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 13 000 students, 400 professors and close to 4 500 other 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. It combines natural sciences and engineering in a unique way. The Department of Chemistry and Materials Science is one of three departments at the School of Chemical Engineering and the unique competitive edge of the department is based on combination of chemical synthesis and materials developments. We have world class expertise on developing Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) methods, electrochemical materials and on molecular modelling. We have also several groups focusing on the synthesis of soft materials. The research in the department focuses on advanced and functional materials, chemical synthesis, electrochemical energy storage and conversion as well as molecular and materials modelling.
We are now looking for a
Tenure Track or Tenured Professor, Organic Synthesis Technologies
The position is to be filled at any level of the Aalto University tenure track system (Assistant, Associate or Full Professor). The position is full-time, depending on the positioning on the tenure track, either on fixed or permanent term.
We are looking for a dedicated professional with an ambition for ground-breaking academic work in the field of organic synthesis technologies. The position requires fundamental understanding of how to synthesize carbon-based molecules and materials needed in materials science, biosciences, and other applied fields, such as pharmaceuticals, polymers, or agrochemicals.The next groundbreaking discoveries in the field are expected to take place by combining technological advances, such as artificial intelligence, robotics, enzyme engineering, photochemistry, or electrochemistry with fundamental organic synthesis. We are looking for an expert who can apply the technology-of-choice to solve organic synthesis challenges that are relevant in large-scale and industrially, and especially on processes that are hard to carry out with currently available technologies.
Scientific environment
The Department of Chemistry and Materials Science has currently 11 professors, 9 lecturers and 4 staff scientists, and it is responsible for the bachelor level chemistry teaching in Aalto. The four defined strategic research areas of the Department are chemical synthesis, functional materials, energy materials and molecular modelling. We offer an inspiring community of experts in electrochemistry, inorganic (solid state) chemistry and microfabrication. Materials science bears a clear focus on electrochemical energy conversion, and molecular modelling serves both inorganic (hard) and organic (soft) materials systems. The organic chemistry position will complement the current organic chemistry research group, and together they will form the leading organic synthesis cohort in Finland both in terms of research and education. This is expected to contribute to attracting global talent to Aalto and support the Finnish chemical industry.
Our research groups have access to world-class research infrastructures (RAMI
https://www.aalto.fi/en/school-of-chemical-engineering/rami-raw-materials-research-infrastructure and OtaNano with versatile microscopic techniques
https://www.aalto.fi/en/otanano). Finland’s national supercomputing centre, CSC, offers excellent resources for computational research.
For more information, please visit:
https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-chemistry-and-materials-science.
Your role and our expectations
As a professor, we expect you to establish a high-level research group in organic synthesis technologies. The professor will build facilities around their technology-of-choice and apply it to solving pressing problems in industrially relevant synthetic organic chemistry, and especially on processes that are challenging to carry out with currently available technologies.
We value commitment to high level teaching. We expect you to teach at the B.Sc., M.Sc. and doctoral levels on topics related to organic chemistry. The teaching load of organic chemistry is shared with another professor and lecturers. Typically, teaching accounts for 25-30 % of working time.
We expect you to have an international track record and a clear vision of how to advance organic chemistry with creative and innovative concepts. A modern experimental profile with knowledge of organic synthesis technologies is essential, while your ability to apply computational tools and contribute to the Department’s extensive modelling activities are considered advantageous.
We appreciate research directions that are directly linked to the School’s strategic research areas mentioned above and commitment to close collaboration with other research groups within Aalto University, as well as with other research organizations and industry, nationally and internationally. Your commitment to the development of sustainable chemistry, would be highly welcomed and a valuable addition to our community.
A doctoral degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, or in a related field is a prerequisite for the position. Proven ability or potential to obtain external funding and experience of researcher supervision is valued. Industrial collaborations are considered as a merit.
What we offer
At Aalto University you have the possibility to work within a well-resourced learning community where the students are rigorously selected and highly motivated. This results in an unusually interactive and intellectually challenging atmosphere. Aalto University supports teaching staff to develop further as a teacher by providing pedagogics courses in broad variety.
The salary is determined based on the applicant's experience and qualifications. Aalto University provides its employees with occupational health care services and retirement benefits. Activities of the department are located in the Otaniemi campus of Aalto University in Espoo (Helsinki metropolitan area).
Finland is a healthy and safe living environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services including affordable day care, free schools and universities, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world. More information about living and working in Finland
https://www.aalto.fi/en/careers-at-aalto/for-international-staff.
Tenure track in Aalto University
The position is a tenure track position. Individuals appointed to the tenure track have the opportunity to conduct research and/or artistic work and teach in order to build academic merits towards qualifying for an appointment to a tenured position.
Since 2010, the tenure track has attracted a wide range of international applicants, giving Aalto University the possibility of recruiting top experts and young talent to join the Aalto University community. Throughout their careers, those in the tenure track system are expected to conduct and supervise artistic/scientific research and/or artistic/design work, to provide related academic education, contribute to developing their field or discipline, as well as contribute to academic service the university and beyond in the society. For more information on the tenure track system of Aalto University, please see
https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track.
Ready to apply?
If you want to join our community, please submit your application no later than
31.8.2023 through our recruiting system by using the "Apply" link.
If you are an employee at Aalto, please note: you should apply for the position via our internal system Workday (not via the external aalto.fi webpage on open positions). Use your existing Workday user account.
To apply, please share the following application materials with us in English and in PDF (the maximum size of each document is 5MB and the maximum number of documents is 5).
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae - please use the template recommended by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity. Please also include names and contact information for references.
- List of publications, with 5 most significant publications listed, an explanation of their importance and applicant role on them.
- Research portfolio - a concise (4-10 pages) reflection on the merits, long-term vision, and research plan.
- Teaching portfolio according to Aalto University’s guidelines - see Teaching portfolio guidelines for candidate
General instructions for applicants including evaluation criteria, language requirements and guidelines for compiling your CV are given at
https://www.aalto.fi/en/tenure-track/interested-in-joining-our-tenure-track.
Aalto University will use external reviewers to support the evaluation of applicants during the recruitment process and choose the most suitable applicants to visit the Department of Chemistry and Materials Science and deliver teaching demonstrations.
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