The job description is currently only available in English

We are a leading research organisation in the area wood and wood-related renewable resources in Europe.

Climate change is altering forest composition and wood properties, requiring new strategies to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the pulp and paper industry. This paid Master’s thesis focuses on evaluating new and alternative wood species and adapting kraft pulping conditions to produce high-quality, plastic-replacing pulp. This paid Master’s thesis offers hands-on research experience at the interface of process engineering, materials science, and industrial kraft pulping, in close collaboration with Wood K plus, Mondi, TU Graz, and BPTI.

Master´s Thesis – 40h/week (f/m/d)
Starting: June | July 2026 (3 – 6 months)

Your responsibility:

• Experimental testing of new wood species for kraft pulping suitability
• Pulping experiments using the Mondi Cycle Digester (pilot digester) at TU Graz
• Optimisation of key process parameters (H-Factor, pre-steaming, liquor-to-wood ratio, additives)
• Analysis of pulp structure and quality for high-performance applications

Your qualification:

• Interest in experimental work and sustainable materials is expected. This thesis is particularly suitable for students of:
  • Process Engineering
  • Advanced Materials Science
  • Physics
  • Technical Chemistry
• Independent, structured, responsible and accurate way of working

Your benefits:

• Flexible and family friendly working hours (flexitime, time off, home office)
• An international, motivated team and a highly active scientific environment
• Work in an industry-related project
• Modern laboratories and pilot plants
• Start of work – June | July 2026
• Gross monthly salary based on 40h/week from EUR 551,00 (14 x per year)

Academic supervision:

Prof. Dr. U. Hirn
BPTI – Institute for Bioproducts and Paper Technology, TU Graz

Place of employment:

Graz, TU Graz Inffeldgasse Campus

Contact:

DIⁱⁿ Dr. ⁱⁿ techn. Alexandra Serebrennikova
TU Graz – Inffeldgasse 23, Graz

Please send your application via e-mail to: a.serebrennikova@wood-kplus.at