The position of Associate Professor funded by donations to the University of Eastern Finland from Genelec, the City of Iisalmi, Normet, the Olvi Foundation and the Savings Bank Optia Foundation.
The University of Eastern Finland is recruiting a new Associate Professor of AI Technologies and Industrial Applications for the Department of Technical Physics on the Kuopio Campus. The deadline for applications is 11 November 2026.
The four-year Associate Professor position is funded by donations to the university by Genelec, the City of Iisalmi, Normet, the Olvi Foundation and the Savings Bank Optia Foundation. The donations amount to 380,000 euros.
The Associate Professor is expected to demonstrate expertise and a strong track record in areas including AI solutions for the design of industrial equipment, processes and services as well as user-centred applications and their optimisation. The needs of companies operating in the region will be taken into account when developing research and education in AI technologies.
Olli Mylläri, Vice President of Technology at Normet, an international manufacturer of equipment for mining and tunnelling, sees AI as a key means of making machinery and processes more intelligent.
“AI improves our customers’ productivity and safety in mines, and it also opens up opportunities for new data-driven services. Across the industry, AI is accelerating the transition towards more autonomous and sustainable production,” Mylläri says.
Normet expects the new Associate Professor to have strong research expertise and a sound understanding of the real needs of industry.
“We look forward to long-term collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland’s Department of Technical Physics, bringing Normet cutting-edge expertise, new ideas and skilled professionals,” Mylläri says.
Professor Arto Koistinen, Deputy Head of the Department of Technical Physics, points out that expertise in AI is increasingly prominent in discussions with industry about research, development and innovation needs.
“This new appointment is strategically important to us and will strengthen our collaboration with industry. Expertise in this field is also needed in our existing and future degree programmes in technology. The Department of Technical Physics offers an excellent setting for the new Associate Professor, as our department coordinates the FAME flagship, which is based on computational engineering, and collaborates with the ELLIS Institute Finland, which specialises in European AI research. The new appointee will have the opportunity to join the ELLIS Institute Finland community and collaborate across its network,” Koistinen says.
