Doctoral Researcher in Chemistry of Biomaterials

The Doctoral researcher will be appointed for a fixed-term 4-year contract (Start date: September 1, 2023) to work in a project entitled “Hemicellulose-induced fungal enzymes for fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass”. The position will be supervised by Docent Maarit Lahtinen (University lecturer in Bioproduction Chemistry, Department of Food and Nutrition) and Docent Kristiina Hildén (Senior University lecturer in Microbiology, Department of Microbiology), two of the six units of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.

The project aims to evaluate the enzymes, which are secreted by a white rot fungus in the presence of lignin-rich wood hemicelluloses obtained from hot water extraction processes. The enzymes will be produced and characterized, and then applied to demonstrate reactions occurring with lignin. The detailed reaction mechanisms and kinetics of the reactions will be then studied by detailed characterization of reactions with a lignin-carbohydrate-complex (LCC) model compound, which will be synthesized and purified. The project is expected to produce novel and selective biotechnological tools for processing of biomaterials.

Requirements:

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled researcher with a Master’s degree and experience in organic and/or analytical chemistry, or related field.

A successful candidate should be able to:

• Identify, design, conduct, and report research within the scope of the project.
• Contribute to undergraduate student supervision and teaching within the department.
• Engage with the scientific community, research partners and the wider public, internationally and domestically through scientific publications, conference presentations, press releases, blogs etc.

The candidate is expected to have:

Education, experience and technical skills

• A relevant Master’s degree including experience organic and/or analytical chemistry.
• Fluency in English and excellent writing skills.
• Interest in enzymology and working with biomass-based materials.

Personal attributes and competencies

• Interest in basic and applied science.
• Excellent analytical and innovative research planning skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, experienced in working within multicultural and multidisciplinary teams.
• High motivation for academic research, having initiative and capable of working independently as well as in team environments.
• Values continuous improvement based on constructive evaluation, self-reflection and learning.

The appointee should either already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment or apply for the right and obtain it within the probationary period of six months of their appointment. If the candidate does not already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, it must be applied for separately, please see: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/research/doctoral-education/the-application-process-in-a-nutshell

The starting salary of the Doctoral researcher will be based on level 2 of the demands level chart for teaching and research personnel in the salary system of Finnish universities. In addition, the appointee will be paid a salary component based on personal performance. The starting salary of the Doctoral researcher will be ca. 2200-2400 euros/month, depending on the appointees’ qualifications and experience.

The University of Helsinki offers comprehensive services to its employees, including occupational health care and health insurance, sports facilities, and opportunities for professional development. A six-month trial period will be applied.

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit your application as a single pdf file using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System.

Please submit your application through the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link Apply for the position. Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by signing into https://msap.helsinki.fi .

External applicants, please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the Apply Now button.

Applicants who have a helsinki.fi username and a valid employment contract, a grant researcher's contract or a visiting researcher's contract at the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application by using the employee login.

The University of Helsinki welcomes applicants from a variety of genders, linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

The closing date for applications is 5 June 2023 at 23:59 EEST.

Further information about the position may be obtained from Docent Maarit Lahtinen (maarit.lahtinen@helsinki.fi ) or Docent Kristiina Hildén (kristiina.s.hilden@helsinki.fi ).

About us

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is located on the Viikki campus, ten kilometres from the Helsinki city centre. The mission of the faculty is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources through scientific research and research-based teaching. We focus on agricultural and forest sciences, food and nutrition, microbiology, as well as on economics and management. We cover the full natural resource chain from farm to fork, the entire field of forest sciences from soil chemistry to marketing, as well as the environmental effects of related activities. Graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry are versatile experts in biosciences and business, able to meet the needs of both the business sector and society at large.

www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-agriculture-and-forestry