Professor, Biomass Refining and Wood Chemistry

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Apply locations Otaniemi, Espoo, Finland time type Full time posted on Posted 11 Days Ago job requisition id R41453

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 120 nationalities, 14,000 students, 400 professors and close to 5000 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 Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering invites applications for

Tenure track professor in Biomass Refining and Wood Chemistry

The position is open for individuals who hold a doctorate in chemical engineering or a closely related field, have a track record in research work related to biomass processing, and possess potential for a productive scientific career. Specifically, we are looking for qualified experts who have demonstrated outstanding research in one or several of the key areas the department wishes to develop:

• Unit operations in lignocellulosic biomass processing, for example, chemical pulping and bleaching
• Chemicals production from lignocellulosic biomass and related side-streams
• Chemical reactions during pulping, bleaching, or depolymerization of biomass
• Lignocellulosic biomass analytics

Demonstrating the industrial relevance of the research and establishing contacts to industrial stakeholders, particularly within the forest industry, are seen as strong assets for the candidate.

As a professor at the department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, you will establish and lead your own research group. You will be responsible for education in the field of biomass fractionation at B.Sc., M.Sc., and doctoral level.

The position is to be filled at any level of the Aalto University tenure track system (Assistant, Associate or Full Professor). The position is full-time and depending on the positioning on the tenure track, either on fixed or permanent term.

Your experience

Throughout their career, those in the academic tenure track system are expected to exercise and guide scientific research, to provide related higher academic education, to follow advances in their field, to participate in service to the Aalto University community, and to take part in societal interaction and international collaboration in their field.

We seek applicants who have:

• A doctorate in a field closely related to this position
• Potential to carry out research and attract research funding at the highest level
• Potential to collaborate in an interdisciplinary environment
• Potential to take responsibility for education and researcher training in chemical engineering
• Ability to be an effective teacher in the undergraduate and graduate degree programmes of the School of Chemical Engineering

The applicants will be reviewed based on their merits in research, teaching, academic leadership, and activities in the scientific community, including in R&D or other industrially relevant work, in accordance with their career stage. A detailed description of the tenure track system at Aalto University is available at www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track.

Aalto University is committed to promoting diversity, equality and non-discrimination in all its activities. Thus, we promote equal opportunities to learn, acquire knowledge, participate and to make a difference. Aalto University bases its recruitment decisions on applicants' competencies, skills and aptitudes. Aalto's recruitment processes are clearly defined, transparent and fair, and allow the relevant areas to be emphasized when recruiting people to positions in the various career systems and levels.

What we offer

The professor will join an inspiring and supportive work community of experienced professionals and high-quality students. We will offer a negotiable start-up package. Furthermore, the selected candidate will have access to an advanced Bioeconomy Research Infrastructure within the Aalto campus.

The department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (BIO2), one of the three departments in the School of Chemical Engineering, has an internationally leading reputation in basic and applied research for the conversion of natural resources to chemicals and advanced materials. It is one of the leading European research and higher education institutions in the field of sustainable chemistry and engineering for 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 less environmental impact and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. At the BIO2 department, we offer state of the art laboratory facilities for wood chemistry analytics and research on biomass refining in general.

Aalto University follows the salary system of Finnish universities. As an employer, Aalto University provides excellent staff training and mentoring programmes, as well as occupational health care services, commuter ticket benefits and campus sport facilities. In addition, we offer extensive research support services such as grant writing and project management.

The position will be located at the Aalto University Otaniemi Campus.

For more information

For additional information, please contact the chair of the departmental committee Professor Eero Kontturi, or in questions related to the recruitment, please contact HR Partner Noora Katisko (firstname.lastname@aalto.fi).

Ready to apply?

The application material for the tenure track position includes:

• Cover letter (max. 1 page)
• Curriculum Vitae. Please use the template recommended by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (TENK). Please include a list of publications in which the 10 most significant publications/patents are highlighted.
• Research portfolio. This is a concise (max. 5 pages) self-reflection on the merits, long-term vision, and research plan of the candidate. The text should be supported by fact-based evidence.
• Teaching portfolio. Please see the instructions for the portfolio and the guidelines for the assessment of teaching competence here.
• Optional: industrial portfolio. In case a substantial share of your merits lies within industrial work – and is therefore not published in traditional scientific forums – you can add a concise (max. 2 pages) portfolio where you elaborate on the research related achievements in an industrial setting.

General instructions for applicants including language requirements and guidelines for compiling research portfolio and CV are at Interested in joining our tenure track? | Aalto University.

All material should be submitted in English and must be enclosed as a single standard pdf file. The first document of the pdf file is the cover letter, followed by the documents in the order given in the list above.

If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our recruiting system by using the "Apply now" link. The deadline for the applications is 30th April, 2025.

Please note that Aalto University's employees should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions).

The departmental committee will invite the most suitable candidates to a site visit at the department of Bioproducts and Biosystems. During the site visit, the shortlisted candidates will be interviewed and give a teaching demonstration. External experts will also be asked to evaluate the applications of the shortlisted candidates. In addition, we may conduct an academic leadership assessment of the shortlisted candidates, which will be conducted by an external service provider.

Why Aalto University?

At Aalto, high-quality research, art, education and entrepreneurship are promoted hand in hand. Disciplinary excellence is combined with multidisciplinary activities, engaging both students and the local innovation ecosystem. Our main campus is quickly transforming into an open collaboration hub that encourages encounters between students, researchers, industry, startups and other partners. Aalto University was founded in 2010 as three leading Finnish universities, Helsinki University of Technology, the Helsinki School of Economics and the University of Art and Design Helsinki, were merged to strengthen Finland's innovative capability. The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems is located at the main Otaniemi Campus of Aalto University, 15 minutes from the Helsinki city centre by metro.

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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 listed again as the happiest country in the world: World Happiness Report 2024.

For more information about living in Finland: Aalto Careers for International Staff.

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locations Otaniemi, Espoo, Finland time type Full time posted on Posted 14 Days Ago