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Doctoral researcher in Food Materials Science: Aerogels for Oral Lubrication - part of a MSCA Doctoral Network on FAroGels - Food-Grade Aerogels for Sustainable Food Systems

Department of Food and Nutrition of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Finalnd, invites applications for a Doctoral researcher, FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network.

Within the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA), University of Helsinki is offering a PhD fellowship for a Doctoral Candidate (DC), starting 1 March 2027 or as soon as possible hereafter. A position is for 36 months and is funded by the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network.

About the MSCA project

FAroGels – Food-Grade Aerogels for Sustainable Food Systems is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe. The network brings together academic and non-academic partners with complementary expertise in food science and technology, materials science, biopolymer science, biotechnology, process engineering, analytical characterization, packaging and sustainable innovation. FAroGels aims to develop, characterize and validate food-grade, bio-based and biodegradable aerogels for sustainable food systems. The network will investigate how these highly porous materials can support more efficient food processing, improved food quality and safety, nutritional and sensory functionality, protection and delivery of bioactive compounds, and sustainable packaging solutions.

What We Offer?

• A full-time doctoral position funded through the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network.
• A fixed-term employment contract for a maximum of 36 months at University of Helsinki.
• A competitive salary and employment conditions in accordance with the MSCA Doctoral Networks funding provisions, applicable national legislation and the policies of the University of Helsinki.
• The University of Helsinki offers a comprehensive range of employee benefits and services (Our University of Helsinki and work culture | University of Helsinki).
• Supervision by experienced academic researchers and, where applicable, co-supervisors and/or industrial supervisors.
• Access to research facilities, infrastructure, training and support services at University of Helsinki and within the FAroGels network.
• Participation in a structured doctoral training programme including scientific and technical training, transferable skills, career development and innovation-oriented activities.
• Planned secondments at FAroGels partner organizations, offering complementary scientific, technical and cross-sectoral experience.
• An international research environment and opportunities to build a professional network across academia and non-academic organizations.

Funding Duration and PhD Completion

• This Doctoral Candidate position is funded by the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network for a maximum period of 36 months.
• Note: Any employment, scholarship or other financial support beyond the 36-month FAroGels funding period is not covered or guaranteed by FAroGels.

MSCA Doctoral Network Eligibility Criteria

Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. At the date of recruitment, applicants must meet the following MSCA Doctoral Network requirements:

• Doctoral candidate status: Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. Applicants who have successfully defended their doctoral thesis but have not yet been formally awarded the doctoral degree are not eligible.

• Mobility rule: Applicants must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Finland for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention or EU temporary protection are not taken into account. Compliance is verified before the start of employment, on the basis of the candidate’s passport and, where necessary, other documents.

• PhD enrolment: The appointee should either already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki by the start of the appointment or apply for the right and obtain it within the probationary period of six months of their appointment. If the appointee does not already have the right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Helsinki, it must be applied for separately, please see How to apply to doctoral programmes | University of Helsinki

• Visa and residence permit: a visa or residence/work permit is not required at the application stage and is not a selection criterion. Where needed, it will be arranged after selection and before the start of employment, with the support of the recruiting organisation. Candidates from non-EU countries are equally welcome to apply.

The workplace of the position is in Helsinki, Finland.

About the open PhD position (DC#14) at University of Helsinki, Finland

The selected candidate will be employed by University of Helsinki and will be required to enroll as a PhD student at University of Helsinki, in accordance with the relevant admission and enrolment requirements.

• The doctoral project will focus on understanding how dietary-fibre aerogels/cryogels can be designed as functional porous and moisture-responsive materials for food applications, including the modulation of texture and mouthfeel. The key scientific challenge is to elucidate how fibre-network organisation, pore-network connectivity, swelling behaviour, pore size distribution, and network integrity govern moisture responsiveness, structural rearrangement, and mechanical response under food-processing and oral conditions.
• The research will combine material design with multiscale characterisation to establish structure-function relationships. Different approaches will be used to develop dietary-fibre aerogels/cryogels with tailored pore-network architecture and hydration properties. Particular attention will be given to how fibre characteristics and network organisation determine their response to moisture and mechanical stress. The doctoral researcher will gain experience with a range of advanced characterisation and experimental approaches, including Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), phase-enhanced synchrotron X-ray microtomography (XMT), Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS), Dynamic Vapour Sorption (DVS), and micropipette aspiration. The project will also involve advanced oral tribology using model interfaces such as PDMS-saliva and porcine tongue, in-contact fluorescence imaging, and sensory evaluation in model and real food matrices. These complementary approaches will be used to establish links between material architecture, environmental responsiveness, and functionality in food systems.
• The PhD researcher will also be expected to develop experience beyond the core laboratory work through research visits and training with collaborating groups, including opportunities in the UK and Germany within the secondments planned for the candidate. These activities will provide experience in advanced characterisation, aerogelation, and the translation of fundamental findings into food applications.
• This Doctoral Candidate is expected to add an oral-processing dimension to FAroGels, providing next-generation materials that complement sensory control and align with the structural innovations.

• The position will involve laboratory-based research, data analysis, scientific communication and close collaboration with other FAroGels Doctoral Candidates, supervisors and partner organizations.

Main Responsibilities:

The Doctoral Candidate will be expected to:

• Conduct research on material science and food technology.
• Plan, perform, document and analyse experimental work using relevant laboratory, analytical, processing and/or modelling methods.
• Participate actively in FAroGels network meetings, workshops, training schools, seminars and transferable-skills activities.
• Undertake planned secondments at FAroGels partner organisations, as specified for the DC project.
• Work collaboratively with academic and non-academic partners across the FAroGels network.
• Prepare scientific reports, project deliverables, presentations, publications and, where relevant, other dissemination or exploitation-related outputs.

Requirements

• Educational Background: Master’s degree (or equivalent) in food technology, materials science, chemistry, biomaterials, or polymer science.
• Skills: Strong laboratory and analytical skills, with experience in experimental characterisation and quantitative analysis of soft, porous or hydrated materials. We are looking for a curious and proactive researcher with strong scientific thinking, a genuine enthusiasm for learning, and the confidence to explore unfamiliar methods and challenges. The ability and motivation to work across disciplines, learn independently, and pursue new ideas are highly valued.
• Languages: Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is required.
• Strong motivation to pursue doctoral research in an international and interdisciplinary environment.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to collaborative research activities.
• Good organization, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel for planned secondments, network meetings and training activities.
• Commitment to responsible research conduct, inclusion, collegiality and professional development.

Salary and Financial Package

This position is funded by the FAroGels MSCA Doctoral Network (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01, Grant Agreement No. 101312450). The salary is based on the following monthly MSCA allowances:

• Living allowance: EUR 4,010, adjusted by the country correction coefficient of the country of the recruiting organisation to ensure equal treatment and comparable purchasing power for all researchers (CCC of Finland = 118.0%).
• Mobility allowance: EUR 710, contributing to mobility-related costs such as relocation and travel.
• Family allowance (if applicable): EUR 660, paid for the months in which the Doctoral Candidate has a family during the project, including where family obligations arise after recruitment. ‘Family’ means persons linked to the researcher by marriage (or a relationship with equivalent status recognised by the legislation of the country where it was formalised) or dependent children actually being maintained by the researcher. The allowance is paid in accordance with the rules of the recruiting organisation, and supporting documents may be requested.

Please note: the amounts above represent the total employment cost, from which the employer’s and the employee’s compulsory social-security contributions and taxes are deducted in accordance with national law. Unless the recruiting organisation provides additional funding, the gross salary paid to the Doctoral Candidate is therefore lower than these amounts, and the net salary depends on personal circumstances.

Application Procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted through the University of Helsinki’s recruitment system via the Apply Now button no later than 9 December 2026 (23:59 EET).

• Application deadline: 09 December 2026, 23:59 (EET)
• Expected interview period: January 2027
• Evaluation period: February 2027
• Expected selection outcome: February 2027
• Expected recruitment / start date: March 2027 (earliest)

Application Documents

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing the following documents in English:

• A detailed curriculum vitae (CV), including education, research experience, technical skills and relevant achievements.

Note: It is important to document clearly in your CV that you fulfil the first two MSCA Doctoral Network eligibility criteria (mentioned above), including the doctoral candidate status and mobility rule.

• A motivation letter explaining your interest in this specific DC position, your relevant background and your suitability for the project.
• Copies of Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas and academic transcripts, or evidence that the relevant degree will be completed before the recruitment date.
• Contact details for two referees and/or reference letters, according to the requirements of University of Helsinki.
• Proof of English-language proficiency, where required by the University of Helsinki.
• Concise written responses to the four questions below. These responses are intended to assess the applicant’s scientific understanding, analytical thinking, and potential to work in a multidisciplinary doctoral research project. Relevant references/citations are required. References are not included in the word limit.

1. Aerogels and cryogels: Explain the main differences between aerogels and cryogels, including how their formation processes influence their structure and properties, and why these differences may be relevant to food applications. (Maximum 200 words)
2. Characterisation of porous and soft materials: Describe approaches that can be used to characterise the structure, porosity, hydration/moisture response, and mechanical properties of porous or hydrated soft materials. Explain briefly what information the selected approaches provide. (Maximum 300 words)
3. Critical thinking and problem solving: Describe how you would approach an unexpected, contradictory, or unsuccessful experimental result during your doctoral research. Where possible, provide an example from your previous experience. (Maximum 300 words)
4. Experimental design and scientific reasoning: Consider two fibre-based aerogels with similar composition but different pore network structures, where one produces a smoother mouthfeel than the other. How would you design experiments to investigate the mechanisms responsible for this difference? (Maximum 200 words)

Applications that do not include all four responses, or that do not follow the specified requirements, will not be considered.

• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Selection Process

FAroGels follows an open, transparent and merit-based recruitment process in line with the European Charter for Researchers:

• Eligibility check by the FAroGels Project Manager.

• Evaluation of the eligible applications by an Interview Committee (primary supervisor, co- supervisor(s) and a representative of a non-academic partner) with a standardised scoring matrix; the three to five best-ranked candidates are shortlisted.

• Online interview with the shortlisted candidates.

• Approval of the selection by the FAroGels Supervisory Board, after which an offer is made.

All applicants are informed of the outcome and receive feedback on request.

Equal opportunities and Data Protection

• University of Helsinki is committed to equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion. Applications from all qualified candidates are welcome, irrespective of gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnic or social origin, nationality, disability, age, religion or belief.
• Personal data submitted as part of the application will be processed by University of Helsinki exclusively for recruitment purposes and in accordance with applicable data-protection legislation and institutional privacy policies.

Contact Information

For scientific questions regarding the DC project, please contact:

Saman Sabet, Dr, Supervisor

Department of Food and Nutrition

University of Helsinki

saman.sabet@helsinki.fi

For questions regarding the application process and/or PhD admission and enrolment, please contact:

Karen Sims-Huopaniemi, Doctoral Programme Team Specialist/Senior Advisor

University of Helsinki

karen.sims-huopaniemi@helsinki.fi

For questions related to the recruitment system, please contact HR Services via recruitment@helsinki.fi

About Us

The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry is located on the Viikki campus. The mission of the faculty is to promote the sustainable use of renewable natural resources through scientific research and research-based teaching. We focus on agricultural and forest sciences, food and nutrition, microbiology, as well as on economics and management. We cover the full natural resource chain from farm to fork, the entire field of forest sciences from soil chemistry to marketing, as well as the environmental effects of related activities. Graduates from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry are versatile experts in agriculture and food and forest sectors. www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-agriculture-and-forestry

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