Professor or Associate Professor in Mass and Heat Transfer Engineering , Faculty of Technology

We are now looking for

Professor or Associate Professor in Mass and Heat Transfer Engineering

to join us in the Environmental and Chemical Engineering Research Unit (ECE) at the Faculty of Technology.

The ECE unit is a multidisciplinary international research unit with a unique combination of Chemical Engineering, Industrial Environmental Engineering, Control Engineering, and Inorganic Chemistry expertise. The unit provides new scientific knowledge for the development and design of environmentally benign and sustainable materials, unit operations, and production processes. Core competence areas are catalysis, separation processes, modelling, design of sustainable unit operations and processes, and synthesis and characterization of new inorganic molecules. Our unit is now seeking an active and forward-looking professor or associate professor in the field of Mass and Heat Transfer Engineering to develop the research and education of this field.

About the job

As a successful candidate for the position,

• You are expected to practice and promote teaching and research within the fields of Chemical Engineering and Industrial Environmental Engineering with specialization in mass, heat, and momentum transfer, related to separation processes, and especially to membrane, adsorption, and ion-exchange technologies, and also related to non-ideal reactors.
• You are expected to carry out research in physical and chemical phenomena, materials, and unit operations design and development for chemical and compound separation and purification processes, as well as environmental technologies.
• It is important that you master how these unit operations, enabling materials/methods, and feedstocks influence the design of the processes mentioned above. The requirements for sustainability, cleantech, and circular economy, e.g., energy, material, and process efficiency, are vital.
• Your scientific approach can be theoretical and/or experimental.

The position offers a unique opportunity to establish your own research group, lead and participate in timely research and collaboration within several chemical and environmental engineering fields, interdisciplinary and international research environments, and global partnership networks. 

What we offer?

• The support of an experienced and enthusiastic unit of 50 people, where you can share your expertise and grow as an expert.
• Access to timely and excellent research facilities at the university, faculty, and research unit levels.
• Wellness-benefit ePassi covers sports, culture, and well-being. Read more about other staff benefits.
• Work that matters and a workplace that promotes flexibility and work-life balance. Read more about working with us.
• If you are moving from abroad, we offer comprehensive relocation packages to support your smooth relocation to Oulu.
• Finland is one of the most livable countries in the world, with a high quality of life and excellent health care, a safe and clean environment, an excellent education system, and a competitive economy. Read more about living in Oulu.

Who are you?

To succeed and enjoy the position, we expect that you have: 

As a professor: 

• Doctoral degree in a relevant field, e.g., chemical, process, or industrial environmental engineering.
• High-level scientific qualifications, e.g., high-impact international research, excellent publication record, supervised theses, and successful funding applications.
• Experience in conducting and leading scientific research.
• Ability to provide high-quality research-based teaching in MSc and doctoral education.
• Experience in supervising final theses and doctoral studies.
• Proof of international cooperation in the field of research related to the open position.
• Ability to act as an Academic Leader.
• Ability to propose national and international research projects and to gain research funding, evidenced by successful applications.
• Experience working abroad and acting on international networks.
• Fluency in English.

We also appreciate

• Finnish language skills or participation in courses to master basic skills in the Finnish language.
• Experience in collaboration and interaction with businesses in the field, and increasing awareness that serves academia, industries, and society.

To succeed and enjoy the position, we expect that you have:

As an Associate Professor: 

• Excellent potential for a successful scientific career. The top candidates undergo an evaluation by external experts. They are required to reach top scores (5-6 on a scale from 1 to 6 for scientific activity and as the overall score) to be recruited. Please learn more about our tenure track system, entry criteria, evaluation procedure, and advancement on our careers website.
• Doctoral degree in an applicable research field, e.g., in the fields of chemical, process, or industrial environmental engineering.
• Demonstrated the evidence of scientific research work and relevant teaching skills.
• Ability to lead research and experience in acquiring external research funding.
• Sufficient and relevant experience in international scientific work and evidence of international cooperation.
• Fluency in English.

We also appreciate

• Finnish language skills or participation in courses to master basic skills in the Finnish language.
• Experience in collaboration with companies and international partners.

Salary

The position is permanent (for the Professor’s position) or fixed term for five (5) years (for the Associate Professor’s position) as of 01.01.2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The salary will be based on the levels 8-9 (professor) and 6-7 (associate professor) of the demand level chart for teaching and research staff of Finnish universities. In addition, a salary component based on personal work performance will be paid (maximum of 50 % of the job-specific component). Starting gross salary will be approx. 6200-7700 € (professor)  and 4400-5600 € (associate professor) per month (before taxes).  A trial period of 6 months is applied to the position.

How to apply?

Interested? If yes, please apply by 30.9.2025 (23:59 Finnish local time) through our recruitment system.

The application should be written in English and include the following:

1. Cover letter
2. CV following the guidelines of the Finnish Advisory Board on Research Integrity
3. List of publications following the guidelines of the Finnish Research Council (with the ten most important ones marked)
4. Brief account of research merits
5. Brief account of teaching merits or teaching portfolio
6. Details regarding the acquisition of research funds
7. A brief research and action plan
8. Contact information of 2–4 persons available for recommendation

The eligible applicants fitting best in the profile expected for the position will be invited to an on-site or remote interview. All applicants will be notified during the selection process.

The selection process follows the University of Oulu guidelines. A recruitment committee carries out the process, and the candidates that are considered most suitable by the recruitment committee will also undergo an expert evaluation assessing the following merits:

• Scientific activities and their reflection in the publication record, scientific presentations, and other recognitions, e.g., awards and patents
• Teaching activities and their evaluation (teaching portfolio; including students’ evaluation)
• Supervision of diploma and doctoral students
• Acquisition of competitive research funds
• International scientific activities and contacts
• Services for the academic community
• Academic and societal relevance and potential of activities

Contact Information

If you have any further questions, please contact the Unit leader, Dr. Esa Muurinen, Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Chemical Engineering Research Unit, esa.muurinen@oulu.fi, +358 294 482363, or Professor Mika Ruusunen, Faculty of Technology, Environmental and Chemical Engineering Research Unit, mika.ruusunen@oulu.fi, +358 294 482461. In practical issues, you can contact the secretary of the recruitment committee, Docent Satu Pitkäaho, satu.pitkaaho@oulu.fi.