Application closes on
15.8.2022
Unit
School of Chemical Engineering
Job category
Doctoral candidates
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.
The School of Chemical Engineering is one of the six schools of Aalto University. It combines natural sciences and engineering in a unique way.
The Department of Chemistry and Materials Science is looking for motivated
Doctoral Researcher in measurement, characterization and modeling of acoustic materials
We are looking for a Doctoral Researcher (PhD candidate) to study biomaterial and especially biowaste-based porous materials. The main emphasis in the PhD work would be on polysaccharide extraction, fabrication of hierarchically porous materials, and their characterisation in the context of thermal and acoustic insulation in close collaboration with the researchers in acoustic engineering.
The research will be done in the Multifunctional Materials Design group, led by Prof. Jaana Vapaavuori. The team is well known for its interdisciplinary mindset and amongst other things about fabrication of bio-fibre based porous materials for versatile applications. The goal is to develop, together with researchers of functional materials, carbon-negative acoustic materials that could be used in building and room acoustics.
The core idea of the research project is to substitute current market standard insulator materials, rock and glass wool, with biowaste-based materials that absorb sound effectively. As proof-of-concepts, we will develop silent air duct and silencer for air conditioning pipes that bind the carbon of biowaste to buildings for decades. The proposed research combines distinct expertise of Chemical and Acoustical Engineering and aims at paradigm shift in construction industry by demonstrating that bio-based products can exceed the performance of state-of-the-art materials in multiple occasions in building materials. Industrial scalability and circular economy, with the prospect of providing urgently needed carbon-negative construction materials, are at the core of this multidisciplinary research.
Your background and expertise
All candidates must be fluent in spoken and written English. An ideal candidate has an M.Sc. in chemistry, chemical engineering, materials engineering or applied physics. Knowledge and work experience related to porous acoustic materials and biomaterials processing is a strong advantage. In addition, we expect
- Very good in scientific writing and communication skills
- Proven capacity to collaborate over disciplinary border and navigate interdisciplinary environment
- Eligible for PhD study at Aalto University
If you are chosen for this position, you will apply the study right for doctoral studies in Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering. Thus, please check the student information and admission criteria https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/aalto-doctoral-programme-in-chemical-engineering. In particular, please pay attention to mandatory skill level in English.
What we offer
The starting date is in September 2022 or as mutually agreed. The contract is initially made for one year, with possibility of extension. This position includes doctoral studies. The successful applicant must register for the PhD program at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering. The nominal duration of the doctoral studies in Finland is 4 years.
We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. The position is located at the Aalto University Otaniemi campus which can be easily reached by public transport.
Ready to apply?
If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our online recruitment system by using the link on Aalto University’s web page (“Apply now”).
Please include the following documents in English and in pdf-form:
- 1-page motivation letter specific to this call
- 1 page description of previous relevant research experience with an emphasis of prior experience on interdisciplinary research
- CV with a possible list of publications and the title of your MSc thesis
- Transcript of records for MSc degree
- List of references and reference letters
The call is open until 15 August 2022, but we will start reviewing and interviewing candidates immediately. If you are Aalto employee, please apply via Workday system (internal jobs).
If you have any questions, professor Jaana Vapaavuori is happy to give you more information about the position jaana.vapaavuori(at)aalto.fi. In recruitment related questions please contact HR Coordinator Maarit Pietiäinen (maarit.pietiainen(at)aalto.fi).
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 check out our new virtual campus experience: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/
Interested?