Doctoral Researcher, MSCA (Bioceramics, Bioglasses and Biocomposites, FunctiGlass) / Väitöskirjatu

Tampere University creates a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education. Our university community has its competitive edges in technology, health and society. www.tuni.fi/en 

Over the past four decades, glass, glass-ceramics and composites have contributed to the most advanced socio-economic breakthroughs as high-tech materials. To compete with emerging economies such as China and India, the European glass sector must strive for product leadership by investing more in research and innovation to develop new materials and train specialists for a competitive but promising market. Contributing to this challenge is the main objective of the ‘Structured functional glasses for lasing, sensing and health applications’ (FunctiGlass) project, dedicated to advanced high-tech materials for three sectors: light sources, sensors and biological applications. FunctiGlass is a unique interdisciplinary research and training programme with a double degree as part of Horizon Europe’s Doctoral Networks (Marie-Skłodowska Curie Actions, project 101169415).  Doctoral Researcher position is in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology | Tampere universities in the group of Bioceramics, Bioglasses and Biocomposites.

Job description

X-rays and gamma (which are highly ionizing) have been in several areas of scientific applications such as cancer treatment, elemental analysis, waste removal, agriculture. Direct exposure to these types of radiation can cause health problems such as cancer, irritation and may, in some cases, lead to death. To reduce the amount of damage caused by exposure to these rays, scientist have already obtained promising results which favored the use of non-flexible radiation shielding materials such as concrete as well as lead and its compounds. However, lead is highly toxic and, therefore, unsuitable for radiation shielding on human. To remedy problems of health-related issues attributed to concrete and lead, other materials were explored for radiation shielding applications, especially glasses. CeO2 doped glasses have been found to be promising for radiation shielding.

Aside from application in radiation shielding, quantification of radiation, especially in application such as, in medicine (diagnostic and treatment), nuclear power supply, fundamental research, industrial manufacturing, sterilization, non-destructive testing, food processing, etc. is of tremendous importance. The incorporation of Ce³⁺ ions in silicate glasses is a crucial issue for luminescence-based sensing applications, especially when thinking of fiber sensors, where the fiber is processed via MCVD. In the scope of ionizing radiation dosimetry, optical fiber sensors attract a huge interest due to their small size, intrinsic immunity to electromagnetic interferences, flexibility and ability to be remotely interrogated. They also offer high spatial resolution of the measurement with the possibility to work in hazardous, narrow and constrained environments.

Within the FUNCTIGLASS project, the candidate will:

• Produce phosphate and silicate fiber sensor doped with Ce³⁺ ions. The impact of irradiation on the glasses’ spectroscopic properties will be analyzed.
• Design optical fiber sensors
• Identify applications in oncology sensing for the nanoparticles doped fibers

By the end of the project the aim is to demonstrate that the developed fibers have potential in sensing X-ray and protons

Practical information 

• Contract will start in October 2025, for 4 years. 
• Recruiting institution: Tampere University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology (Finland) 
• PhD enrollment: Doctoral Programme in Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University and Université Côte d’Azur, France
• Industrial mentor:  Kevin Boll, Product Manager at Rosendahl Nextrom oy (Finland)
• Host laboratory: Bioceramics, Bioglasses and Biocomposites group, Tampere University (Finland) 
• Supervisor: Prof. Jonathan Massera 
• Co-host laboratory: Institut de Physique de Nice (INPHYNI CNRS UMR7010), Nice
• Co-supervisor: Prof. Franck Mady
• Secondments: 1 month at Rosendahl Nextrom Oy (Finland) to learn the MCVD process and 3 months at Nazarbayev University (Kazakhstan) to test the fibers’ sensing properties.  

Requirements  

We are looking for a talented, creative and highly motivated researcher. Recruited researcher can be of any nationality. Doctoral Candidate must be eligible to be enrolled into Doctoral Program at Tampere University and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.  

MSCA Mobility Rule: at the time of recruitment by the host organization the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of his/her employer (Tampere University, Finland) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered. 

The applicant must be in possession of Master of Science (MSc) diploma at the beginning of the employment. Good knowledge in Materials Sciences, Spectroscopic Technique, inorganic materials processing and characterization. The applicant should have work experience in laboratory.

English language requirements: Proficiency in written/spoken English is mandatory. In certain cases, we may ask for a language certificate. 

We offer     

Place of employment is in Tampere University. Planned mobility and duration of the position is 48 months. The contract is full-time. A trial period of six (6) months applies to all our new employees.  The salary will be set in accordance with MSCA rates. Approximate gross salary is about 3450 EUR/month. With family allowance about 3950 EUR/month. Target degree is PhD degree from Tampere University, Finland and Université Côte d’Azur, France.

The new Tampere University and higher education community began their operations on 1 January 2019. Tampere University of Technology, the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Applied Sciences are building a unique environment for multidisciplinary, inspirational and high-impact research and education, and a hub of expertise in technology, health and society. We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University here. 

Finland is among the most stable, free and safe countries in the world, based on prominent ratings by various agencies. It is also ranked as one of the top countries as far as social progress is concerned. Tampere is counted among the major academic hubs in the Nordic countries and offers a dynamic living environment. Tampere’s region is one of the most rapidly growing urban areas in Finland and home to a vibrant knowledge-intensive entrepreneurial community. The city is an industrial powerhouse that enjoys a rich cultural scene and a reputation as a centre of Finland’s information society.  

For more information on Tampere and Finland, please visit:  

• https://visittampere.fi/en/
• https://www.visitfinland.com/en/
• https://www.infofinland.fi/en/landingpage

How to apply 

Please note that the applicant must fill in PhD Application Form of FunctiGlass and send it by email to recruit@functiglass.eu. 

The closing date for applications is 15th of April 2025.

All application instructions can be found at this link: FunctiGlass .

The applicant must submit the following documents to recruit@functiglass.eu, only a clear copy of the documents will be considered. 

• Application form completed 
• CV + Letter of motivation 
• Contact of two reference persons to be contacted by the selection committee (name, relation to the candidate, e-mail address and phone number) 
• Complete list of publications and academic works 
• Proof of language proficiencies 
• Proof of master diploma or 2024 registration to master’s degree

Please note that we will begin conducting interviews during the application period, so early applications are encouraged. This allows us to get to know candidates as soon as possible and keep the process moving efficiently. Please apply at your earliest convenience! 

For more information, please contact: 

Prof Jonathan Massera, jonathan.massera@tuni.fi. 

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Tampereen yliopisto ja Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulu muodostavat korkeakouluyhteisön, joka uskoo ihmiseen ja tieteeseen. Tekniikan, terveyden ja yhteiskunnan huippuosaajat muuttavat maailmaa Suomen toiseksi suurimmassa monitieteisessä ja innostavassa tutkimus- ja oppimisympäristössä. https://www.tuni.fi/fi 

Haemme määräaikaista väitöskirjatutkijaa FunctiGlass:n motitieteiseen tutkimus- ja koulutusohjelmaan, joka on osa Horizon Europen tohtoriverkostoja (Marie-Skodowska Curie Actions). Väitöskirjatutkijan tehtävä sijoittuu Tampereen Yliopistossa Lääketieteen ja terveysteknologian tiedekuntaan, biolääketieteen tekniikkan yksikköön, Biokeramiikan, Biolasin ja Biokomposiitin ryhmään. 

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Tagged as: Research, development & R&D