Senior university lecturer, sustainable materials

Job Description

The Sustainable Materials lectureship plays a vital role in advancing knowledge and practice in sustainable materials within the Department of Design. The lecturer is expected to possess a strong understanding of materials, and use of materials in design context or from CMF field (colour-material-finish), while also bringing fresh perspectives to sustainable material innovations. The field is dynamic and expansive, covering a wide range of materials used across diverse design sectors and design applications. These may include bio-based, eco-friendly, renewable, or recycled materials applied in areas such as textile and/or product design. The role also requires proficiency in material sustainability assessment methods and close monitoring of European Commission policy developments related to materials and their use in the design, production, and recycling of products.

Engagement with diverse design audiences and interesting partners-especially in manufacturing and design-driven commercial contexts-is a key part of the role. The post-holder has a doctoral degree in Design, Materials Design, Materials Research or a related field, demonstrating deep and rigorous understanding of materials development. They will teach across the Department's undergraduate and graduate programmes and majors.

Your role and goals

You will support students in establishing their independent and critical thinking about the use of materials in the design process. This will include teaching, advising students through tutorial contact and undertaking curriculum development. In addition, an important part of lecturer's duties is participation in research and research programmes.

You will engage students in understanding the complex relationships between industrial organising, regulatory frameworks, sustainability issues relating to materials and design. You are able to teach assessment methods in connection to materials, material use in production, use phase and end of life stages.

A successful applicant is expected to take on the following responsibilities, depending on the level of appointment

• Designing and offering student-oriented, high-quality teaching and supervising at undergraduate and graduate levels. Teaching responsibilities would comprise 50% to 70% of the overall workload.
• Participating in research, including the funding applications, research seminars, workshops and conferences.
• Participating in administrative tasks and educational development at the level of Department and School.
• Interacting in various ways with society in alignment with Aalto University's outreach and impact ambitions.

Your experience and ambitions

We are looking for a candidate with:

• A doctoral degree in Design, Material Design or in Materials Research or related field
• Proficiency in methods for assessing material sustainability, such as life cycle assessment (LCA)
• Strong knowledge of different materials and their use in design and industrial contexts (e.g. in textile and/or product design)
• Expertise in sustainability across the full lifecycle, from raw material extraction and manufacturing to use and end-of-life management
• Proven ability to teach in university education
• Demonstrated capability on collaboration with designers, interest holders, and/or industry actors
• Proven expertise and documented track record in research and teaching related to materials and sustainability
• Capacity to undertake and publish research
• Familiarity with policy developments related to materials
• Ability to communicate and engage with students in lively and accessible ways
• Finnish language is a merit

What we offer

We offer the opportunity of working in a dynamic world-class community of creative professionals and researchers, with a remit to continuously explore the frontiers of design research and practice.

The salary is determined according to the applicant's experience and qualifications. Activities are mainly located in the Otaniemi campus of Aalto University in Espoo, part of the capital region of Finland. Aalto University provides its employees with occupational health care services and excellent learning and development opportunities. Finland is a healthy and safe living environment, offering many excellent state-subsidized services including affordable day care and free schools and universities, which are consistently ranked among the best in the world.

Aalto University follows EU rules and regulations on HR policies. Based on the regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems, full-time employment at Aalto University is inconsistent with residence abroad. Employment duties need to be performed in Finland. The specific responsibilities and salary are determined based on the applicant's qualifications and level of position.

Ready to apply?

The following materials should be submitted in English and in PDF format through our recruitment system Workday by midnight Finnish time (GMT +2) May 4th, 2026.

• Motivation letter (one page)
• Curriculum Vitae; Please use the template recommended by The Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity (TENK), Template for researcher's curriculum vitae | Finnish National Board on Research Integrity TENK
• List of Publications
• Vision of the field of max 3 pages describing your orientation and future outlook
• Teaching portfolio according to Aalto guidelines, Teaching-competence-assessment_Guidelines-for-a-candidate_2024_Aalto-University.pdf
• A practice/research portfolio (presenting max 3 works/projects)

In case you already work at Aalto University, please apply for the position by using your existing Workday user account! Please see how to do it here.

If you want to know more about the position, please contact Professor Kirsi Niinimäki, kirsi.niinimaki(at)aalto.fi

In recruitment related questions, please contact HR Partner Katju Helminen, katju.helminen(at)aalto.fi