Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems
Enabling bio and circular economy
The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems (Bio2) is at the forefront of forest products technologies and cutting-edge biotechnology.
Ultimately, the activities in Bio2 result in innovative products and solutions for applications ranging from construction and textiles to biomaterials, energy and biomedicine.
Head of Department is Monika Österberg. Research group's website and contact information
Vice Head is Markus Linder. Research group's website and contact information
Vice Head is Lauri Rautkari. Research group's website and contact information
The HR Partner for the department is Noora Katisko.

Research
The research in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems focuses on products derived from nature through green chemistry or biotechnological methods. Our department’s core competencies include synthetic biology, biochemical and biotechnical processing, the chemistry of lignocellulosic materials, pre-treatment and fractionation of biomass, downstream unit operations as well as the characterization and analysis of materials.
BIO2 is internationally recognised for its multidisciplinary engineering education development in digitalised and online learning environments.
Professors
Biobased Colloids and Materials (BiCMat)
Group led by Professor Orlando Rojas

Biobased Materials Technology
Group led by Professor Thaddeus Maloney

Biochemistry
Group led by Professor Silvan Scheller

Biohybrid Materials
Group led by Professor Mauri Kostiainen

Biomolecular materials
Group led by Professor Markus Linder

Biopolymer Chemistry and Engineering
Group led by Professor Michael Hummel

Bioproduct Chemistry
Group led by Professor Monika Österberg

Bioproduct Technology
Group led by Professor Juha Lipponen

Clean Technologies
Group led by Professor Olli Dahl

Lignocellulose chemistry
Group led by Professor Tiina Nypelö

Materials Chemistry of Cellulose
Group led by Professor Eero Kontturi
Paper Converting and Packaging
Group led by Professor Jouni Paltakari

Protein Technology
Group led by Professor Emma Master

Soft Materials Modelling
Group led by Senior Scientist Maria Sammalkorpi

Textile Chemistry
Group led by Professor Ali Tehrani

Wood Chemistry
Group led by Professor Tapani Vuorinen

Wood Material Science
Group led by Professor Lauri Rautkari

Wood Material Technology
Group led by Professor Mark Hughes

Research group leaders
Circular Biobased Materials
Led by Senior Scientist Bruno Mattos

Biobased Materials Structure
Group led by Research Fellow Paavo Penttilä

Biological Engineered Living Materials
Group led by Research Fellow Rahul Mangayil

Photoactive Organic Materials
Group led by Research Fellow Eduardo Anaya

Protein engineering
Group led by Senior Scientist Sesilja Aranko

Wood extractives
Headed by Academy Research Fellow Jinze Dou

Emeritus research groups
Biorefineries
Group led by Emeritus Professor Herbert Sixta

Printing Technology
Group led by Emeritus Professor Patrick Gane

Infrastructures
Research infrastructure
We develop local and global networks

AALTOLAB (external link)
AALTOLAB is a virtual laboratory safety training platform developed at Aalto University. AALTOLAB helps both students and staff to maintain high-level safety standards in our laboratories.

Contact information for lecturers and research groups
Contact information for the research groups
Here you can find the contact information for the research groups.

Contact information for the teaching staff
Here you can find contact information for teaching staff in the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems.

Collaboration
See all the Aalto CHEM collaboration projects here
Key Research Area: Materials and sustainable use of natural resources
Materials research ranges from physics, nanotechnology, mechanics, performance and design to biomaterials and sustainable resource use.

CHEMARTS (external link)
CHEMARTS website

Circular Design Innovation (external link)
Strategies for circular design – design out waste and innovate for longer product lifetime.

ClicInnovation (external link)
Solution Architect for Global Bioeconomy and Cleantech Opportunities

FinnCERES
FinnCERES, competence center for materials bioeconomy, is a Flagship for our sustainable future.

INNPAPER (external link)
Paper is rising as a good alternative to traditional materials for electronics: it is cheap, flexible, renewable and recyclable.

Ioncell-F
Ioncell-F technology developed at Aalto University in collaboration with the University of Helsinki converts wood into textiles without any harmful chemicals.

Research cooperation
The Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems works collaboratively with strong partners from industry and academia.

ValueBioMat (external link)
ValueBioMat is a project funded by the Strategic Research Council (SRC) at the Academy of Finland.


Are you interested in studying at the School of Chemical Engineering? Here are our Bioproducts and Biosystems programmes:
- Aalto Bachelor's Programme in Science and Technology:
- Master's Programme in Chemical, Biochemical and Materials Engineering:
- Joint Master's Programmes:
- Joint international Master's Programmes:
See all our school's programmes
- Doctoral studies: Aalto Doctoral Programme in Chemical Engineering
Moving to Finland
Here new students and employees can find useful tips for a smooth moving.
We also gathered information about families and recreational activities.
Moving to Finland
Via this page you’ll find information on practical issues regarding moving to Finland, such as social security, taxation and opening a bank account.
For families and spouses
Moving to Finland? Here you can learn more about practicalities.

Finding a private rental
For longer term accommodation in Helsinki region the best options are either renting or purchasing an apartment or a house. In case you are planning to purchase an apartment we recommend you to contact your bank and/or estate agencies to gain professional assistance and advice. Here you'll find information on renting an apartment, rental rates, and how to find an apartment.

Social life and recreation
Having social networks helps you feel at home! Aalto University organises many events and other possibilities for international staff and their families to meet and mingle and thus hopefully settle in smoothly. Some examples are Experiencing Finland and Aalto Club events. In addition, we have collected tips and links for you to find the most suitable information.

Get to know us:
Paula Jouhten seeks to replace oil-based chemistry by controlling the physiology of microbial cells
Paula Jouhten, D.Sc., started her five-year fixed-term professorship at the Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems at the beginning of 2022. Jouhten leads the Microbial Physiology research group at Aalto University.

Alexander Frey wants to cut health costs with specialised yeast
The Professor of Molecular biotechnology has harnessed a hardy workforce for tasks such as manufacturing cheap medicines and biofuels.

Curiosity is a pathway to science
Researchers are shaping the future. If you want to become a researcher, it is important to be curious and question everything, says Professor Silvan Scheller.

Eero Kontturi: The most important skill for a researcher is the desire to read and write
Professor of Materials Chemistry of Cellulose relaxes by reading scientific articles and makes no distinction between work and free time.

Get to know us: Professor Olli Dahl
Saving the environment via businesses.

Mixing people
Mixing people with different backgrounds is a nutrient for creativity, says professor Tapani Vuorinen.

Get to know us: Associate Professor Michael Hummel
Fascination for wood and Finland.

Michael Hummel: Sustainable and renewable materials will replace oil-based products
Researchers need to be team players, says Professor of Biopolymer Chemistry and Engineering.

Monika Österberg develops from wood a contender to oil
Associate Professor of Bioproduct Chemistry Monika Österberg wants to see her innovations change the world.

Nurturing the passion for research - Interviewing Associate Professor Ali Tehrani
Associate professor Ali Tehrani, who works at Aalto University's School of Chemical Engineering Bioproducts and Biosystems Department, has an impressive background in textile research already before joining Aalto. And he also enjoys guiding and supporting his students in their research and careers.

Revolutionising the bio-based industry
An interview of the new Professor of Practice Juha Lipponen from the School of Chemical Engineering.

Teaching and providing “aha!” experiences motivate our new Vice Dean of Education Jouni Paltakari
Paltakari wants to show all the incredible things we can do with chemical engineering. At the very core of all of our actions are sustainable development and problem solving.

News

At the frontiers of combining physics and biology: Workshop photo gallery and participant experiences
This three-day, international event included talks, poster presentations, and cross-disciplinary collaborationIs wood brown, blue, yellow, or transparent? Researchers discovered ways to make transparent and colourful coatings from wood
Researchers have succeeded in developing new types of coatings from lignin in trees. The invention has many potential uses, for example in anti-fogging coatings, where it can replace highly toxic chemicals.
Completing a doctoral degree alongside work – the thesis opened the doors to the product and technology development of a deep-tech company
Karita Kinnunen-Raudaskoski and Jani Lehmonen have both graduated as doctors of chemical engineering from Aalto University and for them, writing a doctoral thesis alongside regular work meant long hours but was also highly rewarding.
Register for training in research data management and open science
New topics included! Registrations for autumn 2023 are open.Events

Introduction to Research Data Management, Oct 3, 2023
Get to know the basics of RDM with Data Agent Dr. Essi Viitanen from Research Services.
Data Management Plans: Online workshop for early-career researchers, Oct 4, 2023
Learn about DMPs with Information Specialist Lucie Hradecká and Staff Scientist & Data Agent Dr. Enrico Glerean.
Data Management Plans: On-site workshop for early-career researchers, Oct 5, 2023
Learn about DMPs with Information Specialist Lucie Hradecká and Staff Scientist & Data Agent Dr. Enrico Glerean.
AI and Research Work, Oct 10, 2023
Learn about AI's impact on research work with Staff Scientist & Data Agent Dr. Enrico Glerean and Data Agent Dr. Pedro Silva.Related videos
Where to find us
Vuorimiehentie 1
Aalto Bioproduct Centre

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