School of Chemical Engineering

Would you like to make an impact on the more sustainable future?

We are solving challenges related to the sustainable use of natural resources, the circular economy and a clean environment.

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Campaigning for a better future

Aalto’s research and innovations impact your everyday life. Whether it’s a breakthrough in detecting memory disorders, a sustainable alternative to cement, or turning ideas into startups, you too are connected to Aalto – and have many reasons to donate. 

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Spotlight

Paula Nybergh. Black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman with short hair, glasses and a light jacket over a dark top.

Paula Nybergh Donates to innovation activities of Aalto's Bioinnovation Center

Erdal Aydin

Erdal Aydin has been appointed as a fixed term Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

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Iina Vaajamo appointed to a five-year fixed-term Assistant Professorship at the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

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Rodrigo Serna-Guerrero appointed Dean of the Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering

Sahar

Turning forest industry side streams into sustainable materials

News

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Campus, Cooperation, Press releases Published:

Applications open: Aalto Creatives pre-incubator autumn 2026

The next Aalto Creatives pre-incubator starts in September. Applications close on 7 September. Join the info event on 27 August to hear from alumni and meet the Aalto Creatives team.
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Studies Published:

Aalto University admitted 2126 new students to BSc programmes taught in Finnish or in Swedish

New students were also selected through the open university pathway and transfer application
Paula Nybergh. Black-and-white portrait of a smiling woman with short hair, glasses and a light jacket over a dark top.
Cooperation Published:

Paula Nybergh Donates to innovation activities of Aalto's Bioinnovation Center

Our alumna, Paula Nybergh, with a Licentiate of Science (Technology) and an honorary Doctor of Science (Technology), has made a significant donation to support the innovation activities of the Bioinnovation Center.
Erdal Aydin
Appointments Published:

Erdal Aydin has been appointed as a fixed term Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

PhD Erdal Aydin has been appointed as a five year fixed-term Associate Professor at the Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering as of 1 September 2026. The field of the professorship is Control and Automation of Chemical Processes.
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Events

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Efficient catalysts for clean hydrogen production and hydrogen fuel cells
Public defences –

Public defence, Chemistry and Materials Science, MSc Benjin Jin

Efficient catalysts for clean hydrogen production and hydrogen fuel cells
Fluorescence microscopy image of yeast cells stained with Calcofluor White (cyan) and Nile Red (green).
Public defences –

Public defence, Biotechnology, MSc An Nguyen

Enhancing yeast chitin production: From targeted engineering to adaptive evolution
Doctoral hat floating above a speaker's podium with a microphone.
Public defences –

Public defence, Processing of Materials, MSc Iida Pankka

Thermophysical properties of refractory materials in copper smelting
Doctoral hat floating above a speaker's podium with a microphone.
Public defences –

Public defence, Bioproduct Technology, MSc (Tech) Saija Rantanen

Cellulose reactivity: Assessment and applications
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Our students and alumni

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Join us at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering!

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More than the degree | Aalto Blogs (external link)

Departments

We advance sustainable solutions and breakthroughs by scientific and engineering excellence.

The research at the School of Chemical Engineering focuses on forest products technologies, chemical engineering, industrial biotechnology, materials science and nanotechnology, metals and minerals processing and energy technology.

Lignocellulose samples by Mohamed Magd. Photo: Valeria Azovskaya

Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems

Enabling bio and circular economy

Researchers in the lab

Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering

Sustainable future with high performance products

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Department of Chemistry and Materials Science

World-class materials research

We are enthusiastic about...

What if logo
Structural colors
Color from wood

What if we had wood-based colours that never faded?

The color is nontoxic, produced 100% from wood, and can be industrially and economically produced.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/structuralcolor

Structural colors
Color from wood
Metal coating

What if the colour of your jeans grew in your garden?

We explore how to produce and utilise natural dyes derived from plants in a sustainable way.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/willowbark

Color from wood
Metal coating
Fish scales

What if metals could be protected with wood?

In its pure, additive-free form, lignin coatings have already been proven to be effective in minimising the corrosion of metal surfaces.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/metal-coating

Metal coating
Fish scales
3D arm bone

What if solar cells could be made out of fish scales?

We are exploring how natural materials like wood or organic byproducts –  or even waste like fish scales – could be used for solar cells.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/fish-scales

Fish scales
3D arm bone
Bacterial cellulose in bowl on a yellow backround

What if you could 3D print custom bone implants?

Thanks to 3D printing, we can manufacture individualized, custom implants that enhance bone growth and degrade as the patient heals.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/3d-bones

3D arm bone
Bacterial cellulose in bowl on a yellow backround
Cow hair

What if bandages could be grown by bacteria?

Although some bacterial colonies can threaten human life, bacteria can be used to produce essential molecules and materials like bacterial cellulose.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/bacterial-cellulose

Bacterial cellulose in bowl on a yellow backround
Cow hair
Ioncell wood textile

What if cattle all over the world were eating Finnish wood?

Microcrystalline cellulose is truly a power food for ruminants, and so it could be used to raise the caloric density of animal feed.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/aalto-cell

Cow hair
Ioncell wood textile
Beakers

What if the textiles of the future are growing in Finnish forests?

Ioncell, a fibre woven from cellulose, is a strong contender as a sustainable alternative to cotton and polyester.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/ioncell

Ioncell wood textile
Beakers
Black stain

What if chemists were also programmers?

When modelling chemical engineering processes, programming skills are essential – and understanding programming basics is an asset in many other tasks as well. 

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/chem

Beakers
Black stain
What if logo

What if every engineer thought like an artist?

Breaking out of one’s own bubble challenges the brain and changes attitudes. This is why arts courses at Aalto are available to everyone.

https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/take5-1

Black stain
What if logo
Structural colors

At Aalto University, we believe in the power of curiosity. We encourage our students and staff to explore the unknown, learn and do things in completely new ways – to break boundaries together.

See more projects at: https://www.whatif.aalto.fi/

Collaborate with us

We cooperate with the business world and host numerous competence centres.
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Careers

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Open positions

Looking for a job at Aalto University? See our open positions.

At work

Tenure track

Aalto University’s tenure track career system offers a well-supported and clear career path for professor-level academics towards a permanent professorship.

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