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 16 000 students and 5 200 employees, including more than 440 professors. Our campus is 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

University Lecturer or Senior University Lecturer in Wood Science

Background

The importance of wood and wood products as our main renewable materials for construction, furniture, and many other applications is growing rapidly in our transition to a more sustainable society. The forest-based industry is vital to the economy of Finland. To meet the expected future demand for professionals with expertise in wood, we are strategically expanding our wood teaching and research activities. Aalto University is unique, as it is the only place in Finland where it is possible to study wood science alongside architecture, design, and construction. Teaching at master’s level at Aalto University is mostly in English, and teaching at bachelor’s level is primarily in Finnish.

Your role and goals

We are looking for a highly motivated University Lecturer or Senior University Lecturer in Wood Science. The candidate’s role is mainly to teach wood science, both independently and in collaboration with Aalto professors and researchers in the field. With their expertise in wood science, the candidate will be actively involved in developing and improving the teaching curriculum at the School of Chemical Engineering.

The ideal candidate must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant discipline and have a strong research background in the biology, chemistry, physics, and/or materials science of wood or a closely related subject with emphasis on future skills needed in industry.

Furthermore, the candidate should have a track record in teaching and teaching development, alongside a commitment to teaching. Working with the senior academic staff responsible for wood science activities at the department, the candidate will contribute to the development of the wood science curriculum, in addition to developing teaching.

In addition, the candidate is expected to conduct their own independent research, contributing to the strategic aims of the department. The candidate will also be expected to apply for funding to support future teaching developments and/or research. While it is expected that most of their responsibilities will be directly related to teaching, the candidate will also be active in research and supervising students at all levels (BSc, MSc, DSc).

Expected qualifications and experience

The candidate must have the following:

• Doctoral degree in a suitable field in relation to wood science (civil, mechanical, chemical engineering, forest engineering, chemistry, physics)
• Demonstrable teaching experience and commitment (e.g., lectures and laboratory work)
• Track record of research in wood science or a highly related field
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English
• Minimum 5 ECTS (or equivalent) pedagogical studies for a university lecturer position and 25 ECTS for a senior university lecturer
• Specific future-oriented skills. For example: AI, Entrepreneurial, Business, Data-analysis, Circularity of wood products, etc.

The following will be regarded as merits:

• Written and oral communication skills in Finnish and/or Swedish
• Knowledge of the Finnish university education system
• Knowledge of the Finnish woodworking industry
• Experience in teaching multidisciplinary student groups
• Experience in developing educational material
• Experience in raising funding for research and/or teaching
• Good publication track record and activity

What we offer

The selected candidate will be offered a permanent position in the lecturer career system. Their qualifications and experience will determine the candidate’s positioning in the lecturer career system. 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

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

Our facilities are located at Aalto University Otaniemi campus in Espoo, Finland. 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 30.11.2026 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 Professor Lauri Rautkari. In recruitment-related questions, please contact HR Partner Noora Katisko ([email protected]).

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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