Master’s thesis position in prototyping with novel and commercial biobased textile fibers, yarns, and fabrics, and understanding their user experience

Aalto University is a community of bold thinkers where science and art meet technology and business. We are committed to identifying and solving grand societal challenges and building an innovative future. Aalto has six schools with nearly 11 000 students and a staff of more than 4000, of which 400 are professors. Our main campus is located in Espoo, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness in the future as well. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

A Master’s thesis position in prototyping with novel and commercial biobased textile fibers, yarns, and fabrics,and understanding their user experience is available in the Biopolymer Chemistry and Engineering group, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (School of Chemical Engineering) at Aalto University. The thesis work will be done at Department of Design (School of Arts, Design and Architecture).

Your role and goals

We are looking for a student to do his/her Master of Science (M.Sc.) or Master of Art (MA) thesis with us on prototyping with novel and commercial biobased textile fibers, yarns, and fabrics,and understanding their user experience. Your work will include production of small textile samples (knitted, woven or experimental nonwovens) of the included textile fibers, dyed with traditional methods (reactive dyes) and/or novel natural dyes. The second part of the task is to organize 2-3 workshops to gather information on the tactile and processing properties of these materials, and to enhance the understanding of the meaning and added value of these novel materials from the users' point of view. These workshops will be organized and performed in tight collaboration with textile companies and brand owners. In addition to basic knowledge on textile production and dyeing process, an interest and capacity to organize co-design workshops is mandatory.

Your work will be a part of a FinnFiberColor (From cellulose to new Finnish man-made cellulose fibers and sustainable colored textiles) project belonging to the ExpandFibre program and funded by Business Finland. This project develops solutions for the challenges that textile fiber technologies currently developed in Finland will face when they will be integrated into the textile chain.  We expect hands-on working attitude and good reporting skills in English. The research team is international, and good spoken English is needed. As the work includes collaboration with small, Finnish textile companies, good spoken and writing skills in Finnish are necessary.

The master thesis work can be started in May/June or August/September 2022. The work is done in close collaboration with master thesis student in “Quality assessment of novel and commercial biobased textile fibers, yarns, and fabrics” from the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (CHEM), and both master thesis students should start either before or after the summer break.

Your experience and ambitions

We offer a multidisciplinary working environment, related to sustainable textiles and fashion. We would like the student to have:

• Experimental know-how in chemistry or textile testing laboratory working

• Very good study record

• Good English & Finnish writing and speaking

• Good team working skills

Ready to apply?

To apply for the position, please submit your application including the attachments mentioned below as one single PDF document in English through our online recruitment system by using the link on Aalto University’s web page ("Apply Now”).

• CV

• Motivation letter (max 1 page)

• Study transcripts

The deadline for applications is 28.3.2022. The employment contract for MA thesis is aimed for 5 months at full-time capacity. The workload can be executed on a part-time basis for up to 9 months (ending latest January 2023), depending on the ongoing activities of the employed student.

Please note: Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via our internal system Workday -> find jobs (not external aalto.fi webpage on open positions) by using their existing Workday user account.

More Information

If you wish to hear more about the position, you can reach out to Professor Pirjo Kääriäinen (pirjo.kaariainen(at)aalto.fi) and in application process related questions HR Coordinator Tiina Torvinen (tiina.torvinen(at)aalto.fi).

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