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 more than 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.

We are now looking for a

Doctoral Researcher in the area of Engineered Living Materials

Natural biological materials synthesized by cells with preprogramed genetic rules using simple raw materials provide sustainable and biodegradable products widely used in the society. Despite of the impressive traits, limited utility of natural materials restricts their application in next generation advanced materials. Cells are considered as nanomaterial factories, raising a critical point, can microbes be programmed as nanomaterial factories to create novel and beneficial biological materials? This is addressed by the emerging field of biological Engineered Living Materials, interfacing between microbiology, synthetic biology and material science themes.

A Doctoral Researcher position, in connection to a Research Council of Finland project, is now open in the Biological Engineered Living Materials research group, led by Assistant Professor Rahul Mangayil. The project focusses on studying the protein secretion in Komagataeibacter spp., native nanocellulose producing bacteria, to develop novel functional materials.

Scientific environment

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (BIO2), one of three departments in the School of Chemical Engineering at Aalto University, has an internationally leading reputation in basic and applied research for the development of advanced materials from natural resources. It is one of Europe’s leading 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. Within bioscience, the department has research in bioprocess technology, molecular biotechnology, enzyme technology, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, biomolecular, and biohybrid materials. Other strengths of the department include sustainable materials and products based on lignocellulose, ranging from nanomaterials to novel cellulose-based textiles.

Your network and team

The position is based at the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems of Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering (Otaniemi campus, Espoo, Finland), in the Biological Engineered Living Materials research group (https://www.aalto.fi/en/department-of-bioproducts-and-biosystems/biological-engineered-living-materials). The research group closely associates with the Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER, https://www.aalto.fi/en/liber), funded by the Research Council of Finland’s Center of Excellence Programme (2022-2029). The LIBER consortium, comprising of eight multidisciplinary research groups from Aalto University, VTT and Tampere University, aims in creating dynamic and soft hybrid materials with capability to learn, adapt or response to the environment.

Your role and goals

We are searching for a Doctoral Researcher to support us in studying native and designing heterologous recombinant protein secretion routes in Komagataeibacter spp. for synthetic biology applications. Your role includes planning and conducting genetic engineering experiments, recombinant protein expression and analytics thereof, designing synthetic co-cultures and, writing and publishing high-quality papers, and interacting with other team members and collaborators from different fields.

The position is especially suitable for researchers with solid background in synthetic biology and/or with prior experience in studying bacterial protein secretion systems. You will also have a chance to instruct Master thesis workers and develop towards a more independent position.

Your background and expertise

Required qualifications

• Masters degree in biotechnology, biochemistry, biological engineering or in a related field.

• Experience in synthetic biology, microbiology, and protein analytics.

• Competence to pursue independent scientific work.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Desired expertise considered as advantage

• Record of scientific productivity with publications in internationally renowned journals.

• Experience in bacterial protein secretion systems.

• Experience in genome, or metabolic engineering.

We are searching for an active person with good interaction skills and interdisciplinary mindset.

What we offer

Doctoral studies at Aalto University take approximately four years. The expected starting salary for a Doctoral Researcher is approximately 2600 EUR/month.  The planned starting date is 1st March 2024.

If you are chosen for this position, you will apply for the study right in doctoral studies at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering. Thus, please check the student information and admission criteria at https://www.aalto.fi/en/study-options/aalto-doctoral-programme-in-chemical-engineering. In particular, please pay attention to the mandatory skill level in English.

Application procedure

To apply for the position, please submit your application including the attachments mentioned below as one single PDF document in English through the ’Apply’ link.

• Motivation letter (max. one page)

• Curriculum Vitae

• Masters degree certificate and transcript of academic records

• Contact details for references

Aalto University’s employees and visitors should apply for the position via the internal HR system Workday (keyword Find Jobs) by using their existing Workday user account (not via the external webpage for open positions). For more information, please contact Assistant Professor Rahul Mangayil ([email protected]).

The closing date for the applications is 21st December, 2023.

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 our new virtual campus experience:  https://virtualtour.aalto.fi/.

About Finland

Finland is a great place for living with or without family – it is a safe, politically stable, and well-organized Nordic society. Finland is consistently ranked high in quality of life and was just listed again as the happiest country in the world: https://worldhappiness.report/news/its-a-three-peat-finland-keeps-top-spot-as-happiest-country-in-world/. For more information about living in Finland: For international staff | Aalto University

Aalto University reserves the right for justified reasons to leave the position open, to extend the application period, and to consider candidates who have not submitted applications during the application period.

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