Lecturer, Sustainability in Biobased Materials

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 120 nationalities, 14 000 students, 400 professors and close to 5000 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. The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2) focuses on innovations and cutting-edge research to support the emerging bioeconomy.

We are now looking for a

Lecturer, Sustainability in Biobased Materials

Background

Are you passionate about educating the next generation of engineers? Do you possess expertise in sustainability, circular economy, and materials science? The School of Chemical Engineering (CHEM) invites applications for a dedicated and innovative lecturer to join our team in Life-wide Learning in the field of Sustainability in biobased materials. Sustainability is at the core of Aalto's mission, and The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2) aims to be at the forefront of research, development and teaching in sustainable biobased materials.

As part of a sustainable future, many products in our living environment will increasingly utilize components derived from wood and other biobased sources. These form an integral part of the forest products value chain, with strategic importance to Finland and Europe. It is crucial that we educate imaginative and resourceful engineers able to develop solutions across the biobased materials’ value chains, respecting the tenets of social, economic and environmental sustainability.

At the same time there is a need to educate a wider audience besides our degree students, and therefore learning opportunities should be developed to be more accessible. As a result, CHEM has an ambitious plan to further develop and deliver an accessible, multi-platform, teaching portfolio.

The Bio2 department and other departments within CHEM are working at the forefront of research and teaching in sustainable biobased materials. To complement our expertise, we are seeking a University Teacher, University Lecturer or Senior University Lecturer with in-depth knowledge of sustainability in biobased materials who is ready to take on responsibilities in life-wide learning teaching.

Role and goals

The aim of the role is to teach life-wide / continuous learners and undergraduate students. In practice this means that selected current and future courses in the curriculum will be opened up to a wider audience, for example, in the form of online courses. The duties involve, to:

• Coordinate, develop and deliver engaging courses in life-wide learning with our academic staff, focusing on the integration of sustainability, circularity and cutting-edge materials science.

• Employ digital platforms to enhance teaching methods and course accessibility.

• Participate actively in course development, ensuring offerings are up to date with industry practices and advancements.

• Collaborate with fellow faculty to enrich the educational impact on our students and learners.

The candidate will be expected to develop teaching on sustainability and related topics, both independently and in collaboration with Aalto professors, lecturers and researchers in the field. In some cases, the successful candidate will be responsible for setting learning objectives, developing creative teaching methodologies, evaluating student performance, and processing feedback. In a team-oriented environment, the successful candidate will work to build first-class education and excellent student experience. Depending on the candidate’s background, they will be teaching on some of our existing online courses, as well as courses that are to be developed. These courses cover topics including sustainability, biorefining, paper and packaging, biotechnology, textiles, wood material science and mechanics of biobased materials.

Involvement in university research is encouraged. This may include participation in research projects, publication, and involvement in funding applications.

The candidate’s positioning in the lecturer career system will be determined by their qualifications and experience. More information about the lecturer career system at Aalto University can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/teaching-and-learning/lecturer-career-system

Expected qualifications and experience

The candidate is expected to have the following:

• A doctoral degree in a discipline relevant to the position. Exceptionally, candidates with a master’s degree and a relevant, proven, 5+ years' work experience in teaching sustainability-related topics or academic or industry practice in sustainability assessments may be considered.

• Proven experience in teaching and course development, especially in on-line teaching

• Proficiency in using digital platforms for teaching enhancements

• Demonstrated ability to learn modern pedagogical methods

• Demonstrated expertise in biobased sustainability, circular economy, and LCA

• Background knowledge in materials science, particularly in forest-based, bio-based, battery, or inorganic materials

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English

The additional will be regarded as merits:

• Written and oral communication skills in Finnish and/or Swedish

• Knowledge of the Finnish university education system

• Pedagogical studies

• Experience in teaching multidisciplinary student groups

• Experience of developing online education material

• Good publication record and activity

• Connections to bioproducts industry and research partners

Scientific environment

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 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. Research teams within Bio2 have a wide range of interests such as lignocellulosic nanomaterials, unit operations, packaging, textile, medical and other emerging applications with sustainability aspects in the forefront of many activities.

The department hosts state-of-the-art laboratories and small-scale pilot facilities to support teaching and research related to biobased materials.

What we offer

The School of Chemical Engineering is committed to innovative education and sustainable development. As a lecturer in Life-wide Learning, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of engineering education and advancing sustainable practices. We offer a collaborative and dynamic academic environment where your expertise is valued and your professional growth is supported.

Join Us in Pioneering Education for a Sustainable Future!

If you meet these qualifications and are excited about advancing sustainable practices through education, we invite you to submit your application. We look forward to receiving your application and exploring the opportunity to work together in educating and inspiring the engineers of tomorrow.

The selected candidate will be offered a permanent position in the lecturer career system. Our facilities are located at Aalto University Otaniemi campus in Espoo, Finland.

Salary is determined according to the salary system of Aalto University, and it is based on the applicant's experience and qualifications.

The employment contract includes occupational health care, and Finland has a comprehensive social security system. Aalto University provides excellent learning and development opportunities, and a commuter ticket benefit. Unisport offers versatile sports facilities and exercise services with a staff discount.

Ready to apply?

If you want to join our community, please submit your application through our online recruitment system no later than 8.4.2026 by using the link on Aalto University’s webpage (“Apply now”). If you are an Aalto employee, you should apply for the position via our internal HR system Workday (Internal Jobs) by using your existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions).

To apply, please include the following documents in English and as a single pdf document:

• Motivation letter (1 page description of your motivation for applying for this position and why you would be a suitable candidate)

• CV, including a list of publications

• Teaching portfolio according to Aalto University’s guidelines - see Teaching portfolio guidelines for candidates

Please see further instructions for preparing the application documents here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/teaching-and-learning/lecturer-career-system

For further information about the position, please contact Senior University Lecturer Kristiina Lillqvist (kristiina.lillqvist@aalto.fi). In recruitment-related questions, please contact HR Partner Noora Katisko (noora.katisko@aalto.fi).

Want to know more about us and your future colleagues? You can watch these videos:

This is Aalto University!
Aalto University – Towards a better world
and Shaping a Sustainable Future

Read more about working at Aalto: https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto and check out our new virtual campus experience: https://virtualtour.aalto.fi

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