Tenure-track position in Processing of Sustainable Polymeric Materials

The Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Tampere University is inviting applications for a tenure-track position in Processing of Sustainable Polymeric Materials.

Tampere University offers a distinctive platform for sustainable polymer processing by combining polymer and composite processing, advanced materials characterization, mechanical performance research, scientific computing, circular economy expertise, and access to nearby pilot-scale industrial infrastructure. This creates an exceptional environment for developing polymeric materials from recycled, bio-based and other alternative feedstocks into technically reliable, durable and industrially scalable solutions.

The recruited professor will join the Engineering Materials Science subunit within the Materials Science and Environmental Engineering unit, where their polymer science and engineering expertise connects to our existing expertise ranging from polymer chemistry to digital manufacturing and industrial collaboration. This allows the position to address the full value chain from feedstock variability and processability to processing–structure–property–performance relationships, long-term durability, pilot-scale validation and practical implementation.

This focus differentiates the position from more conventional polymer materials appointments. The appointee will be able to build internationally visible research in an environment that combines fundamental materials science, experimental polymer processing, advanced characterization, mechanical and functional performance, data-driven and numerical approaches, and close links to Finnish and European industry. We are looking for a tenure-track professor who will use this ecosystem to translate sustainable polymer concepts into high-performance materials for demanding applications.

Job description

We are seeking highly motivated and accomplished candidates in the area of Processing of Sustainable Polymeric Materials to conduct high-level scientific and technological research with strong societal impact. Your research in this field could, for example, focus on:

• the valorization of recycled polymeric feedstocks through data-intensive processing approaches, based on a detailed understanding of processing–structure–property–performance relationships, to develop secondary raw materials for technical applications; or
• increasing the share of bio-based raw materials in polymeric systems to enhance the sustainability of technical polymer products; or
• advancing methods for modelling, simulation, and analysis of polymer processing, including the use of AI-based approaches, to improve the adaptability of industrial processes when utilizing alternative raw materials.

We are especially interested in candidates who can build an internationally visible research profile at the interface of sustainable polymer feedstocks, processing science and application-relevant performance. The ideal candidate combines strong expertise in experimental polymer processing with one or more complementary strengths, such as recycled, bio-based or hybrid polymer systems; rheology and process modelling; AI- or data-driven process optimization; mechanical durability and long-term performance; composites, elastomers or coatings; or industrial scale-up and validation. The successful candidate should be able to use Tampere University’s distinctive research environment to connect fundamental materials science with pilot-scale processing, advanced characterization, modelling and industrial collaboration.

You may have a background in either academic or industrial research; however, you are expected to develop your own independent scientific research profile. Tampere offers an especially strong setting for this field because it combines a leading technology university with one of Finland’s most established regions for applied engineering, manufacturing and industry-oriented innovation. The region provides a natural testbed for sustainable polymer processing: research can be connected to companies and value chains in plastics, composites, elastomers, packaging, construction, healthcare, transport, energy, coatings, machinery and material substitution capability related to security of supply. This industrial context makes it possible for the selected candidate to develop research that is scientifically ambitious, application-driven and directly relevant to national and European needs in circularity, resource efficiency, low-carbon production, industrial renewal and resilient material supply chains. Tampere University’s links with industry organizations such as the Finnish Plastics Industries Federation, SAMPE Nordic and The Finnish Plastics Association, together with nearby infrastructures such as VTT’s polymer pilot facilities and InTire Labs, provide concrete routes for co-creation with companies, pilot-scale validation, demonstration of research outcomes and long-term societal impact.

Your research should strengthen and be complementary to our present research in the Materials Science and Environmental Engineering unit and to address recent and emerging scientific and societal grand challenges such as sustainability in industrial applications. We appreciate your plans to connect your future research with relevant research groups at Tampere University in your field. Within the Engineering Materials Science sub-unit, where the position is located, the most closely related group is Plastics and Elastomer Technology (Profs. E. Sarlin and M. Kanerva). However, there is also strong potential for collaboration with other groups, such as Coating Technologies (Assoc. Prof. H. Koivuluoto) and Impact (Prof. M. Hokka and Asst. Prof. G. Mohanty). More broadly within the unit, additional collaboration opportunities exist with the research groups of Chemistry and Advanced Materials (e.g. Asst. Prof. S. Häkkinen) and Bio and Circular Economy (e.g. Profs. V. Santala and M. Kokko). At the university level, further connections could be established with groups such as Digital Design and Manufacturing (Assoc. Prof. I. Flores Ituarte), the Laboratory for Future Electronics (Prof. M. Mäntysalo), and Biomedical Technology (Prof. M. Kellomäki), among others.

Tampere University has a versatile infrastructure covering instruments and staff working on polymer and composite processing and structural and mechanical characterization, rheology, and thermal analysis, to mention a few. The polymer processing infrastructure is located in the dedicated Polymer Hall building, which provides the potential to develop a pilot scale processing line, and the other analytical laboratories will be located in the new Noodi building (completed in 2026, ~100 M€ investment), which houses advanced and versatile analytical laboratories that support polymer science. Further, Tampere University has also university-level infrastructures, such as Tampere Microscopy Centre and Tampere Center for Scientific Computing, which offer state-of-the-art facilities for research. In addition, adjacent to university’s campus locates VTT’s polymer pilot infrastructure, designed for experimental development of polymer and composite technologies, and the InTire Labs, a fully industrially driven research infrastructure focusing on sustainable elastomer processing. Tampere University has active collaboration with both of these organizations.

If successful, you will be placed at the level of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor, based on your experience and expertise. While in the early stages of your career the focus is on research, in time you will be expected to contribute increasingly to teaching, curriculum development, and graduate and post-graduate student supervision, as well as in academic service (including administrative duties).

Requirements

You should have a doctoral degree in one of the following areas: Materials Science and Engineering, Polymer Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, or a related field.

Strong collaboration skills with local industry and other parties. Existing networks with Finnish and European plastics industry are seen as an advantage.

You need to be fluent in English to succeed in the required tasks.

Further requirements for each tenure track level are as follows:

Assistant Professor

We require:

• ability to undertake high-level scholarly activity and potential to establish an independent agenda of scholarly activity at international level of excellence
• teaching skills required to successfully perform the duties and functions of the position

Associate Professor

We require:

• track record of independent scholarly activity on a high international level
• teaching skills required to successfully perform the duties and functions of the position
• ability to lead a research group and acquire external funding.

Professor

We require:

• high-level scholarly or artistic expertise
• experience of leading scientific research activities
• ability to provide high-quality research-based education and instruction
• track record of winning external research funding
• track record of international scholarly activity

Please, read more about our Tenure track career path here

We offer

We are inviting you to be a part of a vibrant, active and truly international research community. The multidisciplinary research environment offers opportunities to develop research expertise via collaboration, e.g., with different fields of engineering and natural sciences. We are offering an advanced infrastructure in many research fields of materials science and engineering.

Initial appointment as Assistant Professor / Associate Professor is for five years. Subject to successful performance, you will become a tenured faculty member after the first five-year period. Full professors will hold a permanent appointment from the outset. A trial period of six months applies to all our new employees.

You will be supported by a start-up package that will ease your transition to TAU and in setting up your research group. The start-up package will be negotiated on the basis of your individual needs.

Salaries are based on the job demands and employees’ personal performance in accordance with the Finnish University Salary System. A typical starting salary for an Assistant Professor is approximately 4800-5300 EUR/month, for an Associate Professor approximately 5500-6200 EUR/month, and for a Professor in the range between 6600-7200 EUR/month. Higher salaries may be negotiated for candidates with exceptional experience and/or performance.

We offer a wide range of staff benefits, such as occupational health care, flexible working hours, excellent sports facilities on campus and several restaurants and cafés on campus with staff discounts. Please read more about working at Tampere University. You can also find more information about us and working and living Tampere by watching our video: Tampere Higher Education Community – our academic playground

The city of Tampere is one of the major academic hubs in the Nordic countries and offers a dynamic living environment. Finland provides one of the most advanced and comprehensive social security systems in the world with generous parental leaves, very affordable state-subsidized daycare that is available for all children, world-renowned free primary and secondary education as well as public healthcare.

For more information on Tampere and Finland, please visit:

• https://visittampere.fi/en
• https://www.visitfinland.com/
• https://www.infofinland.fi/en/frontpage

How to apply

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system (link below). The closing date for applications is November 16th, 2026 (at 23.59 EET, GMT+2 / 21.59 UTC).

Please write your application and all accompanying documents in English and attach them in PDF format. Applications should include the following documents:

• A letter of motivation in which you set out the reasons why you are applying for the position and why you are particularly suited to it.
• Curriculum Vitae according to TENK guidelines
• List of publications according to Research Council of Finland guidelines. Please indicate your ten most important publications.
• A research plan (max. 5 pages), outlining your proposed research
• Teaching portfolio prepared according to TAU Guidelines on the teaching portfolio
• The names, positions and contact details of two referees who can support your application (recommendation letters etc. are not asked at this point)

Candidates may be invited for a video interview during the first stage of the recruitment process. The most qualified candidates will be invited to Tampere University for an interview and may undergo an aptitude assessment. They will also undergo a review by external experts and may be required to give a demonstration of their teaching skills.

For more information, please contact:

Dean of the Faculty Martti Kauranen, martti.kauranen@tuni.fi

Prof. Mikko Hokka, mikko.hokka@tuni.fi

Application period starts: 2026-09-30 13:15 Application period ends: 2026-11-16 23:59