Postdoctoral Researcher in the Field of Wood Chemistry

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 

Postdoctoral researcher in the field of wood chemistry 

Are you interested in combining fundamental research on plant cell wall structure with novel approaches of fractionating lignocellulosic biomass into its components? We are now looking for a motivated co-worker to a team that has carried out groundbreaking research on the structure and chemistry of wood biomass and its conversion into material products. 

Your role and goals 

The postdoctoral researcher will be working as a member in a consortium that develops new approaches for unlocking the complex supramolecular structure of wood. Your specific role is to extract detailed information on deposition of structural polymers, such as cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectin and lignin, in the primary and secondary walls and in middle lamella, by applying nanoimaging techniques, especially infrared photoinduced force microscopy (see Infrared photo-induced force microscopy unveils nanoscale features of Norway spruce fibre wall | Cellulose (springer.com) ).

Your network and team 

The position is open in the research group Wood Chemistry | Aalto University headed by Prof. Tapani Vuorinen. 

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 in Emission Free Pulping (EFP) research 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 and research organizations. 

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. 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 PhD or doctoral degree in a relevant field of natural sciences or engineering 
• Good written and oral communication skills in English 
• Genuine interest in fundamental and applied science
• Research experience in lignocellulose chemistry, cell wall structure, spectroscopic techniques, electron microscopy and/or atomic force microscopy 

What we offer  

The postdoctoral researcher position will be filled for two years. The expected starting salary of a postdoctoral researcher is approximately 3700-3900 EUR/month depending on experience. 

We work at 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 20.1.2024 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 is available immediately, but the starting date can be negotiated. The position will be filled when a suitable candidate is found. 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. 

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 Tapani Vuorinen ([email protected] ).

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: Living in Finland | Aalto University

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