PhD in Sustainable Wood Densification, Durability and Fire Performance of Veneer-Based Products Tallinn University of Technology in

TalTech (Tallinn University of Technology) is advertising a PhD opportunity in wood technology, materials science, chemical engineering, and environmental science through the Laboratory of Wood Technology / Department of Materials and Environmental Technology.

The project is titled “Enhancement of the Durability and Fire Performance of Veneer-Based Products Through Sustainable Wood Densification Process.” It focuses on developing sustainable densification methods to improve the durability, dimensional stability, moisture resistance, and fire performance of underutilized hardwoods and veneer-based products. The research combines green chemistry, fire-retardant pretreatment, low-temperature densification, materials characterization, and performance testing.

Key research themes include: environmentally friendly fire-retardant pretreatment of veneers, optimization of the densification process, sustainable utilization of underutilized wood species, durability evaluation (swelling, shrinking, spring back), and fire performance analysis. The post also highlights experimental work on surface roughness, contact angle, tensile and flexural tests, fire testing, structural characterization, and data analysis/statistics.

Eligibility highlights: applicants should hold a Master’s degree in wood technology, wood science, materials technology and science, wood chemistry, forestry, or a related field. They should be familiar with wood chemistry, wood technology, or composite material technology and be able to work independently. Strong English communication, analytical skills, writing ability, and interest in the topic are required. Experience with durability/fire testing, structural characterization, R, and data visualization is beneficial.

Funding/terms: the position is a 4-year PhD appointment. The post mentions conference visits, research stays, and networking opportunities, but does not specify stipend amount or tuition coverage.

Application info: the post asks candidates to submit a research plan including the overall research and data collection strategy. For further information, contact Prof. Heikko Kallakas at [email protected]. No explicit deadline is stated in the post.