Mem-Fast – Doctoral Students for membrane technology

The LUT School of Engineering Sciences is offering two (2) fully funded doctoral student (junior researcher) positions related to membrane processes in biorefining. 

Positions

The positions are connected to the MSCA Doctoral Networks programme. The Mem-Fast project (Membranes as Enablers for Future Biorefineries: from Fabrication to Advanced Separation Technologies) will train 11 highly skilled doctoral candidates (DC). The candidates will receive strong guidance from two high-quality supervisors from different universities and one expert from an industry company. The systematic secondment scheme builds on each DC having an academic secondment in an international university of high standing and excellence and a non-academic secondment in industry.

Job Description

• Completion of the doctoral degree within four years 
  • doctoral dissertation includes typically 3-4 peer-reviewed publications on the research and the summary thesis on the work
  • Complementary studies 40 ECTS Credits
• Assisting in teaching

Research themes: 

Position 1: Novel low-fouling and microbial and solvent resistant cellulose membranes for biorefinery applications 

This project aims to the novel cellulosic membranes, which are manufactured with phase inversion method from cellulose fraction recovered from wood fractions (side or waste streams of forest industry) by using deep eutectic solvents (DES). The target market for the novel membrane is in different biorefinery applications, for instance in the recovery of hemicelluloses or lignin from biomass-based side streams or extracts, in purification of wastewaters of biorefineries and in recycling of solvents.

Position 2: Use of membranes in the treatment of acidic and concentrated salt solutions

The project aims to improved understanding on the use of polymeric and ceramic membranes in the separate salts from the filtrates of the textile spinning regeneration bath acidic conditions prevailing for instance in biorefining processes, in which acidic hydrolysis has been utilised to recover biocompounds from different biomass sources or which are produced in the manufacturing of different biobased polymers. The possibility to use membrane filtration in the treatment of these process and waste streams would have a significant influence on the resource efficiency both in the use of water and chemicals. To enable the development of sustainable membrane processes for this purpose more detailed understanding on the performance and stability of the membranes under the prevailing conditions is needed than what is available today

Eligibility

Applicants should be highly motivated with a background for instance in chemical engineering, chemistry, material science, bioprocessing or biochemistry with a common denominator of biorefineries and membranes including knowledge about separation processes and characterization of materials.

To be eligible to apply for the positions, the doctoral candidate must:

• have completed an applicable higher university degree, for example Master’s degree (M.Sc. or equivalent) in a relevant field.
• be a researcher, who at the deadline of the recruitment call is not in possession of a doctoral degree.
• have fluent English communication skills

1. proven by an English language test. You can prove your proficiency in English with one of the following language test results with at least the minimum score mentioned (non-English native speaking applicants):
2. IELTS Academic or IELTS Online or IELTS Indicator
    6.5
3. TOEFL iBT Test, TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iBT Paper Edition
    90- MyBest Scores accepted 
4. PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online
   62
5. C1 Advanced by Cambridge English Qualifications
   Grade C or higher
6. C2 Proficiency by Cambridge English Qualifications
   Grade C1 or higher

Test dates before 1 September 2022 will not be accepted.

2. Alternatively, proficiency in English can be proven with a Master’s Degree completed in English in one of the following countries: an EU/EEA country, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom or United States of America. The fact that the language of instruction was English must be clearly indicated on the educational documents.

• fulfil the geographic mobility requirement. The Mem-Fast programme follows the general MSCA mobility requirement where the candidate may not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Finland for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the call deadline. (The applicant must provide a document issued by a third party to prove the fulfilment of the mobility rule, if it does not become clear from the other mandatory documents such as work or study certificates).

What we offer

• An opportunity to launch a successful, international academic career and to become an expert in your research area.
• A four-year (1+3 years) employment contract for completing the doctoral degree 
  • An employment contract can be concluded only if the candidate obtains the right to pursue postgraduate studies at LUT University
  • The contract will be made initially for one year and can be extended by three years provided that the studies and research have progressed successfully
• Position 1: Encouraging and supportive supervision by and research collaboration with Professor Mari Kallioinen-Mänttäri from LUT (Finland) and Professor João Crespo from University of New Lisbon (Portugal). Intersectoral secondment Fibenol (Estonia) provides the DC an opportunity to learn about industrial technologies for separating biomass components and usability of novel membranes to solve separation challenges. 
• Position 2: Encouraging and supportive supervision by and research collaboration with Professor Mika Mänttäri from LUT (Finland) and Professor Wiebe M. de Vos from University of Twente (Netherlands), who has earlier granted the highly prestigious ERC funding (position 1).Intersectoral secondment UPM-Kymmene Corporation (FI) provides the DC an opportunity to learn about industrial technologies for separating biomass components into high value biomaterial streams and the relevant regulation.

Employment relationship and pay

Starting date: The work will start in September-November 2024 with a six-month trial period.

Location: The job is based in Lappeenranta, Finland. The doctoral student is expected to spend 6 months both at an international university and company during the doctoral studies.

Salary: The gross salary is approx. 3 700 euros per month (and for a person with family, an additional family allowance of about 660 euros). The taxes and net salary in 2024 depend on the applicant’s income before moving to Finland. This doctoral student position is free of tuition fees.

How to apply

Please submit your application together with the required attachments through the university's online application system:

• Your curriculum vitae (template is provided)
• Certificates/diplomas: scanned electronic copies of diplomas and transcripts of the records of relevant previous degrees and certificate of the English language test. If the original documents are not in English, Finnish or Swedish, each document must be accompanied by an official certified translation into English or Finnish.
• A motivation letter: a separate document describing the candidate’s motivation as a researcher also highlighting past achievements (max. 1 page, A4)
• Research proposal (max. two pages A4, template is provided) which should refer to a research theme above 
• One or two letters of recommendations/references and names and contact information of one or two referees
• List of scientific publications (optional)

The appendices must be in English.

The deadline for application is 29 May 2024  at 12:00 (Europe/Brussels). The Mem-Fast programme employs a detailed selection process. The selection process comprises two main stages (evaluation based on the applications and interviews of the best evaluated candidates) and will last approximately 4 weeks. The applicants will be notified of the selection outcome in July-August 2024.

Further information

For further information of the project, please see Mem-Fast.

For more information about the research topics, please contact mika.manttari@lut.fi.

Read more about LUT as an employer and LUT Doctoral School

LUT University | Clean energy, water and air are life-giving resources for which we at LUT University seek new solutions with our expertise in technology, business and social sciences. We help society and businesses in their sustainable renewal. Our international community consists of over 9,000 members. Our campuses are in Lappeenranta and Lahti, Finland. We are one of the world's top universities for climate action. lut.fi/en

Technical support for using the recruitment system: recruitment@lut.fi.