Doctoral Programme in Engineering Science

The research field focuses on computational sciences with applications in the modelling and simulation of industrial processes, as well as on basic research in physics, applied mathematics, and computer science and engineering.

LUT is part of the Centre of Excellence in Inverse Modelling and Imaging of the Academy of Finland. The research on inverse problems focuses on data-driven problems: to what extent given measurements are able to identify a simulation model. In this field, our speciality is to study the Uncertainty Quantification of modelling results, with athmospheric phenomena and weather prediction as primary application examples. However, our research is generic and provides natural collaboration within the School of Engineering Science, with other schools, as well as with companies. Our startup companies work with remote sensing, industrial tomography and application of machine vision.

The core methodologies used in the research include Markov chain sampling methods, but also Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), shape optimisation and multi-objective decision-making. Moreover, studies on soft computing and data analysis are an emerging new field in this research field.

The research in the computational modelling of materials focuses on first principles and multi-scale modelling. These methods provide approaches for analysing complex surface structures. Another important application of the first principles calculations is the study of chemical reactions on surfaces.

The machine vision and pattern recognition research group focuses on research related to imaging measurements, image processing and analysis, computationally intelligent methods for modelling and pattern recognition, and solution development for machine vision applications. The group has expertise on industrial applications and medical image processing, and it collaborates strongly with companies.

Further information

Professor Lasse Lensu

In collaboration

• The Finnish Meteorological Institute
• The European Centre for Medium range Weather Forecast (Reading, UK)
• University of Montana (USA)
• University of Surrey (UK)
• University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
• University of Milan (Italy)
• Maharaja Sayajirao University Baroda (India)
• Penn State University (USA)
• University of Central Florida (USA)
• CERN, Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics (Amsterdam, Holland)

The research field Technical Physics represents the main research activities conducted at the department, including condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics and computational physics. The doctoral degree requires the completion of a dissertation based upon original research performed by the student, and a public examination after the completion of the dissertation.

Further information

Professor Erkki Lähderanta

Global societal changes have increased the significance of sustainable development. This development encompasses amongst others the more environmentally-friendly production of metals, the sustainable utilization of natural resources, the utilization of novel water treatment techniques, the use of renewable raw materials for the production of energy and the generation of added value from waste streams and byproducts.

The research field of Green Chemical Technology educates experts, innovators and leaders specifically for the constantly changing society. As experts in separation processes, analytics and water treatment technology, our graduates go into the mining, mineral processing and chemical industries and into the reformed paper and pulp industries.

Doctoral education in Green Chemical Technology consists of course-based or tailored tuition and the preparation of a dissertation done within the existing research groups of Chemical Engineering. This ensures the tight integration between the long-term strategic research directions and the individual dissertations.

The curriculum is flexible. Courses can be taken at other universities due to our collaboration with existing doctoral education networks. In addition, teaching can be tailored through individual literature work suitable for each doctoral student. Part of the doctoral studies are multidisciplinary and done together with students of other doctoral programmes at LUT.

Doctoral graduates of Green Chemical Technology have demonstrated

• a systematic understanding of a field of study and mastery of the skills and methods of research associated with that field;
• the ability to conceive, design, implement and adapt a substantial process of research with engineering integrity;
• to be able to make a contribution through original research that extends the frontier of technology and knowledge by developing a substantial body or work, some of which merits national or international refereed publication and/or could result in patents;
• to be capable of critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of new and complex ideas and to be able to justify choices taking into consideration technological, societal, temporal and economic constraints;
• to be able to develop project plans and required resources in international context and to communicate with their peers in the larger international scholarly community and with society in general about their ideas or expertise, and also
• to be able to promote, within academic and professional contexts, technological, social or cultural advancement in a knowledge-based society.

Further information

Professor (tenured) Eveliina Repo

The Software Engineering research focuses on software engineering management, software development technologies, processes, and practices.  Other important viewpoints include business and organisational aspects of software.

Software development technologies comprise platforms and infrastructures, application architectures and ecosystems, open data, and big data. Key operations and processes in software and systems development include design, requirements and testing, to name a few. Business and organisational aspects involve life cycle issues, software innovations, service development and software business. Also user-oriented software development, including needs and requirements assessments and user-based processes, are targets of research.

Doctoral education in the field of Software Engineering prepares researchers to analyse complicated situations to find well-grounded solutions to them, and instructs in the use of scientific methods in information retrieval, analysis and reporting. The objectives also include knowledge of the latest research results in the field, the ability to organise and manage research projects, and report research results in a popularised manner.

The key target of the research is to publish the results in highly regarded scientific forums, which comprise classified conferences and scientific journals. Publications are written in cooperation with other researchers. Typically, the publication process involves collaboration between a professor, post-doctoral researchers and doctoral students. Moreover, publications are frequently co-authored with researchers from other universities and with representatives of the corporate world. Partners in cooperation may be based in any country, providing an opportunity for genuinely international collaboration.

A significant part of the research is carried out in cooperation with industrial partners. A research project usually includes field research, which examines the studied phenomenon, such as software testing, in a real-life situation in a company. Typical methods to obtain information include interviews and observation. The obtained information is analysed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The aim is both to obtain scientific results and offer businesses and communities information to develop their practices and understand problems related to their operations.

International elements, such as researcher exchange, research visits or international research conferences, are an integral part of doctoral studies in Software Engineering.

Further information

Professor (tenured) Maria Paasivaara

In Collaboration

INFORTE

University of Eastern Finland

Industrial engineering and management is an applied field of science that investigates organizational management and how to improve competitiveness. It aims to understand the technical, economic, and human operational preconditions for organizations and operational processes and produces tools for their development. The main priorities for the research at LUT are: innovation and technology management, supply chain management, entrepreneurship, cost management and knowledge management in decision making.

The topics of dissertations are closely connected to the competence areas being focused on by the research groups and connected to ongoing research projects and programmes funded by, for example, TEKES, the Academy of Finland, the EU, regional development funds and foundations. In these projects, there is cross-scientific collaboration between Finnish and international universities and they always include a strong company representation, guaranteeing significant practical importance to the research. Dissertation research can also be done while holding a job. In these cases attempts will be made to connect the doctoral candidate to the activities of the existing research groups as well as possible.

Internationally, an important dimension of research is the presentation of research results in scientific conferences and their publication in scientific journals, in which the novelty and quality of the research is evaluated according to international criteria. In addition, many of those working with their dissertation will go for varying periods to foreign partner universities. Doctoral students can also participate in the courses and workshops of institutes offering international research education. For example EIASM (European Institute of Advanced Studies on Management) offers a variety of courses in the sub-areas of industrial management.

The aim of the doctoral education in the research field of Industrial Engineering and Management is to give the graduating doctors a deep theoretical understanding of their own field of science and their research area. It further aims to provide the ability to produce new scientific knowledge and understand its potential application in practice in the development of an organization's activities.

In addition to academic tasks, the doctoral graduates are readily employed in the business sector, for example in the analysis and development of business processes, in the management and evaluation of innovation activities, in consulting tasks for company management and in tasks connected to demanding international projects. In all these tasks, both profound analytical skills and understanding of organizational entities is required and the doctoral education in industrial engineering and management qualifies the student well for these tasks.

Further information

Professor Janne Huiskonen

Our societies are changing. Due to digitalization, climate change, global pandemics, and wars, for example, we interact with one another in new ways. Understanding these changes is essential for determining how we can create sustainability and well-being for all, how citizens can best interact with their governments, how companies can facilitate a content and productive workforce, and how each and every one of us can best act when disasters strike. Doctoral studies in the social sciences help us better understand these and similar topics. 

Studies in the research field of social sciences aim to help researchers refine their research skills while giving them the tools to also better our societies. Supporting high-quality and societally relevant research with strong societal impact is a central goal for us. To reach this goal, we work together with, for example, governments, associations, and companies from around the globe. 

The research field of social sciences has three specializations. The first one is sustainable citizenship.  We want to understand how people and communities can participate in design and decision-making in our society. The second one is societal renewal. We want to promote ecological, economic and social sustainability and understand what factors enable the sustainable renewal of society through new technologies and business solutions. The third one is people and technology. We want to understand the roles and behaviours of people and communities in the face of new technologies and modes of action as we work to solve planetary crises through technological and economic means.

The doctoral education in the social sciences is a tailor-made programme of course work, and thesis writing, with the latter one being integrated with our on-going research projects. This integration facilitates the publication of research results in scientific outlets. Particular attention is being paid to research methods skills, the ethics of social science research, and questions of open science. Moreover, the skills of engaging in public debates and of connecting research projects to current social and political developments are developed. The doctoral research may use qualitative or quantitative methods or be literature-based. International exchange, for example in the forms of conference participations, research visits, and international collaborations are encouraged and supported. 

Further information 

Professor Kathrin Komp-Leukkunen