Staff Scientist specializing in Data Analytic Aalto University, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Finland

Staff Scientist specializing in Data Analytics at the Technology-Business Data Science Infrastructure of Aalto University, Finland

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 12 000 students and nearly 400 professors. Our campus is located in Espoo, Finland.

The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at Aalto University of Science (Espoo, Finland) invites applications for:

Staff Scientist position for the Technology-Business Data Science Infrastructure (5 years)

The Department of Industrial Engineering and Management conducts world-class research and provides impactful education on the creation and transformation of technology-based business. We are one of Europe’s leading university departments in the field of technology entrepreneurship, focusing especially on strategic management and venturing, operations and service management, and entrepreneurial leadership. In total we are more than 120 persons working in the department, including 20 professors, over 30 senior and postdoc researchers, and a large number of doctoral students.

The faculty at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management is well known for its publications in leading management journals such as Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Administrative Science Quarterly, Strategic Management Journal, Organization Science as well as the leading journals in the core research areas of the department such as Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theory & Practice, Research Policy, and Journal of Operations Management in entrepreneurship, innovation, and operations and service management. The department conducts empirical research in close collaboration with the leading technology firms in Finland and Europe. Moreover, we provide entrepreneurship education for all Aalto students and management training for business practitioners. For more information, see http://tuta.aalto.fi/en/

Job description

The department is now looking for a Staff Scientist with data science expertise in technology-based business research to develop and manage department’s Technology-Business Data Science Infrastructure and to facilitate its use by research faculty, PhD students, and other students. The Technology-Business Data Science Infrastructure is created to facilitate world-class quantitative research in strategy, operations management and other areas of technology entrepreneurship. The infrastructure consists of a well-governed collection of commercial databases and other information resources for the quantitative research of technology-based business. The role of the staff scientist is to manage the information resources and facilitate their use in our research and education activities. The infrastructure is created to develop our data science expertise, and to complement other data resources available at Aalto University. The position provides a vantage point to the development of data science at Aalto University, including the opportunities of collaboration between Aalto Scientific Computing platform, Aalto Learning Centre, and Aalto University School of Business (e.g., the Department of Finance) and the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management. The position contributes to our mission of enabling cutting-edge quantitative research in technology-based business.

The position can be filled either as a part-time or full-time position. In case of a full-time contract, approximately 50% of work time can be used for own independent post-doctoral research within the broad domain of the department. The tasks of the Staff Scientist are planned to include the following activities:

•         Coordinating database acquisition and data governance
•         Communicating with external data providers and facilitate purchasing of data resources for research and teaching purposes
•         Building, configuring, and operating the research database infrastructure for modern technology-business research needs leveraging Aalto Scientific Computing (https://scicomp.aalto.fi) and using technologies including R, Python, and Stata
•         Helping plan and code modern, large data scientific analysis for researchers publishing research on technology-based business in top-tier journals
•         Facilitating and providing content expertise for research teams in small group and individual coaching sessions, and supporting bachelor's and master's students during their thesis work
•         Coaching researchers and PhD students in research strategies, data gathering, and analysis
•         Teaching in classes related to data science in technology-business.

he Staff Scientist is expected to be in residence for the duration of the appointment. The dates of the employment relationship can be negotiated, starting at earliest in May 2019 and at latest in September 2019. This Staff Scientist position is a five-year fixed-term position.

Requirements 

The applicants should hold a doctorate in a discipline relevant for this position or receive the degree before the beginning of the contract. The applicants will be reviewed on the basis of their research, teaching and activity in the scientific community as well as data science expertise in technology-based business research (e.g., related data sources and data science methods). The specific requirements include:

•         A PhD degree
•         Knowledge of databases relevant for research on technology-based business (e.g., CapitalIQ, Compustat, Derwent, Eikon, SDC Platinum, PitchBook, Preqin, TotalPatent, VentureXpert)
•         Expertise in data science tools related to acquiring, managing, and analyzing quantitative data (e.g., Python, R, and Stata and relevant packages)
•         Understanding of research design issues (e.g., causal inference) related to conducting and publishing management research publishable in top-tier journals
•         Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills and ability to interact with faculty and students at all levels
•         Good teaching and pedagogical skills

Salary and benefits

Salary is internationally competitive and Aalto University provides health care and retirement benefits. Finland is a great and safe environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services, including affordable day care and free schools, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world.

Application process

Please include the following documents in your application:

• a cover letter

• a curriculum vitae (with contact details)

• a list of publications (with the most significant publications highlighted)

• a research statement describing future research plans (when applying for a full-time position)

• up to three letters of recommendation

Closing date for applications: 30 April, 2019.

Applications with attachments (in pdf-format, named, e.g., Lastname_Firstname_cv.pdf) are to be addressed to the Search Committee, Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, and submitted through our electronic recruitment system (see link “Apply now!” below).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, reopen the application process, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

For additional information about the position and the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, please contact Professor Markku Maula (markku.maula@aalto.fi). On matters related to the application process, please contact the HR Coordinator Laura Pyysalo (laura.pyysalo@aalto.fi).

Living up to our values

As a community of high ethics, we want to assure the highest international standard in research, education and teaching. We expect all our community members to respect Aalto values and follow the ethical principles of fair play and integrity in all our activities and the behavior that we expect from each other. Aalto University Code of Conduct is applicable to all Aalto community members and it clarifies the values that guide us. For more information: http://www.aalto.fi/en/about/code_of_conduct/

About Finland and Helsinki area

Finland has a high standard of living, a world leading education system, and a vibrant commercial and cultural life. It enjoys a robust economy and political stability. It has excellent transport links to the major cities of Europe and beyond. Helsinki is one of Europe’s leading capital cities and a vivid center of scholarship. As a living and working environment, Finland is consistently ranked highly in quality-of-life and competitiveness studies. More information is available at: http://www.aalto.fi/en/about/careers/international_staff/