Professor in Forest Products

Situated at Linnæus University, School of Technology in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering

Research Area
With the support of the board manufacturer Swedspan and Ikea of Sweden, Linnaeus University has established a new field of research – New sustainable board materials ­– which focuses on developing new environment-friendly and recyclable board materials based on raw materials from the plant kingdom, especially raw materials from the forest.

Environmental adaptation and sustainable material utilisation in various products is a question of increasing priority for the timber industry and its customers.  In the short term, wood is the natural choice of material in, for example, home furnishing, but in the long term other raw materials from the plant kingdom can also be interesting sources of fibres as a basis for the development of environment-friendly products. The board industry is extremely competition-sensitive with respect to the availability of wood raw material for its processes and it is also facing demands regarding emissions from the final products.  A central task is therefore to find methods and processes to reduce the harmful emissions.

The professorship is within the field of Forest Products with a special competence in wood and adhesive chemistry.

Linnaeus University has adopted a strategy for achieving equal conditions for all its employees and students within the university’s fields of activity, which means e.g. a uniform gender distribution within the professorial staff.

Description of the position
The professor shall have a sound knowledge of the chemical structure and properties of wood, and how these can properties be utilised in industrial processes. The professor shall also have a sound knowledge of how wood cooperates with other materials, which can provide a basis for the development of in first hand adhesive systems, but also other system such as paints, wood protection systems and the dimensional stabilisation of wood.

A knowledge of the manufacture of board materials and all other cellulose-based fibre products is also included. The pulp and paper industries have a lower merit value than other wood chemical industries.

The position involves teaching and course development within both undergraduate and research education and also research in the field of Forest Products with a specialisation in wood and adhesive chemistry.



Assessment criteria/Qualifications

Basic eligibility
Competence requirements



• Documented scientific skills in the subject, and ability to contribute to development of an attractive research environment supported by and entering into co-operative ventures with business and enterprise, local authorities, the county council and other stakeholders,

• Documented pedagogic skills in the subject and experience of an integrating teaching and research in cooperation with the community,

• Special weight is given to the applicant’s ability to initiate and lead research of high academic standard, as well as the applicant’s ability to achieve financing for research activities including cooperation with industry.

• Documented administrative.

Other assessment criteria
The applicant’s pedagogic merits and documented experience of teaching in the subject field, where consideration is given to experience of examinations, development of courses, supervision of degree projects, teaching at a post-graduate research level and the supervision of doctoral students.

The successful candidate shall have a good analytical and creative ability, an interest in scientific method and a good ability to cooperate. The applicant shall be able to show a documented interest in close cooperation with the industry. We value the ability to develop both national and international contacts and networks.  A documented ability to create research resources and industrial cooperation is a merit.

 

Relative importance of assessment criteria



• Scientific skills.

• Cooperation with the industry and to achieve financing for research activities.

• Pedagogic skills.

• All the other assessment criteria indicated above.

 

Terms of employment
The vacancy is a full-time appointment

Mark your application ref. no: PA 2013/337-2.2.1

Information
Questions directed towards the doctoral post and the research area should be directed to: 
Head of Department, Åsa Rydell Blom +46 (0)706 87 05 15, asa.blom@lnu.se 
Matters of employment will be answered by staff consultant Eric Åstedt, +46 (0)470-76 75 58, eric.astedt@lnu.se
To be able to apply for the position on lnu.se/job and vacancies, indicate that you agree to the terms. In this you follow the directions given. The credentials you invoke must be verified with certification and they must be attached to digital in the e-recruitment tool.

Other documents, including various types of scientific pieces of work, should primarily be submitted digitally with the application, and secondary by regular mail in three identical sets to Linnaeus University Registrar, 351 95 Växjö. The application and attached documents shall be marked with the reference number. All supporting documents must be received by the University no later than 24.00 on the closing day.