Aalto University is where science and art meet technology and business. We shape a sustainable future by making research breakthroughs in and across our disciplines, sparking the game changers of tomorrow and creating novel solutions to major global challenges. Our community is made up of 13 000 students, 400 professors, and more than 4 500 other faculty and staff working on our dynamic campus in Espoo, Greater Helsinki, Finland. Diversity is part of who we are, and we actively work to ensure our community’s diversity and inclusiveness. This is why we warmly encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to join our community.

The School of Chemical Engineering is one of the six schools of Aalto University. It combines natural sciences and engineering in a unique way.

We are now looking for a

Master’s thesis worker on AI-Optimized Production of Lignin-Carbohydrate Complexes with Superior Antioxidant Properties using Hydrothermal Treatment of Biomass

Background

Due to the high complexity of a lignocellulosic biomass network, the development of tuneable biorefinery methods to produce bio-based products with tailored characteristics requires more sophisticated methods for data collection and analysis. To enhance biorefinery efficacy, we employed Bayesian optimization (BO) as a tool for guided data acquisition. This allowed us to produce end-products with a desired set of characteristics through a green and flexible biorefinery concept. Artificial intelligence (AI)-aided approaches to biomaterials are still in their infancy, therefore the implementation of AI-guided optimization to biorefinery processes is of prime importance nowadays. Furthermore, AI-guided optimization allows to produce bio-based substates by valorising all woody biomass components (cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin) for high-end applications (bioengineering, high-performance thermoplastics and superior UV-protecting antioxidants).

Scientific environment

The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (BIO2), one of three departments in the School of Chemical Engineering at Aalto University, has an internationally leading reputation in basic and applied research for the development of advanced materials from natural resources. It is one of Europe’s leading research and higher education institutions in the field of sustainable chemistry and engineering based on the utilization of renewable resources.

BIO2 aims to contribute to the development of novel solutions to move towards sustainable primary production and processing systems that can produce materials with fewer inputs, less environmental impact, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Within bioscience, the department has research in bioprocess technology, molecular biotechnology, enzyme technology, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, biomolecular, and biohybrid materials. Other strengths of the department include sustainable materials and products based on lignocellulose, ranging from nanomaterials to novel cellulose-based textiles.

Your role and goals

A master thesis topic in green biorefinery is now open. We are looking for a master thesis student to produce lignin-carbohydrate complexes (LCCs) from woody biomass employing air digester for biomass pretreatment reactions. The aim of the project is to subject extractive-free sawdust to autohydrolysis under varying conditions (temperature, P-factor, time, liquid-to-solid ration). The conditions are selected based on previously established AI models to maximize both yield and desired structure for thermoplastic applications. Following that, the pretreated biomass is to be fractionated using different solvents (75 vol% acetone, 50 vol% ethanol, 1% NaOH) with a subsequent separation of the: i) liquid (LCCs-containing) and ii) solid (pulp) parts. LCCs from the liquid part will be isolated and the resulting antioxidant properties will be measured. The results will be then compared to those predicted by AI model. This, in turn, outlines the focus of the work, which underlies in the development of a process-structure-property correlation of the obtained LCCs for its potential use in cosmetics and thermoplastic sectors using AI-guided optimization.

Ready to apply?

Please submit your application through our online recruitment system no later than 26.1.2025 by using the link on Aalto University’s webpage (“Apply now”). If you are an Aalto employee or visitor, please apply via the Workday system (internal jobs). To apply, please include the following documents in English and in PDF format:

• CV

• Motivation letter (max 1 page)

• Study transcripts

The employment contract for a M.Sc. thesis will be for five months at full-time capacity. The position may be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found.

If you want to know more about the position, you can contact Associate Professor Michael Hummel (firstname.lastname@aalto.fi).

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