Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by sparking the game changers of tomorrow and by creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13,000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other staff members working on our vibrant campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. 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.

The School of Engineering drives science and innovation in industrial and built environment technologies. We are committed to educating a new generation of experts who combine technical excellence with a deep understanding of sustainable development in shaping societies. Our research focuses on sustainable built environment, mechanics and materials, multidisciplinary energy technology, and design and implementation of technical systems. The strength of our school lies in close collaboration with stakeholders across research and education. About 45 doctoral candidates and 350 master’s students graduate from the school every year. The school is home to 700 staff members, including 70 professors. To learn more, please visit eng.aalto.fi.

At the Department of Energy and Mechanical Engineering, the Energy Conversion and Systems Research Group is working on a wide variety of topics in the field of energy. Summer Internship Positions are open exclusively for Aalto students who are interested in working on different proposed topics in this group. We are looking for eager students to fill the following interesting summer job positions:

1. Topic: Green hydrogen production and storage

Supervisor: Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio

Duration: 3 months

Details: In this position, your primary task will be assisting in experimental hydrogen research, allowing you to get hands-on experience working in a research lab alongside our doctoral researchers. You get to produce hydrogen using an experimental electrolyser cell and perform electrochemical measurements on the system.  Additionally, you will assist in measurement and control of a small-scale high-pressure hydrogen gas storage.

Additional information: Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio (annukka.santasalo@aalto.fi)

2. Topic: Thermal energy storage characterization

Supervisor: Konsta Turunen & Annukka Santasalo-Aarnio

Duration: 3 months

Details: In this position, the summer trainee will participate in experimental research on thermal energy storage characterization. The main research tasks focus on the properties of phase change materials and can include the use of calorimeter, optical microscope or in-house experimental setups.

Additional information: konsta.turunen@aalto.fi

3. Topic: Benchmarking of international bachelor programs + Surveying chemical mechanisms for combustion

Supervisor: Henrik Holmberg + Kristian Rönn

Duration: 3 months

Details: Benchamarking of international bachelor programs in energy and mechanical engineering. The goal is to compare EKO bachelor programme with similar programmes in reference universities. The summer worker will also survey available chemical mechanisms for combustion of liquid fuels. The work also includes initial assessments of mechanism accuracies. We are mainly looking for an EKO bachelor program student for the position. 

4. Topic: Thermal storage materials

Supervisor: Ari Seppälä

Duration: 3 months

Details: Summer trainee will participate in projects where new type of materials for long-term thermal energy storages are developed. Depending on the background of the applicant the job can be focused on material synthesis, thermal and structural property characterization or prototype experiments.

Previous studies either in materials science, chemistry or energy/thermal engineering is required.

Additional information: Ari Seppälä (ari.seppala@aalto.fi)

5. Topic: Battery energy storage integrated with solar PV at residential level with co-use for price arbitrage (both desk-based & experimental in RElab, could continue as MSc thesis)

Supervisor: Samuel Cross

Duration: 3 months

Details: In most locations, the profitability of residential solar power is improved by installing batteries to maximize self-consumption of the solarpower. Batteries at residential level can also be utilized for price arbitrage in markets offering day-ahead price contracts for private residential customers. In this project, you would look at the profitability for a combined PV & battery installation in Finland where the battery would be used both for the PV storage and price arbitrage.  You would develop an algorithm for utilization of the battery for either purpose, seeking the most profitable utilization overall.  The study can be desk-based, or possibly partly experimental using a pilot installation at RELab. This project would suit a student who has studies in energy markets, electric energy storage and energy system modelling.

Additional information: Sam Cross (samuel.cross@aalto.fi)

More information on the positions can be obtained from the respective instructor of each topic: firstname.lastname@aalto.fi. The questions related to the recruitment process should be asked from the HR Generalist Elmeri Martikainen: elmeri.martikainen@aalto.fi.

How to apply

Submit your application through our recruiting system using the "Apply now!" link below. Please include the following documents compiled into a single pdf file:

1) CV

2) Aalto study record

3) Application letter

The application period closes on 2nd of March 2025. Aalto University reserves the right 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.

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Please see more of our Open Positions here.