Doctoral Researcher Position to Study Condensation of Water: From Molecular Clusters to Macroscopic Droplets

Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 16 000 students and 5 200 employees, including 446 professors. Our campus is in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and 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. At the Department of Applied Physics, our pioneering research in physical sciences creates important industrial applications that hold great technological potential. Our research focuses on Materials physics, Quantum technology, Soft & living matter, and Advanced energy solutions. Topics extend from fundamental research to important applications. We educate future generations of research and development professionals, data specialists, technology experts, inventors, and scientists for industry and society. A Doctoral Researcher position is available at the Soft Matter and Wetting (SMW) group, Department of Applied Physics (School of Science) at Aalto University. We are looking for an enthusiastic researcher to experimentally study how water condensation begins and evolves on surfaces, from the earliest clusters toward macroscopic droplets and films. The position is part of an ambitious collaborative research effort at Aalto University and the Finnish Meteorological Institute, bringing together molecular-scale surface engineering, advanced microscopy, theory, and molecular simulations. The doctoral researcher will join at an early stage of this research project, with a real opportunity to help establish the experiments and shape the scientific questions. Work is fundamental, but it is also relevant to applications ranging from energy-efficient heat transfer and water harvesting to antifogging and anti-icing surfaces. We are looking for a curious and experimentally minded researcher who wants to understand interfacial phase change at scales where many basic questions remain open. The work will connect phenomena across several length scales and will involve advanced microscopy, surface characterization, and development of new experimental approaches. We expect the candidate to be eager to push beyond the current state of the art while working toward a PhD degree. Our research is curiosity-driven, interdisciplinary, and highly collaborative. Your role and goals Design and conduct experiments to study adsorption, nucleation, growth, and coalescence during water condensation at micro- and nanoscale. Use and develop advanced microscopy techniques, including high-resolution electron, and optical microscopy, together with complementary surface characterization methods. Prepare and characterize well-defined surfaces and investigate how their molecular-scale properties influence condensation behavior. Develop experimental and data-analysis methods to follow condensation across different length and time scales. Work closely with researchers at Aalto University and the Finnish Meteorological Institute, including colleagues working on theory and molecular simulations. Publish the results in scientific journals, present them at international conferences, and contribute actively to the scientific development of the project. Your network and team The Doctoral Researcher will be based in the Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University in the SMW group. SMW is a multidisciplinary team studying functional soft materials, surface wettability, and new methods for characterizing wetting and interfacial phenomena. This position starts before most of the new researchers join the broader project, while working closely with the existing team at SMW group. This gives the successful candidate a particularly good opportunity to contribute to establishing experimental methods and ways of working from the beginning. The research will expand into a larger team of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers at Aalto University and the Finnish Meteorological Institute, combining experiments with theory and molecular simulations. More information about our group can be found at: . Your experience and ambitions We offer a hands-on and multidisciplinary research environment combining experimental surface physics, nanotechnology, microscopy, and fluid dynamics. We do not expect one candidate to already know every technique used in the project. More important is a strong experimental mindset, willingness to learn, and interest in understanding difficult physical questions. We are looking for a candidate who has: A suitable Master’s degree in physics, physical chemistry, materials science, fluid mechanics, nanoscience or a related field. Strong interest in experimental research and in topics such as thermodynamics, interfacial science, phase change, wetting, or micro/nanoscale heat and mass transfer. Experience with microscopy, surface characterization, nanofabrication, or experimental instrument development is an advantage. Good data-analysis and programming skills (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar). A hands-on approach to experiments, patience in troubleshooting, good communication skills, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Proficiency in English (Finnish is not required). What we offer The doctoral researcher will be based in the Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University, with access to high-level experimental infrastructure in the department as well as Micronova and OtaNano. The work will make use of advanced microscopy, micro- and nanofabrication, and surface-characterization facilities. Available infrastructure includes atomic layer deposition, electron microscopy, scanning-probe methods, x-ray techniques, ellipsometry, and spectroscopy. The combination of these facilities gives the researcher the possibility to move from molecularly controlled surfaces to direct observation and quantitative analysis of condensation processes. The position of Doctoral Researcher is initially filled for 2 years. The contract is continued for another 2 years after a successful midterm review. The annual workload of research and teaching staff at Aalto University is 1612 hours. Aalto University follows the salary system of Finnish universities. The starting salary is approximately 3142 €/month (gross), and it increases as the Doctoral Researcher progresses in the research and studies. The contract includes Aalto University occupational healthcare and research travel. We value a healthy work–life balance and actively support personal and professional development. You will have opportunities to collaborate with leading academic and industry partners. Join us! If you would like to be considered for the position, please submit your application in English through our recruitment system by clicking the link “Apply now!” on our webpage. To apply, please share the following application materials with us: CV Motivation letter Study transcripts Contact details of at least two referees Kindly apply before the deadline – 30.09.2026. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible since we aim to fill this position as soon as a suitable candidate is found. Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, extend the application period, reopen the application process, and consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period. Please note: Aalto University’s employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). Aalto University’s students and visitors should apply as external candidates with personal (not Aalto) email. More information If you wish to hear more about the position, you can reach out to Prof. Robin Ras ( ), or Dr. Ali Afzalifar (). Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos: Aalto University – Towards a better world , Aalto People , and Shaping a Sustainable Future . 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