities related to e.g. structural design of roads, bituminous materials and mixtures, road maintenance and rehabilitation and geometric design of roads. The candidate should also be prepared to collaborate with research groups of the department (e.g. Mineral Based Materials research group), the School Engineering and other Finnish research institutions.

Your role and experience

All the professors at Aalto University are expected to perform high quality research and teaching, and to supervise students on doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate levels. We also expect professors to be proactive members of the Aalto and international scientific community, and to exhibit leadership and services for the society. In this professorship, cooperation with national stakeholders is essential.

We are looking for a candidate who:

Has completed a doctoral degree relevant for the position
Has experimental experience and technical and methodological skills relevant to the field
Has potential or proven capability to carry out research and attract both industry and competitive research funding
Has potential or proven capability to collaborate with national stakeholders – both industrial and authorities
Has potential or proven capability to take responsibility for education and researcher training in the field
Has ability to be an effective teacher in the graduate degree program of Geoengineering
Has fluent command in English, which is the main language of teaching and research at Aalto. Knowledge of the Finnish language, industry and culture is seen as an advantage.

Your merits will be appraised based on your research of pavement engineering systems, teaching and academic leadership, and activity in scientific community and society. A bibliometric analysis will be conducted to support the evaluation of research merits.

Candidates for assistant positions will be evaluated based on their potential. For associate level, the emphasis is on merits. Experience in acquiring funding for research projects, preferably also academic competitive funding, multidisciplinary research approach, and co-operation with building sector and research organizations are advantages and required for tenured positions. More information about the Aalto tenure track evaluation criteria.

What we offer

Research-oriented environment: We have excellent research infrastructure and high-quality laboratories
Well-resourced learning community: Opportunity to work within a well-resourced learning community, characterized by rigorously selected and highly motivated students.
Tenure Track position: A tenure track position with promotions based on merits, offering a clear and rewarding career pathway
Versatile support for your work: Support in applying for external research funding as well as excellent staff trainings and mentoring programs
Comprehensive benefits package: Includes e.g. free access to health care and campus sport services
Friendly and diverse community, which genuinely respects diversity and equality
Excellent collaboration possibilities: Opportunities for excellent collaborations within the university, fostering a rich academic network

Finland is one of the world's most reliable, stable and safe countries and consistently occupies top position in the annual World Happiness Report. Finland offers a safe and healthy environment for living, with excellent state-subsidized services including affordable day care, healthcare, and free schools that are ranked among the best in the world. With significant investments in R&D, a strong innovation culture, open data, and advanced digitalization, Finland is a nation of innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Nordic values of equality and cooperation are deeply rooted in our society. Gender equality, flexibility, and low hierarchy form the core of the Nordic working environment.

For applicants selected for tenure track positions, the university provides relocation support. Aalto University encourages flexible working hours to allow a healthy balance between work and free time. For all new staff members and their families, Aalto University provides dedicated introductory social and cultural events around the year.

The entry salary will be defined according to Aalto University's salary system, taking account of the applicant's experience and qualifications. A start-up package can be negotiated with the Dean.

More information about living and working in Finland

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Contact details

For additional information, please contact Professor Olli Seppänen at the Department of Civil Engineering, tel. +358 50 368 0412. In recruitment process related questions, please contact HR Partner Merja Parkkisenniemi tel. +358 50 593 7712. Email addresses: firstname.lastname@aalto.fi.

Ready to apply?

The application material for the position includes:

Cover letter including a summary of merits, most important achievements and motivation for this position and Aalto University (max 2 pages)
Curriculum Vitae, covering the major headings recommended by the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity at Template for researcher's curriculum vitae | Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK
List of publications, in which the three most significant publications are highlighted and your role in them described
Research portfolio, see instructions from policies and procedures document, page 25
Teaching statement, summarising the applicant’s approach to teaching and learning, previous teaching experience, and previous activities related to curriculum development (max 2 pages). In addition, shortlisted candidates can be asked to supplement their applications with a teaching portfolio following the Aalto University guidelines.

All material should be submitted in English and in pdf-format. The application materials will not be returned. Please submit your application online through Aalto University’s electronic recruitment system by using the “Apply now” link no later than Wednesday March 18th, 2026 (23:59 (UTC+2)). Current Aalto-employees should apply through the internal system Workday by using their existing user accounts.

For general instructions and evaluation criteria, including language requirements and guidelines for compiling a CV, please visit Tenure Track.

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open and to extend the application period.

More information the Department of Civil Engineering

The Department of Civil Engineering aims to build the sustainable structures of tomorrow through high-quality research, education and collaboration. Our research is backed by extensive facilities and focused on building design and construction as well as mineral-based materials and mechanics. We operate with industry on a number of important topics, including construction management, concrete technology, indoor air technology and geoengineering.

Currently, the department has 16 tenure track professors supported by lecturers, post-doctoral researchers, doctoral students, and technical staff. In total, the number of personnel is about 140. We are located at the vibrant Aalto University campus in Espoo, Finland.