The Academy of Finland has selected Aalto University’s Quantum Technology to continue in the Centre of Excellence programme for the period of 2018-2025.
The unit is led by Jukka Pekola from Aalto University. Aalto University is also a partner in two other centres of excellence. Aalto is represented by Antti Hannukainen and Nuutti Hyvönen in the Centre of Excellence of Inversion Modelling and Imaging and by Jaan Praks in the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space.
A total of 12 units were selected for the Centre of Excellence (CoE) programme. The new CoEs include research teams from 12 different universities or research institutes.
The Academy of Finland received a total of 179 letters of intent for this CoE call, and 34 of these were invited to the second stage. The Academy selects centres of excellence on the basis of international reviews and the aims of the CoE programme. The review focused on ensuring that the unit has a high scientific standard, conducts research with great potential to achieve scientific breakthroughs and promotes science renewal. The CoE’s potential to reach or remain at a top international level and its broader impact in society were also assessed.
The Academy of Finland’s Centres of Excellence are the flagships of Finnish research. They are at the very cutting edge of science in their fields, carving out new avenues for research, developing creative research environments and training new talented researchers for the Finnish research system and Finnish business and industry. The funding period will be extended from six years to eight, and an interim evaluation will be conducted after the first four years.
A CoE is a research and training network that has a clearly defined set of research objectives and is run under joint management. CoEs are jointly funded by the Academy of Finland, universities, research institutes, the private business sector and many other sources.
Read more:
Academy of Finland press release
List of units selected to the Centre of Excellence programme 2018–2025 (pdf)
The Academy of Finland’s funding decisions, published on 11 May, added eight new Academy Research Fellows and 13 postdoctoral researchers to Aalto University. The funding focuses on the fields of natural science and engineering. Of the funding that was received by Aalto, EUR 3,476,000 was allocated to Academy Research Fellows and EUR 3,333,000 to postdoctoral researchers. Academy Research Fellow posts are for a term of five years, and postdoctoral researcher posts are for a three-year period.
‘The overall result is, once again, excellent news for Aalto. I’m very proud of the fine work done by our Academy Research Fellows and postdoctoral researchers, both in research and research funding,’ says Aalto University Vice President Tuija Pulkkinen.
Aalto's new Academy Research Fellows represent a strongly international group.
‘These new funding decisions show that our research is already top-notch in the areas that we're invested in. However, one cannot attract new, talented researchers to Finland without a strong foundation, and that's why it is vital that we have multinational research groups that have already distinguished themselves internationally,’ notes Pulkkinen.
Of the eight new Academy Research Fellows, four work in the field of applied physics. ‘The Department of Applied Physics’ success in the Academy of Finland's funding applications comes as no surprise, since it is based on decades’ worth of work in the field,’ notes Professor Matti Kaivola, Head of the Department of Applied Physics.
‘Our focus is on specific research fields, i.e. solid material physics and material physics research. Our goal is to be on the very top of these fields. So you could say that we've set our sights high enough,’ Kaivola concludes.
To attract talented researchers from around the globe to Aalto, not only do you need top-level research groups, but also an infrastructure that supports experimental research. In Aalto University, this is represented by for example OtaNano, the national research infrastructure for micro and nanotechnologies.
As one example of Aalto's top research areas in applied physics, Matti Kaivola mentions the field of quantum technologies, represented by Academy Research Fellow Kuan Tan. The development of quantum technologies is a key area not only for Aalto, but for the European Union as well: in the future, the EU will be likely to initiate a considerable flagship project in the field.
Parinya Chalermsook, Department of Computer Science: Combinatorics of Graph Packing and Online Binary Search Trees, EUR 434,485
Xi Chen, Department of Applied Physics: Computational study of fluorescent silver clusters with implications for biosensing and bioimaging applications, EUR 434,485
Heikki Nieminen, Department of Neuroscience and Biomedical Engineering: Ultrasound-enhanced fine-needle biopsy (USeFNB): sound-tissue interactions, EUR 434,485
Hannu-Pekka Komsa, Department of Applied Physics: Controlled functionalization of two-dimensional MXene sheets (FUNTOMX), EUR 434,485
Kuan Tan, Department of Applied Physics: Quantum Bus for a Quantum Computer Based on Spins in Silicon (SPINBUS), EUR 434,485
Zheng Yan, Department of Communications and Networking, TruSoNet: Digitalizing Trust for Securing Pervasive Social Networking, EUR 434,485
Zhirong Yang, Department of Computer Science: Learning Data Representation by Large-Scale Neighbor Embedding, EUR 434,485
Alexander Zyuzin, Department of Applied Physics: Theory of Weyl semimetals and superconductors, EUR 434,485
Omer Anjum: Solving GPU Assisted Exascale Computing Challenges with High-Order Finite Difference Methods, EUR 225,650
Matilda Backholm: Pinning and dissipation of magnetic drops on superhydrophobic surfaces, EUR 243,170
Miguel Caro: Accurate computational electrochemistry from density functional theory and multiscale atomistic simulations, EUR 281,190
Ana Díaz-Rubio: Multiphysics Metadevices, EUR 257,470
Tommi Ekholm: METRICS – Managing Energy Technology Risks In Climate change mitigation Strategies, EUR 251,650
Jussi Jokinen: Computational Modelling of Emotional Appraisal in HCI, EUR 246,400
Juha Koivisto: Statistical physics to master particle-laden foam dynamics: rheology and imbibition, EUR 253,700
Caspar Ockeleon: Quantum squeezing and entanglement in microwave optomechanical systems, EUR 245,910
Taneli Riihonen: Generalized Fading Distributions and Matrix Functions for the Analysis of Wireless Communication Systems, EUR 262,630
Kezilebieke Shawulienu: Tunable electronic and magnetic states in superconducting 2D materials, EUR 266,140
Arno Solin: Sequential inference for real-time probabilistic modelling, EUR 254,500
Marijin van Vliet Wouter: Moving from observation to understanding in neuroscience: extending computational models to predict neuroimaging data, EUR 279,000
Christian Webb: Random geometry in number theory, combinatorics, and random matrix theory, EUR 247,840
For more information, see the Academy of Finland’s website: http://www.aka.fi/en/
The final exhibition of the transdisciplinary course at Aalto University is a concrete opening to enhance the interaction between scientific and artistic practices. It aims to break clichés related to mathematics by bringing deep phenomena of the field to the level of human experience.
Open-minded collaboration across the conventional barriers between disciplines enables the pursuit of diverse goals and aims. The exhibition also presents inspiring examples and ideas of new directions for education, from early childhood to research level. Students on the course come from different Schools of Aalto from freshmen to PhD students.
“Sensual Mathematics” is an expression of an intimate, inseparable relation between the sensual and the rational approaches of each team of students towards low dimensional geometry and topology.
The vertical artworks of the exhibition create a natural space inviting the visitor to wander into its forest-like growth
The Building Expertise for Innovation conference, hosted by Aalto University from 25 to 27 April, focused on how digitalization as a disruptive technological force transforms industries, services and society. National innovation policies, creation of platform ecosystems and the role of experts and expert judgements were among key topics.
“Innovation performance is declining in Europe”, stated Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions, in his speech. National governments are not necessarily the main drivers for innovation. Rather, regions and cities can be more important for building innovation ecosystems based on a culture of sharing knowledge and co-creation. There is a strong need for more interdisciplinary research – experts in technology and business need to work together with social scientists.
Markkula urged universities to focus more on societal challenges and to strengthen their role as natural platforms for entrepreneurial discovery. Universities have a crucial role in contributing to the development of regional innovation ecosystems which are founded on the culture of co-creation and the establishment networked of innovation hubs.
To foster innovation ecosystems in Europe, Director-General of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission Vladimir Šucha proposed in his keynote to move towards regional specific R&D targets; to open up regional structural funds to external actors; to develop fewer and simpler EU funding instruments with better aligned rules and increased flexibilities; to provide targeting funding for radical innovations; to encourage universities to become major players in the local innovation ecosystems; and to strengthen the role of social sciences and humanities.
Dr. Šucha stressed the importance of education for the prosperity of regions - especially secondary education that has a direct link to the increase in productivity. As an example, he presented research showing that if Romania could improve its level of education to the level of Finland, the GDP of Romania could grow significantly. Dr. Šucha also stressed that Aalto University and the Espoo Innovation Garden in the Otaniemi-Keilalahti-Keilaniemi-Tapiola area is one of the world’s best places for innovation.
Presentations by members from the EU-funded COST Action IS1304 on expert judgement network showcased applications illustrating how evidence-based decision making can support policy makers and businesses on issues relating to technology, strategic choices, business models and innovation.
According to Professor Tim Bedford from University of Strahclyde governments are trying to find ways to make their decision making transparent and to rely on evidence in justifying their decisions. This is where structured expert judgement is needed.
Jennifer Cassingena Harper from the Malta Council of Science and Technology stated perhaps less optimistically that that there is presently a crisis of confidence in experts and their role in policy making. The dilemma here is that crises typically call for rapid responses whereas reflection, consultation and ongoing discussion require more long-term time horizons.
The World Economic Forum has listed massive digital misinformation as a great threat. Professor Luca Iandoli, President of the International Council for Small Business, talked about the role of experts in this age of misinformation and gave advice on how to act on online media. But crowds can also be smart, tool, he explained, especially in crowdsourcing, open source and driving consumer choices. He was also optimistic and concluded that the Internet will improve over time.
The long-term goal for Finland is to emerge as a game-changing player in carefully selected industrial verticals to address the global potential of platform economy, explained Ilona Lundström (in the photo) from Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland. These verticals include connectivity, transportation, bio-, clean and circular economies, health and wellbeing, energy, maritime, education and travel. In order to succeed both nationally and at the EU level, it is necessary to make short and long-term investments in the digital platform economy, to develop enabling technologies and testbeds, to carry out pilots and to ensure the supply of general software skills. In order to boost development also flexible regulations and deregulations are needed. Professor Jarno Limnéll added that in order to make Finland the world’s safest place to live, work and do business we need to create a security culture, a culture of responsibility.
A 90-minute tutorial on platform business introduced the participants to the concept of platforms, key elements of value creation and the logics in leveraging platforms. The audience also learned how digitalization is changing value creation and how innovation ecosystems can be built around platforms.
In the final session, Professor Ahti Salo noted that advances in digitalization have opened up exciting possibilities for evidence-based consultation processes to inform decisions. Such processes help expose misinformation and support collective learning through mutual critiquing. In order to be successful, these processes need to exhibit phases of careful problem structuring, elaboration of stakeholders’ value preferences, and creative development of decision alternatives.
The conference was organised by the Strategic Research Council's research projects Platform Value Now and Digital Disruption in Industry led by Professors Ahti Salo and Martti Mäntylä from the Aalto University School of Science, in collaboration with the COST Action on IS1304 Expert Judgement Network.
Link to conference presentations will be added here soon
Read news on JRC and Aalto University tightening collaboration
The Building Expertise for Innovation conference, hosted by Aalto University from 25 to 27 April, will delve into the nature of digital disruption and its effects in different fields and in society at large.
The conference is organised by the Strategic Research Council's research projects Platform Value Now and Digital Disruption in Industry, which are led by Professors Ahti Salo and Martti Mäntylä from the Aalto University School of Science. The main speakers at the conference include Director-General of the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission Vladimir Šucha, President of the European Committee of the Regions Markku Markkula, Professor George Wright from Strathclyde University and Professor Luca Iandoli, President of the International Council for Small Business. Also sharing their views will be Member of Parliament Jyrki Kasvi, Executive Director of The Finnish Family Firms Association Leena Mörttinen and Chief Policy Adviser Janica Ylikarjula from the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK.
Also participating in the conference will be the EU’s COST Action IS1304 Expert Judgment Network: Bridging the Gap Between Scientific Uncertainty and Evidence-Based Decision Making, which will bring to the meeting dozens of international participants. This network supports scientific evidence based decision making by promoting the use of systematic procedures when handling expert opinions.
The conference will focus on how digital disruption, as a technological and revolutionary force, transforms industry, services and society. During the conference, different application cases will be considered which show how systematic procedures provide a foundation for decision-making on issues relating to technology, strategic choices, business models and innovation.
‘Digital disruption usually takes place in stages, and its nature often varies from one field to another. What is now possible in the new digital consumer business does not work in the same form in, for example, traditional industrial fields, where optimal application of digitalisation requires expertise in the field and trust in the technology and its suppliers,’ explains Research Director Ilkka Lakaniemi from Aalto University’s Center for Knowledge and Innovation Research (CKIR).
The research community, businesses and public sector are all warmly welcome to the conference to participate and network. To view the conference program and to register, just visit the conference website.
The Department of Mathematics and systems analysis is seeking
New hourly-paid teachers in mathematics and systems analysis for autumn term 2017
Mathematics:
We expect the applicants to have completed at least 20 credits of mathematical studies at university level with good grades, as well as showing interest towards being a teacher. If you have previous experience in teaching, it is considered as an advantage, but is not necessary. The work consists mainly of assisting first year bachelor level mathematics' courses. This is a part time job (4 hours/week).
Systems Analysis:
We expect the applicants to have completed the course they are interested in. This is a part time job (2 or 4 hours/week).
We are seeking teachers for the following courses in autumn 2017:
* MS-C2107 Sovelletun matematiikan tietokonetyöt (several teachers needed);
* MS-E2114 Investment Science;
* MS-E2133 Systems Analysis Laboratory II;
* MS-E2139 Nonlinear programming;
* MS-E2140 Linear Programming; and
* MS-E2152 Peliteoria
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The salary is 30-35 euros/hour based on your education level. Please note! These jobs are meant mainly to Aalto University students. Most of the courses are taught in Finnish.
Apply for this job through eRecruitment system.
Attached to the application, you will need (in pdf format) a transcript of records, and an open application where you explain also
- in what courses are you interested in teaching, and
- in what languages are you willing to teach (suomi/svenska/English).
Dead line for the applications is Wed 10.5.2017.
Based on the applications, we invite some of the applicants to take part in web interview during May.
More information:
- Mathematics: ville.turunen(at)aalto.fi and jarmo.malinen(at)aalto.fi
- Systems analysis: kimmo.berg(at)aalto.fi
- Recruiting related questions: hr-ms(at)aalto.fi
The reasons for the award included the successful research collaboration between the Finnish Air Force and Aalto University’s Systems Analysis Laboratory, led by Professor Raimo P. Hämäläinen for 25 years.
General Jarmo Lindberg, Chief of Defence, granted the award which was presented on 3 March at an event held at Satakunta Air Command in Pirkkala to mark the 99th anniversary of the Finnish Air Force. Hämäläinen was also awarded with the pennants of the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and Satakunta Air Command.
Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. We are committed to identifying and solving grand societal challenges and building an innovative future. Aalto University has six schools with nearly 20 000 students and more than 400 professors. Our campuses are located in Espoo and Helsinki, Finland.
Aalto University School of Science invites applications for:
Tenure track or tenured position in Cryptology
The vacancy is open to talented individuals who are interested in an excellent opportunity to pursue a successful scientific career. The position is targeted primarily at candidates for the Assistant Professor level. However, candidates with an outstanding record for Associate or Full Professor levels may be considered.
The professorship is a joint position between the Department of Computer Science (http://cs.aalto.fi/en/) and the Department of Mathematics and Systems analysis (http://math.aalto.fi/en/). With strong research groups in systems security, theoretical computer science, algebra and discrete mathematics, and stochastics, Aalto University is emerging as a leader in information security. The selected candidate is expected to establish independent research and teaching in cryptology. We solicit applications from candidates with expertise in any area of modern cryptology including, but not limited to, symmetric-key and public-key cryptography and cryptanalysis, information-theoretic and complexity-theoretic perspectives of cryptology, as well as implementational and applicational aspects of cryptographic primitives.
The applicants are expected to hold a doctoral degree in computer science, mathematics, or a related discipline. Excellent research record in cryptology, evidenced by publications in relevant top venues, is expected and a strong background in both computer science and mathematics is considered as an advantage. Suitable background and enthusiasm for teaching cryptology courses at bachelor’s and master’s level are essential. We value ability for and interest in engaging in research collaboration with industry.
A person at any level of the academic tenure track system in Aalto University is expected to perform world-class research, to teach, supervise and otherwise advance academic education, to be an active member of the international scientific community, and to exhibit academic leadership. Career advances on the tenure track are based on scheduled performance assessments, which take into account the candidate’s merits in all these areas.
The salary for the position follows the salary scale in use at Aalto University, but applicants may also provide salary requirements.
How to apply
Applications with attachments for the tenure track position are to be addressed to the President of Aalto University and submitted through the Saima recruitment system. Link found in the bottom of the page: http://www.aalto.fi/en/about/careers/jobs/view/1210/ . Review of the applications will begin on April 1, 2017. The position will remain open until filled. Applications shall consist of one single pdf file, with file name “lastname_firstname_application.pdf”. All material should be in English.
The application material shall include:
1. cover letter including a summary of merits and most important achievements (one page),
2. curriculum vitae (with contact details; recommended length two pages),
3. research statement describing past research and plans for future,
4. teaching statement,
5. names, positions, affiliations and e-mail addresses of five senior research leaders available for providing recommendation letters
6. list of publications (top-5 publications relevant for this position highlighted)
The applicants will be reviewed on the basis of their research achievements, teaching credentials and activity in scientific community in relation to their career stage. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to supplement their applications with a more detailed teaching portfolio. Aalto University reserves the right to use external reviewers to support the evaluation of applicants during the recruitment process.
While all applicants who have submitted their application according to instructions will be appropriately considered, Aalto University reserves the right to consider also other candidates for the announced position, or leave the position open.
Further Information
For additional information, please contact Professor N. Asokan, tel +358 50 4836465 or Professor Camilla Hollanti, tel. +358 50 5628987, or in recruitment process-related questions HR Coordinator Laura Kuusisto-Noponen. e-mails: firstname.lastname@aalto.fi.
For more information about Aalto University, the two departments, and information security research at Aalto University, please download the brochure for this position here.
In Helsinki Feb 17, 2017
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Tenure track in Aalto University
The tenure track is open to talented individuals who have excellent potential for a scientific career. Individuals on the Aalto University professorial tenure track have the possibility to advance in their career through regular performance reviews, which take into account their merits in all areas of their scope of duty. Launched in 2010, the tenure track has attracted a wide range of international applicants, giving Aalto University the possibility of recruiting top experts and young research talent to join the Aalto University community.
Read more about the Aalto University tenure track system at http://www.aalto.fi/en/about/careers/tenure_track/
Pekka Mild, Lic.Sc. (Tech.), will defend the dissertation "Portfolio Decision Analysis for Infrastructure and Innovation Management" on 3 March 2017 at 12 noon in Aalto University School of Science, lecture hall H304, Otakaari 1, Espoo. The dissertation develops a multiattribute decision analysis methodology for resource allocation and project portfolio selection. The methodology has been applied in practice for decision support in transportation infrastructure maintenance funding allocation and innovation program evaluation.
Professor Alec Morton, University of Strathclyde, will act as the opponent. Custos is Professor Ahti Salo, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis. Dissertation release in Finnish is available at http://sci.aalto.fi/en/current/events/vaitos_mild_pekka/
Assistant Professor Kaie Kubjas, what kind of research do you do?
My main field of research is applied algebraic geometry with applications in statistics, optimization and phylogenetics. Algebraic geometry studies systems of polynomial equations and inequalities. In recent projects, I have applied algebraic geometry to low-rank tensor completion and maximum likelihood estimation for evolutionary models. Maximum likelihood estimation is an optimization problem and I am especially interested in finding the correct solution with a guarantee of correctness, which standard numerical methods usually cannot provide. Other important topics in my research have been nonnegative and positive semidefinite rank that appear in the context of statistics, machine learning and complexity theory.
How did you become a researcher?
I attended mathematics competitions as a child and already then I developed passion for solving problems. Later I wanted to solve mathematical problems that other people have not explained yet, and becoming a researcher was a very natural choice for me. I became very independent already as a PhD student, as my supervisor moved to another university after helping me to choose the key research topics in the beginning. As an Assistant Professor I am privileged to choose and study the scientific problems that I find most important.
What are the highlights of your career?
In 2014-2016, I was an independent postdoctoral researcher at Aalto Science Institute and studied similar subjects as I do now. In 2014, I spent a semester at the Simons Institute in Berkeley attending the program "Algorithms and Complexity in Algebraic Geometry". In 2013, I spent a semester at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in Bonn. I defended my PhD thesis "Algebraic and combinatorial aspects of group-based models" in May 2013 at the Free University of Berlin.
What is the most important quality for a researcher?
I think it is necessary to identify and keep the focus on the research problems that you find most relevant. Otherwise it is very easy to get distracted as there are so many research problems one could work on. Then it is a combination of hard work and good luck finding the solutions. When it comes to getting relaxed after work, I often go to a climbing gym. When I am climbing, I cannot think of anything else except the climbing route and let the math just go.
What do you expect from the future?
I am very excited to build my own research group. It is a completely new dimension for me. I also look forward to talking to people about different applications and identifying new problems where algebraic geometry can be helpful.
Emanuele Ventura, M.Sc., will defend the dissertation "Geometry of Real Tensors and Phylogenetics" on 9 January 2017 at 15 at the Aalto University School of Science, lecture hall M1, Otakaari 1, Espoo.
Professor Kristian Ranestad, University of Oslo, will act as the opponent. Custos is professor Alexander Engström, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis. Dissertation release is available at: http://sci.aalto.fi/en/current/events/vaitos_ventura_emanuele/.
Antti Toppila, M.Sc. (Tech.), will defend the dissertation "Robust Reliability and Resource Allocation - Models and Algorithms" on 10 November 2016 at 12 noon in Aalto University School of Science, lecture hall H304, Otakaari 1, Espoo. The dissertation studies how to provide decision recommendations that are robust to epistemic uncertainty when making complex decisions.
Professor Enrico Zio, Politecnico di Milano, will act as opponent. Custos is professor Ahti Salo, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis. Dissertation release is available in Finnish at: http://sci.aalto.fi/en/current/events/vaitos_toppila_antti/.
Jussi Kangaspunta, M.Sc. (Tech.), will defend the dissertation "Resource Allocation Methods for Defence and Infrastructure Systems" on 4 November 2016 at 12 noon in Aalto University School of Science, lecture hall H304, Otakaari 1, Espoo. In this dissertation, methods to support the allocation of resources to investment alternatives are studied and developed. These methods have been illustrated by examining problems from defence planning and critical infrastructure risk management.
Professor Vicki Bier, University of Wisconsin-Madison, will act as opponent. Custos is professor Ahti Salo, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis. Dissertation release is available in Finnish at: http://sci.aalto.fi/en/current/events/vaitos_kangaspunta_jussi/.
Helle Majander, M.Sc., will defend the dissertation "Efficient reconstruction algorithms for three-dimensional tomographic imaging" on 11 November 2016 at 12 noon in Aalto University School of Science, lecture hall 1, Otakaari 1, Espoo. In the dissertation, we study the iterative algorithms for solving the inverse problems related to tomographic imaging. We present an efficient algorithm that can be used with different imaging modalities and we study the compensation of geometric modeling errors in particular for electrical impedance tomography.
Associate Professor Kim Knudsen, Technical University of Denmark, will act as the opponent. Custos is Professor Nuutti Hyvönen, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis. Dissertation release is available in Finnish at: http://sci.aalto.fi/en/current/events/vaitos_majander_helle/.
Janne Korvenpää, M.Sc. (Tech.), will defend the dissertation "Nonlocal nonlinear potential theory and fractional integral operators" on 18 November 2016 at 12 noon in Aalto University School of Science, lecture hall M1, Otakaari 1, Espoo. In the dissertation, potential theory for fractional Laplace type equations is developed. These equations are nonlocal integro-differential equations having many similarities with typical partial differential equations.
Professor Lorenzo Brasco, University of Ferrara, will act as the opponent. Custos is Professor Juha Kinnunen, Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis. Dissertation release is available in Finnish at: http://sci.aalto.fi/en/current/events/vaitos_korvenpaa_janne/
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