Tenure track or tenured position in Sustainable Bioproducts lnnovation

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2) is at the forefront of forest products technologies and cutting-edge biotechnology. The research at Bio2 focuses on products derived from nature through green chemistry or biotechnological methods. Our department’s core competencies include synthetic biology, biochemical and biotechnical processing, the chemistry of lignocellulosic materials, pre-treatment and fractionation of biomass, downstream unit operations as well as the characterization and analysis of materials. Bio2 is internationally recognised for its multidisciplinary engineering education development in digitalised and online learning environments.

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at School of Chemical Engineering of Aalto University invites applications for a tenure track or tenured position in

Sustainable Bioproducts lnnovation

We seek for an ambitious and enthusiastic professor in Bioproducts Innovation with a strong focus on renewable materials, sustainable design, and circular economy.

Through a unique EUR 10.5 million donation granted by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation Aalto University is establishing a Bioinnovation Centre with the aim to accelerate the transition to a circular economy and bioeconomy, and to create opportunities for sustainable economic growth in Finland. Solving today’s and tomorrow’s challenges of sustainable product development based on renewable materials requires a multidisciplinary expertise and holistic understanding of the bioinnovation concept in the context of circular economy. Aalto University is setting up an interdisciplinary doctoral program using the viewpoints of technology, design and business to address these challenges. The Bioinnovation Centre will be a multi- and interdisciplinary research and learning centre to provide Finland and the world with the most recent research knowledge in its field, top-class experts as well as product and service concepts that combine innovative design and technology with business modelling in a sustainable manner.

We are now looking for a professor with strong expertise in materials research and circular economy, and the ability and motivation to network with stakeholders such as experts in the field of bio- and circular economy and creative industries, large companies and start-ups.

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

Requirements

• You have experience in research on sustainable bioproducts that involves users and business
• You show clear capability for interdisciplinary research, possibly with experience in the transition of research to commercialization
• Excellence in own field (technology, design, or business) and success in interdisciplinary collaboration
• Evidence of motivation and capability to create and sustain an encouraging research environment for inventions and innovations through disciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Capability to create collaboratively new interdisciplinary research with practice-relevant impact in bioinnovation in the context of circular economy
• Doctoral degree in a relevant field

Applicants will be reviewed on the basis of their research achievements, teaching merits and activity in the scientific community in relation to their career stage.

A person at any level of the tenure track is expected to perform world‐class research, to teach, supervise students and otherwise advance education, to be an active member of the international scientific community, and to exhibit academic leadership. Career advances on the tenure track are based on scheduled performance assessments that take into account merits in all these areas. For more information on the tenure track system of Aalto University, please see https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track .

Your role and goals

• Enhance the research and teaching that fosters the concept of true interdisciplinarity envisioned by the Bioinnovation Centre rather than just your own research agenda
• Take an active role in the Bioinnovation Centre doctoral school
• Strengthen the collaboration between Aalto University’s fields (technology, design, and business) related to biobased materials
• Promote and develop collaboration between Aalto University and external stakeholders together with the Bioinnovation Centre community
• Supervise master and doctoral students

Experience and ambitions

We are eagerly looking for a candidate, whose research interest focuses on the practices that could release the interdisciplinary potential in bioinnovation development from research ideation to commercialization. Your research publications preferably demonstrate a strong focus on bioinnovation in the context of circular economy and sustainability and show evidence of your ability to translate scientific research to practical level solutions. As an ideal candidate, you have a track record showing cooperation with company partners and wide understanding and demonstrated capability to cooperate with various stakeholders.

We are also looking for a passionate educator and we stress the importance of teaching and educational activities within the field. As a community of dedicated educators and pedagogical developers we hope that you can show some evidence about educational development projects or cases.

In the long term, this work will have a social, environmental and economic impact also in a wider perspective. Therefore, you should have a vision beyond current state-of-the-art research and aspire for a sustainable bioeconomy future.

What we offer

You will be part of the Aalto Bioinnovation Centre, an inspiring community of students and faculty. Co-creation and co-innovation with other Aalto University stakeholders crossing the school borders is a particular characteristic for this position. 

Aalto University follows the salary system of Finnish universities, but applicants may also make salary requests. As an employer, Aalto University offers excellent learning and development opportunities and occupational health care services. Finland is a healthy and safe living environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services including affordable day care, free schools and universities, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world. For more information about living and working in Finland, see https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto/for-international-staff . Activities are located in the Otaniemi campus of Aalto University in Espoo (Helsinki metropolitan area).

Ready to apply? 

If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our recruitment system by October 31, 2021. (If you are already working at Aalto, please apply via our internal system Workday -> Find Jobs.)

To apply, please share the following application materials (in English and in PDF-format) with us:

• Application letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• List of publications (with 10 most relevant publications regarding this position highlighted)
• A research statement describing your past research and plans for future research and/or similar for artistic activities. Please discuss how your research, teaching and methodological competence will contribute to the success of the Bioinnovation Centre and strengthen the department by bringing new competence to the department. (max. 5 pages)
• Teaching portfolio (please see the University’s instructions and make sure your teaching portfolio complies with them https://www.aalto.fi/sites/g/files/flghsv161/files/2021-01/Teaching%20competence%20assessment_Guidelines_for_candidate_2020_Aalto%20University_FINAL.pdf )
• Names and contact information for three references

General instructions for applicants including evaluation criteria, language requirements and guidelines for compiling your CV and teaching portfolio are given at https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track/interested-in-joining-our-tenure-track .

Aalto University will use external reviewers to support the evaluation of applicants during the recruitment process. Based on the application materials and external evaluations, the Departmental Committee will choose the most suitable applicants to visit the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems and deliver teaching demonstrations, if the pandemic situation allows (if not, the teaching demonstrations will be delivered remotely).

If you wish to hear more about the position, you can reach out to Professors Michael Hummel (Director of the Bioinnovation Center) or Monika Österberg (Head of Bio2 Department). In questions related to the recruitment process, HR Coordinator Sanni Mero. Emails ([email protected] ).

Aalto University also reserves the right to consider candidates who have not submitted applications, to reopen the call after the initial deadline, or to leave the position open.

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 . And this webpage about Aalto and Finland. https://www.aalto.fi/en/services/welcome-to-aalto-university-and-finland-info-package   

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: https://www.aalto.fi/services/about-finland  

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