Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors, and more than 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and 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 Chemical Engineering is one of the six schools of Aalto University. It combines natural sciences and engineering in a unique way.

We are now looking for a

Doctoral researcher in the field of lignocellulose chemistry

Are you interested in research and working towards the future of forest products and lignocellulose chemistry? We are now looking for a motivated co-worker to a team that is passionate about forest resources, biomass, wood polymers, materials and their future perspective.

Your role and goals

The doctoral researcher will be working in a project focused on investigating opportunities of lignin-rich fiber products. The project is focused on thermomechanical processing of wood combined with chemical modification of the lignin-rich fibers as well as their characterization.  The ambition is to translate this knowledge into resolving challenges in forest biomass processing and in materials design. The aim for the doctoral researcher is to become an expert of lignocellulose chemistry or deepen the existing skills in that area. The position is available immediately, but the starting date can be negotiated to several months ahead.

Your network and team

The position is open in the research group lignocellulosic chemistry headed by Prof. Tiina Nypelö.

The laboratories are situated within the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems. The department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2), one of the three departments in the School of Chemical Engineering at Aalto University, has an internationally leading reputation in basic and applied research for the development of advanced materials from natural resources. It is one of the leading European research and higher education institutions in the field of sustainable chemistry and engineering based on the utilization of renewable resources. Bio2 aims to contribute to the development of novel solutions to move towards sustainable primary production and processing systems that can produce materials with fewer inputs, less environmental impact and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Within bioscience, the department has research in bioprocess technology, molecular biotechnology, enzyme technology, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, biomolecular, and biohybrid materials. Other strengths of the department include sustainable materials and products based on lignocellulose, ranging from nanomaterials to novel cellulose-based textiles.

The position is open within Emission Free Pulping (EFP) program. EFP program represents a ground-breaking initiative aimed at challenging and revolutionizing current pulping processes and developing novel pulping concepts to drastically reduce CO2 emissions. EFP partners are Aalto, VTT and several other Finnish and Swedish universities.

The target of the EFP program is to challenge chemistry and unit operations used in pulping processes to maximize product yield (i.e., fibre, lignin, and other wood components) while avoiding emissions (especially CO2). Feedstock is wood-based biomass, the use of which should follow a cascading principle of raw material value.

Your experience and ambitions

The candidate is expected to have:

• Recently obtained Master of science in forest products, biomass refining, fiber science, chemistry, or similar
• Good written and oral communication skills in English
• Interest in working in the laboratory, carrying out experiments, measurements, and data analysis
• A successful candidate has interest in pulping

What we offer

The expected starting salary for a Doctoral Researcher is approximately 2600 EUR/month.

We work at in Otaniemi, Espoo. The Otaniemi campus is a thriving and connected community of 100 nationalities, 13 000 students and 4 500 employees. Life at the transformed campus is vibrant and filled with amazing architecture, calming nature, and a variety of cafes, restaurants, services and good connections along the metro line.

Ready to apply?

If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our online recruitment system no later than 12.2.2024 using the link on Aalto University’s webpage (“Apply now”). If you are an Aalto employee, please apply via Workday system (internal jobs).
To apply, please include the following documents in English and as a single pdf document:

• 1 page motivation letter specific to this project
• 1 page description of previous relevant research experience
• CV with a possible list of publications and the title of your doctoral/PhD thesis
• List of references that we may contact

The position will be filled when a suitable candidate is found.

Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos: Aalto University - Towards a better world, Aalto People, and Shaping a Sustainable Future. You can also check out our webpage about Aalto and Finland: https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/welcome-to-aalto-university-and-finland-info-package and our new virtual campus experience:  https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/.

For further information about the position, please contact Professor Tiina Nypelö (tiina.nypelo(at)aalto.fi).

About Finland

Finland is a great place for living with or without family - it is a safe, politically stable, and well-organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality of life and was just listed again as the happiest country in the world: https://worldhappiness.report/news/its-a-three-peat-finland-keeps-top-spot-as-happiest-country-in-world/. For more information about living in Finland: For international staff | Aalto University 

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

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