Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Design for Climate-Adaptive Urbanism

School of Arts, Design and Architecture – Department of Architecture

Location: Otaniemi Campus, Espoo, Finland

Join an international Horizon Europe project and support Aalto’s research growth through grant development in computational design in the field of urbanism and landscape architecture.

We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join our Computational Design team at the Department of Architecture at Aalto University. This 2.3-year position offers a rare opportunity to combine hands-on research in a major EU Horizon Europe project with strategic support for new research initiatives at Aalto. You will contribute to the Horizon Europe project UTOPIZE, which explores the co-creation of sustainable, inclusive, and aesthetically engaging public spaces under the New European Bauhaus framework. At the same time, you will play a key role in preparing competitive grant applications and expanding Aalto’s research portfolio in computational design for climate-adaptive urbanism. The position thus bridges cutting-edge EU research with future-oriented academic development, offering international visibility and active engagement with leading partners across Europe.

Your role and goals

• Lead and facilitate international cross-sectoral design workshops in collaboration with project partners.
• Develop and deploy AI-enhanced visualization tools and digital dashboards to support participatory engagement.
• Integrate environmental, spatial, and social data into digital twin models for scenario testing and policy simulation.
• Adapt co-design methods to local contexts in demonstrator sites (Portugal, Sweden, Italy).
• Contribute to policy recommendations, design briefs, and dissemination materials.
• Participate in international travels and consortium meetings.
• Publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and present at leading conferences, exhibitions, and stakeholder events.
• Assist in preparing grant applications for national and international funding opportunities (EU, ERC, NordForsk, Academy of Finland, etc.).
• Collaborate on computational design research projects, with focus areas such as data-driven design, immersive collaborative environments, and generative AI.
• Contribute creatively to expanding Aalto’s research initiatives in computational design for climate-adaptive urbanism.

Your network and team

You will work closely with Professor Dr. Pia Fricker (https://research.aalto.fi/en/persons/prof-dr-pia-fricker), whose professorship in Computational Design advances generative and immersive design methods by integrating geospatial intelligence to address sustainability challenges in urban and landscape systems. Her research group has an established track record in international collaboration and EU-funded projects, and maintains close links with leading academic and professional partners worldwide. The position is based in the Department of Architecture at Aalto University, which offers a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment bridging architecture, landscape, and urbanism with emerging technologies and sustainability research.

Your experience and ambitions

We are seeking a candidate with:

Educational background

• PhD in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Computational Design, Computer Science, Urbanism, or a closely related field.
• Specialization in computational design methodologies, data-driven design, and/or immersive technologies.

Professional qualifications/skills

• Experience in grant writing and familiarity with competitive funding landscapes.
• Track record of high-quality research publications and contributions to international conferences.
• Experience working in international, interdisciplinary projects; EU-funded project experience is an advantage.

Technical skills

• Proficiency in computational design tools (e.g., Grasshopper, Rhino, Python).
• Familiarity with immersive environments (Unity, Unreal Engine).
• Experience with AI-driven visualization workflows (generative models, real-time dashboards).
• Data analysis and geospatial tools (QGIS, ArcGIS, remote sensing).
• Visualization and communication tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Blender).

Language & other skills

• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Finnish or Swedish not required but considered an advantage.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, proactive mindset, and ability to manage multiple tasks independently.

What we offer

• A full-time, fixed-term position for 2.3 years (starting December 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter).
• Monthly salary starting from approx. €4,070, depending on experience and qualifications.
• Opportunity to play a leading role in a Horizon Europe project (UTOPIZE) while also shaping future research initiatives.
• Funded travel to project workshops and partner meetings in Europe.
• Access to state-of-the-art facilities, including UAVs, terrestrial laser scanning equipment, immersive VR/AR labs (https://studios.aalto.fi/magics/), and computational design studios for immersive data simulation.
• Supportive, diverse, and inclusive research culture.

Our wide range of professional development opportunities means you will grow and learn, participating actively in diverse research trainings based on your interests and needs.

How to Apply

Please submit your application through our recruitment site (“Apply now!”) no later than 23:59 (EET) on 15 October 2025. We aim for the selected candidate to start no later than December 2025. Your application should include:

• A motivation letter (max. 2 pages) explaining your interest in the position and how your background fits the role.
• Publication list.
• Your CV, including contact information for two referees.
• Relevant degree certificates and academic transcripts.
• A portfolio or selection of publications that best demonstrate your research and computational design skills.