Maija Pohjakallio, Metsä Group’s Leading Climate and Circularity Expert, has been appointed Professor of Practice at the University of Turku’s Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering for a five-year term beginning September 1, 2026.
The part-time appointment runs through August 31, 2031. Pohjakallio will continue in her current role at Metsä Group. Her appointment is intended to strengthen collaboration between the company and the university, connecting research, education and industrial practice.
Her areas of expertise include the circular economy and polymer materials.
Connecting circular economy research and practice
Pohjakallio identifies fragmented ways of working across society as a significant obstacle to advancing the circular economy. She said new models of collaboration among stakeholders are needed to overcome those barriers.
“The Professor of Practice position enables me to engage with the academic community, while my work at Metsä keeps me grounded in industrial practice,” Pohjakallio said.
Kati Miettunen, Professor of Materials Engineering at the University of Turku, said access to current practical knowledge is essential to developing teaching and research. She highlighted Pohjakallio’s experience in both industry and research, along with her understanding of business needs and operating conditions in Finland and across Europe.
At the University of Turku, Professor of Practice appointments bring experienced professionals from different sectors into academia and strengthen the university’s contribution to society.
Experience across industry and research
Pohjakallio joined Metsä Group in 2021. She previously held positions at Sulapac, VTT and the Chemical Industry Federation of Finland, as well as research and teaching roles.
She received her doctorate in Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry from Helsinki University of Technology, now part of Aalto University, in 1996.
Metsä Group is a Finnish forest industry group whose parent company, Metsäliitto Cooperative, is owned by approximately 90,000 forest owners. Its businesses include pulp, paperboard, tissue and greaseproof papers, wood products, and wood supply and forest services. In 2025, the group reported sales of €5.8 billion and employed approximately 8,800 people.
