Geological Survey of Finland

GTK is a research organization governed by the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy. At GTK, we aim to work for the Earth and for Us. We conduct objective research to find solutions to challenges posed by climate change, the energy transition, and the circular economy. Our 400 experts are specialists in the mineral economy, green energy, water management, the environment, and digital solutions. Together with our Finnish and global partners, we are building sustainable and carbon-neutral future.

Homepage: https://www.gtk.fi/en/careers-at-gtk/

The Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) is looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to study the transport of solute and heat in crystalline bedrock for the Energy and Construction Solutions unit. Your office is primarily Espoo, but if necessary working at other GTK offices can be negotiated. You can also work remotely partially and flexibly in Finland.

Your assignment will be to enhance theoretical understanding and GTK’s ability to model groundwater flow and transport processes in the crystalline bedrock, especially in the fault zones. Your task is to develop an integrated workflow involving field and lab scale tests and their thorough interpretation. Your responsibility is to plan and execute for instance single and multi-well pumping and solute and heat tracer test and interpret their results together with laboratory, structural and other geological information in an integrated manner.

The task involves the development of an inversion approach to incorporate the experiments and observation results for development and calibration of a fully explicit heterogeneous solute and heat transport coupled models. These models will be used for theoretical research, as well as for applied fields of research such as geothermal energy, nuclear waste disposal, heat storage and sustainable water management.

The project involves internal GTK collaboration with groundwater geologists, geothermal group, structural geologists, and inverse modelling specialists through ongoing projects as well as international collaboration and mobility. You are also required to publish the results in high-quality journals and participate in scientific conferences, workshops, and seminars to present the results of this project.

You will be working in the Energy and Construction Solutions unit of approximately 45 professionals, who work with issues related to nuclear waste disposal, site selection, geothermal energy, bedrock gas potential and research (especially hydrogen), and engineering geology. In the unit, you will work in the Site Assessment group, which presently consists of 11 members.

This postdoc position is part of Postdoctoral Programme for Research Institutes in Finland. The Programme is funded from the Finnish long-term research and development (R&D) plan. The Programme recruits 85 new postdoctoral researchers to 12 Finnish government research institutes between 2025 and 2028. The aim of the Programme is to strengthen R&D competence in areas important to society and business. Postdoctoral researchers will drive impactful, high-level research bridging science, industry, and administration. The Programme supports postdoctoral researcher’s networking and mobility between sectors. Read more here: Tulanet

Education, experience and skills expected of an applicant

• PhD in the field of hydrogeology or related fields. We expect you to have completed your doctorate no more than five years ago (up to ten years for special reasons). The position may also be filled by a person who has been awarded a permission to defend their dissertation before submitting the application.
• Demonstrated experience in field hydrogeology.
• Excellent understanding of transport phenomena in pore and fractured media
• Ability to plan field experiments, and interpret the results, considering all the existing information.
• Ability to build up conceptual models and parameters them.
• Some experience with numerical modelling
• Demonstrated track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Ability to travel domestically to field sites (3-4 weeks/year)
• Ability to travel abroad for research visits and conferences (less than one month/year)
• Valid driving license B or ability to get it in a short time

Education, experience and skills that are appreciated

• Experience with heat or solute tracer tests, push-pull tests, etc.
• Experience with numerical solute and/or heat transport models
• Understanding and experience with inverse modelling/model calibration
• Python/Matlab, C++ or comparable programming skills

Personal qualities desired from the applicant

You have the ability to work independently and as a team member, bring own ideas into the project and have initiative to test them. You are able to solve technical issues/problems at fieldwork. You have good interaction and networking skills and know how to prioritize your tasks as needed.

More information: The starting date is 1.3.2025 or by agreement. The position is fixed term for 3 years. The position includes a probationary period.

The selected postdoctoral researcher may be transferred to a permanent research scientist position after an evaluation at the end of their temporary position and GTK’s resource needs assessment.

We consciously advance the diversity and equality of our staff, so we encourage many kinds of people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our positions. Our work community is made up of more than 20 different nationalities, which is one example of our diversity.

It is possible to work remotely from inside Finland

Primarily, we request applicants to submit their applications electronically via the Valtiolle.fi service. Please send your application with your motivation letter and CV in English through the valtiolle.fi-service latest on 16.12.2024 at 16:15 (EET), using service key 8399.

However, you can also apply for this job by delivering your application to the Registry Office’s postal address. Both the application and the envelope must feature the ID number of the position applied for. The letter must be delivered by the end of the application period.

The interviews are scheduled to take place in January.

The Registry of the Geological Survey of Finland

Vuorimiehentie 5, P.O. Box 96
FI-02151 Espoo

For further information, please contact your future supervisor Taina Karvonen, tel. +358 50 348 6501 reachable on 11.11.2024 at 9-15 (EET) or Heini Reijonen tel. +358 50 348 8669 reachable on 15.11.2024. at 9-15 (EET).