Circular Materials Bioeconomy Network: From Bio-based Resources to Advanced Materials

Circular Materials Bioeconomy Network (CIMANET) is an interdisciplinary doctoral education network to support the renewal of the bio-based industry through new sustainable materials and processes. CIMANET is part of the doctoral education pilot program established by Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture, providing scientific and technological competences to promote sustainable growth. It strengthens the knowledge base required to enhance the Finnish forest and bio-based industry with novel solutions unveiling the full potential of biomass. CIMANET consists of nine universities: Aalto University, Hanken School of Economics, LUT University, Tampere University, University of Helsinki, University of Jyväskylä, University of Oulu, University of Turku, and Åbo Akademi University.

CIMANET operates in close collaboration with the industry, research organizations, as well as other stakeholders to create economic and societal impact by addressing the major challenges of our century: resource sufficiency, access to clean water, and climate change. CIMANET starts in 2024 and provides altogether 67 doctoral researchers funding for three years. Check out all the open positions at the CIMANET pilot website.

At University of Helsinki, we are looking for 6 doctoral researchers for 3-year doctoral positions to work on the following themes:

• Consequential life cycle assessment of novel lignocellulose-based product
• End user and acceptability perspective in circular forest bioeconomy: cases new wood-based construction materials and medical applications
• Future competitiveness in circular forest bioeconomy: policy and strategy perspective
• Valorization of lignocellulosic residues by fungal biotechnology
• Bio-based composites via spectroscopic tools and molecular level architecture
• Bio-based composites via reactive extraction with Ionic Liquids

Suitable candidates have a background in:

• Forestry, Business and Management, or Environmental engineering is suitable for LCA work.
• Forestry or Business and Management is suitable for two topics affiliated.
• Biotechnology, materials science and/or food technology background is needed for fungal processing of lignocellulose
• Organic or polymer chemistry, or chemistry focused chemical engineering background is preferred for composite research.

If you're interested in applying for a doctoral researcher position in the thematic field of CIMANET, but you don't have a supervisor yet, please click the link below.