Project Researcher and Doctoral Researcher in Chemistry and Advanced Materials

Åbo Akademi University is an internationally acknowledged research university with an extensive responsibility for providing education in Swedish in Finland. With its international research community and its strong Nordic ties, Åbo Akademi University has an acclaimed and recognized position within research and education both nationally and internationally. The Faculty of Science and Engineering develops solutions and processes to slow down climate change, promotes a cleaner environment and a healthier sea and finds methods to discover, treat and prevent diseases. Our goal is a healthy human in a sustainable society. Our research is done in cooperation with the industry, research institutes and other universities both in Finland and abroad.

The Faculty of Science and Engineering offers two positions: one project researcher on post doc-level for 36 months and one doctoral researcher for 48 months. The positions are funded by Jane Aatos Erkko Foundation via the project ‘The next generation biohybrid systems for photosynthetic fuels and chemicals production (PhotoFactory)’. The positions will be filled from September 1st of 2024 or per agreement.

Background 

The research profile Technologies for a Sustainable Future (TSF) is one of four profiling areas of Åbo Akademi University. TSF develops new technology that can be used to replace fossil raw materials with renewable resources such as biomass and solar energy. The goals are global and ambitious: to find technical solutions that will slow down the ongoing climate change and to contribute to a clean environment and sustainable society. Research at the Laboratory of Natural Materials Technology focuses on the utilization of bio-based building blocks in the development of current and future environmentally friendly products and processes. 

The 5-year PhotoFactory project is a consortium of two research groups: the Laboratory of Natural Materials Technology at Åbo Akademi University and the Photosynthesis Research Group at University of Turku. Nature-inspired emerging technologies are important to address current environmental challenges. PhotoFactory relies on photosynthesis, the most sustainable process in nature, to convert sunlight and CO2 into fuels and chemicals. Although the concept of direct solar conversion by photosynthetic cell factories is a step forward, the system still suffers from the inherent limitations of diluted suspension cultures, including low light-to-product conversion efficiency and energetically demanding downstream processes. The ambition of PhotoFactory is to unleash photosynthesis from its inherent limitations and improve the bioproduction efficiency of algae and cyanobacteria for manufacturing solar-driven products (high-value and commodity chemicals and biofuels) within the circular bioeconomy concept. To achieve this goal, PhotoFactory will merge expertise in photosynthesis and synthetic biology with additive manufacturing, nanotechnology, material science, and data science.

In this recruitment, we are primarily looking for two candidates with complementary backgrounds in the following field(s): material chemistry and physics, organic chemistry, analytical and electrochemistry, polymer chemistry and technology, chemistry and chemical engineering. 

Description of the positions

The doctoral researcher will carry out work within the scope of the doctoral thesis. In addition, the employed doctoral reseracher may be assigned tasks in connection to teaching, supervision or other administrative tasks in accordance with the regulations of the universities’ collective agreement.

The main tasks of both candidates will include but not be limited to the development of sustainable synthesis approaches for tailoring bio-based scaffold using additive manufacturing as a tool.  

The selected project researcher will be employed for a period of 36 months and the selected doctoral researcher for 48 months with the currently funded project. The employment can start on September 1^st, 2024, or as per agreement. Both candidates will be placed at the Laboratory of Natural Materials Technology, Faculty of Science and Engineering. The positions are located in Turku. 

Qualification and assessment

For the open positions, we are looking for motivated candidates with a degree in chemistry or chemical engineering or material science or other closely related field suitable for the position described above.

The qualification requirements and merits for the position are defined below and will together with the application be considered in the evaluation.

Qualification requirements: 

• Master’s degree or equivalent (position as doctoral researcher) or a doctor’s degree (position as project researcher) in chemistry or chemical engineering, natural sciences or other field defined above.
• Excellent oral and written skills in English

Good knowledge in organic chemistry, materials chemistry, polymer technology, electrochemistry, additive manufacturing or wood chemistry are considered a merit.

In case of doctoral candidate, an applicant, who is not yet accepted as a doctoral researcher at the Faculty, needs to fulfil the requirements for applicants to doctoral studies according to the principles for admission to the doctoral programmes at the Faculty. Please note, that there is a separate application process for the admission to a doctoral programme at ÅAU.

The applicants are assessed on the basis of their study achievements, research plan and possible results of research in the relevant field or related subjects. During the selection process the applicants can be invited to an interview.

Terms of employment

The principle of total working time (1,612 hours per academic year) applies to both employments, and the work tasks are defined in an annual work plan. The individual study plan for doctoral researchers is evaluated annually, and a maximum of 5 % of the working hours can be dedicated to teaching and supervision. 

The salary for the doctoral-position will be based on levels 2-4 of the job demand level for teaching and research personnel in the salary system, the salary for the project researcher-position will be based on demand level 5. In addition, there is a salary component based on personal work performance, in accordance with the general collective agreement for universities.

A trial period applies for new employees.

Application

Submit the electronic application form below (www.abo.fi/rekrytering), no later than June 17^th 2024 at 3:00 pm (Finnish time zone). Support for submitting the electronic application can be found here: https://www.abo.fi/en/instructions-for-submitting-an-application/.

The following attachments should be submitted:

1. A free-form application letter, clearly indicating motivation to pursue PhD or postdoc and conduct this research topic (max. 3 pages).
2. A list of max. three references and their contact details.
3. A CV in accordance with the recommendations of the Finnish National Board on Research Integrity, TENK, including a full list of publications with links to the publications or to a file sharing system where the publications are stored.
4. A brief description of research experiences and research plan on Development of bio-based 3D scaffolds as artificial leaf for photosynthesis. (max. 5 pages)
5. Copies of diplomas including complete transcript of records (BA, MA, MSc, other).

Contact details

For more information on the position, please contact Professor Chunlin Xu, email: chunlin.xu@abo.fi, and (about the application process) HR-specialist Anna Lübchow, email: anna.lubchow@abo.fi.

Åbo Akademi University is actively working for equal gender distribution and diversity across all personnel groups.