Alan SchulmanView profile
Research Professor
Alan Schulman is a Research Professor and Research Director at the Institute of Biotechnology within the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki. He serves as a supervisor in three doctoral programs: Integrative Life Science, Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources, and Plant Sciences. His work is centered at the Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS), where he leads significant research initiatives in plant genomics and biotechnology. Dr. Schulman earned his Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from Yale University (1979-1986) and his B.Sc. in Botany from Duke University (1975-1979). He also holds a position as Professor at the Natural Resources Institute Finland, Green Technology Unit VITE, since 2001. His research spans multiple areas of plant science with a focus on plant genomics, crop improvement, and the application of biotechnology in agriculture. Dr. Schulman's work addresses critical challenges in food security, plant disease resistance, and adaptation to climate change. His expertise encompasses plant genetics, molecular biology, and the regulatory aspects of genetically modified organisms. Recent research has particularly emphasized genomic approaches to improve crops like faba bean, barley, oat, and strawberry, with applications in disease resistance, nutritional quality, and environmental adaptation. Dr. Schulman's extensive publication record reflects his leadership in plant genomics and biotechnology. His recent work demonstrates a strong focus on the intersection of genomic technologies, crop improvement, and regulatory science, with particular attention to how new genomic techniques can address agricultural challenges while navigating complex regulatory landscapes. His research bridges fundamental plant science with practical applications for sustainable agriculture. Knight, First Class, Order of the Lion of Finland (2010) Marquis Who's Who in the World (2010) Dr. Schulman actively mentors doctoral students across multiple programs and leads significant research projects funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Academy of Finland, and other sources. His current projects include Schulman MMM 2022-2026, ViPS: Viikki Plant Science Centre, NaPPI (National Plant Phenotyping Infrastructure), ProFaba (focusing on faba bean breeding), and Papugeno (genomic tools for faba bean improvement). These projects address critical challenges in sustainable protein production, crop resilience, and advanced genomic technologies for plant improvement. As a Principal Investigator in the Viikki Plant Science Centre, Dr. Schulman works within a collaborative research environment that brings together experts across plant sciences. His research group focuses on applying genomic technologies to solve practical problems in crop improvement, with particular expertise in molecular marker development, genome analysis, and the application of new breeding techniques.








