Master's thesis worker, Innovation and AI

Would you like to join a global, growing company that innovates for a more sustainable tomorrow? UPM could be the team for you. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Besides enabling both businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, we strive to create a positive UPM experience for all our employees around the world. We live by our values – trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage. Together we can renew the everyday, for a future beyond fossils!

Learn more about us as a workplace upm.com/careers

We are looking for a Master’s Thesis Worker, Innovation and AI to join our UPM Global Functions team in Lappeenranta or Helsinki. This is a full-time, fixed-term position for six months, offering an excellent opportunity to contribute to R&D, innovation, and AI-related development work while completing your master's thesis.

Greetings from your future manager

“Are you at the final stage of your studies and looking for a master's thesis project in the areas of R&D, innovation, and AI? Do you enjoy combining technology and business development questions? If so, we have a great opportunity for your master's thesis. We are looking for a development-oriented, diligent, and creative individual to assist us in an interesting study. We look forward to hearing from you!” – Pia Nilsson, Director

What you will do

• Explore and evaluate how AI is utilized in innovation and R&D processes
• Compare AI and traditional tools in a specific process
• Develop a concept for best practice based on scientific literature and your own research

Who you are

• You are on the thesis phase of your studies. The study area should be Industrial Engineering and Management with Data analytics or equivalent
• You have practical experience in working with AI agents and tools at R&D
• You have experience in PowerBI, Python, SQL and AI tools including CoPilot studio
• You have excellent written and good spoken skills in English
• You have a positive and curious mindset with a highly co-operative approach

This is what we offer to you

• A meaningful job: We have an inspiring purpose “We renew the everyday for a future beyond fossils”. Our work is impactful and transformative.
• A caring community: Our community is built on great team spirit and shared commitment. We care about each other and the well-being of our colleagues. We support the work-life balance of all our employees.
• Development opportunities: We offer you great opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career. We are an international, multi-business organization offering plenty of avenues for personal growth.
• Responsible employer: Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to ambitious, science-based sustainability targets in all areas, from climate change mitigation to enhancing biodiversity. We foster diversity and inclusivity, offering a work environment in which everyone can be themselves.

Learn about our Rewarding and our Ways of working.

Additional information about the position

The position holder will report to Director, AI Transformation R&D, UPM Innovation.

For further information about the role, please contact Pia Nilsson, Director, AI Transformation, UPM Innovation at [email protected] or tel. +358405587829 on Monday, October 5 at 14-15 EET.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by October 11, 2026. Please note that we accept only applications submitted through our online application system. We begin reviewing applications as they are received, and you may be contacted before the application deadline.

For support with submitting your application, please contact the HR Services team through the UPM Service Portal or tel.  +358204146600.

Country-specific information

For UPM positions located in Finland, a security background check may be performed for those selected in accordance with the company recruitment guidelines and the Security Clearance Act 726/2014.

Technology

We innovate the responsible growth of tomorrow – for UPM, for society. Innovation and technology are at the core of UPM's strategy. We are committed to exploring new ideas and leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance our products and processes, with a strong focus on market trends and customer insights.

We sit at the intersection of research and business, partnering with the business areas to turn possibilities into solutions that support our strategic ambition, deliver real impact, and shape our future. Our global corporate R&D centers are in Finland (Lappeenranta), Germany (Leuna) and China (Changshu).

Follow UPM on X | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram

#UPM #materialsolutions #WeRenewTheEveryday

#LI-DNI