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.
The Bioproduct Chemistry group is looking for a motivated
Postdoctoral Researcher
with strong knowledge of surface chemistry of lignocellulosics and biobased barrier solutions.
Your network and team
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 Bioproduct Chemistry research group, led by Prof.
Monika Österberg, works on the development of renewable, high added-value materials based on lignocellulosics. Read more about the international research group’s focus areas and newest publications here:
https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-bioproducts-and-biosystems/bioproduct-chemistry.
Your role and goals
The group is looking for a
postdoctoral researcher for an ongoing research project to develop novel
biobased barrier solutions. The group has several ongoing projects related to surface chemistry of lignocellulosics, and you are expected to instruct MSc students and doctoral candidates with planning experiments and writing scientific papers.
Your experience and ambitions
The candidate should have a PhD in chemistry (received in the last three years, with allowance for parental leaves or similar absences). You should especially have knowledge of barriers and surface science and be open to working with the industry. Previous experience with bio-based barrier development is preferred, but the group is open to building on your solid knowledge of surface chemistry. Good written and oral communication skills in English as well as high motivation for research and science are essential.
Practical experience of using barrier analytics and surface sensitive tools is highly desirable.
What we offer
The postdoctoral researcher position will be filled for two years with possibility of continuation. The expected salary of a postdoctoral researcher in the beginning of employment is 3576-3683 €/month depending on experience.
The project is part of the FinnCERES Flagship in materials bioeconomy and therefore offers networking and collaboration opportunities with other research groups at Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, as well as company partners. See the FinnCERES website here:
https://www.finnceres.fi/about.
Our facilities are located at Aalto University Otaniemi campus in Espoo, Finland. The employment contract includes occupational health care, and Finland has a comprehensive social security system. Aalto University provides excellent learning and development opportunities, and a commuter ticket benefit. Unisport offers versatile sports facilities and exercise services with a staff discount.
Ready to apply?
If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our online recruitment system
no later than 14.05.2023 by 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:
a cover letter
a CV
a list of publications
a brief description of previous work related to biobased barriers as well as current research interests
names and contact details of two references
For further information about the position, please contact Professor Monika Österberg (monika.osterberg(at)aalto.fi). In recruitment-related questions, please contact HR Partner Noora Katisko (noora.katisko(at)aalto.fi).
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 check out our new virtual campus experience:
https://virtualtour.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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