Find Academic Supervisors

Niko Rainer JohanssonView profile

Researcher

• Biodiversity
• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• +5 more

Niko Rainer Johansson is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Grant-funded researcher at the Botany and Mycology Unit of the Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki. His work centers on biodiversity mechanisms and organismal dispersal, with institutional affiliation under Finland's national natural history infrastructure. His research expertise spans: Biodiversity conservation frameworks Evolutionary ecology of cryptogams Lichen symbiosis systems Algal and fungal biogeography Avian-mediated dispersal processes Environmental DNA methodology Current publication trends reveal intensive focus on molecular analysis of bird-transported propagules, particularly examining how avian migration vectors shape fungal, algal, and bryophyte distributions. His work integrates DNA metabarcoding with microscopy to address biogeographical patterns in cryptogamic organisms under changing migration dynamics. Scientific awards: No awards documented in source materials. Research funding includes: Principal Investigator role in "Evolutionary innovations of Fungi in modern and fossil resins" (2021-2025) Ministry-funded DNA barcoding projects for algae classification (2024-2025) EU-supported research on pathogen dispersal resilience (2025-2028) Collaborations extend across Finnish institutions and international networks in mycology and phycology. Active community engagement includes conference presentations at the International Botanical Congress (2024), International Mycological Congress (2024), and specialized workshops on lichen photobionts, demonstrating leadership in contemporary biodiversity research forums.

Otso OvaskainenView profile

Professor

• Ecological Modeling
• Metapopulation Biology
• Movement Ecology
• +4 more

Professor Otso Ovaskainen holds a permanent position at the University of Helsinki , where he serves as Research Director in the Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Program. He is also a Visiting Professor at a Norwegian Centre of Excellence since 2014. Supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Wildlife Biology Established the Research Center for Ecological Change (REC) with 60+ members ERC Starting Grant recipient (2008-2013) Research Interests: Ovaskainen bridges mathematical theory with empirical ecology, focusing on metapopulation dynamics, movement ecology, and statistical community ecology. His work integrates: Ecological theory with data Individual-based modeling Fungal community dynamics Probabilistic taxonomic placement Environmental DNA analysis Multi-species movement modeling Scientific Leadership: He has led major projects including the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Metapopulation Research (2015-2017) and the LIFEPLAN biodiversity inventory project (2020-2026). His HMSC modeling framework remains a benchmark in joint species distribution modeling.

Jenna PurhonenView profile

Researcher

• Fungal Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Community Ecology
• +3 more

Jenna Purhonen is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science , part of the Faculty of Mathematics and Science at the University of Jyväskylä . Her work focuses on fungal ecology, conservation biology, and forest ecosystem dynamics. Fields of Interest: Fungal community ecology, conservation biology, dead wood organisms, forest management impacts Research Trends across her publications reveal expertise in fungal dispersal mechanisms, DNA-based monitoring, lichen responses to forestry practices, and interdisciplinary frameworks for planetary well-being. Key methodologies include metabarcoding, spatial analysis, and standardized biodiversity datasets. Research Group: Collaborates with the Predictive Community Ecology Group , co-led by Nerea Abrego and Otso Ovaskainen, focusing on fungal dynamics and conservation strategies.

Sonja SaineView profile

Researcher

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Community Ecology
• +4 more

Sonja Saine is a Postdoctoral researcher at the University of Helsinki , affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme . Her research focuses on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology , particularly fungal community assembly and conservation strategies. Contact: sonja.saine@helsinki.fi Address: P.O 27 (Latokartanonkaari 5), 00014 University of Helsinki Research Interests: Sonja investigates stochasticity in fungal communities, priority effects in community dynamics, and conservation translocation principles for threatened species. Her work integrates field experiments with DNA-based survey methods to understand ecological processes in wood-inhabiting fungi. Recent Publications (2025–2018): Key studies include priority effects in fungal assembly, natural vs restored deadwood fungal diversity, and conservation translocation guidelines. Current projects involve ERC-funded research on fungal biodiversity predictability (2024–2028). Scientific Activities: Active in conferences (Nordic Society OIKOS, DNA Barcoding conferences), editorial work, and international collaborations, including academic visits to Stanford University .

• Freshwater Ecology
• Hydrology
• Sediment Transport
• +4 more

Virpi Pajunen serves as a Visitor (Faculty) in the Water and Environmental Engineering group within the Department of Built Environment at Aalto University's School of Engineering. Her research focuses on environmental processes in sub-arctic freshwater systems, particularly examining ice dynamics, sediment transport, and ecological responses to climate change. Education: Doctoral degree in Natural Sciences from University of Helsinki (awarded 17 April 2018) Master's degree in Natural Sciences from University of Helsinki (awarded 3 November 2010) Research Focus: Dr. Pajunen specializes in sub-arctic hydrology and freshwater ecology , investigating how ice cover, low-flow conditions, and sediment transport interact in high-latitude river systems. Her work integrates particle image velocimetry for sediment modeling and examines diatom community responses to environmental stressors, with strong emphasis on climate change impacts in vulnerable Arctic regions. Publication Trends: Her 2023-2024 publications reveal a cohesive research trajectory centered on sub-arctic aquatic systems , demonstrating interdisciplinary approaches combining hydrology, ecology, and biogeochemistry. Key themes include ice-river interactions, microbial community assembly under land use pressure, and trace element dynamics in extreme environments, all contributing to understanding climate change impacts on freshwater resources. Scientific Awards: No awards were documented in the provided information. Grants and Collaboration: Currently a project member in the Academy of Finland-funded "Defrosting sedimentary systems" (2021-2026), led by E. Lotsari, investigating permafrost thaw effects on high-latitude rivers. No student advisement activities were reported. Research Environment: Collaborates with international teams across hydrology, ecology, and geosciences disciplines, as evidenced by multi-institutional publications. Her work operates within Aalto University's Water and Environmental Engineering infrastructure, focusing on field measurements and computational modeling of Arctic river systems.

Tuomas AiveloView profile

Research Fellow

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Parasitology
• +5 more

Tuomas Aivelo is a Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki , affiliated with the Faculty of Science . He serves as a supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Wildlife Biology and is associated with the Helsinki One Health (HOH) , Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) , and Institute for Urban Studies (Urbaria) . Research: Ecology and evolutionary biology of pathogens/parasites, urban ecology, biology didactics. Teaching: Leads Introduction to Biology Teaching course, lectures on parasite ecology, urban ecology, science communication. Projects: Leads Helsinki Urban Rat Project (studying rat pathogens and urban coexistence) and collaborates on citizen science initiatives. Research Trends: Recent articles focus on urban ecology , parasite dynamics , and science education , with interdisciplinary work bridging ecology , public health , and pedagogy . Scientific Awards: Silver Merit Award of the Finnish Association of Biology and Geography Teachers (2017) J.V. Snellman Award (2019) Honorary Mention from the Lauri Jäntti Foundation (2019) Honorary Member of Symbioosi Association (May 2022) Tieto-Finlandia Award Nomination (2018) Advising: Supervises master’s theses and co-supervised doctoral research on rodenticide resistance. Engaged in Biology Olympiad and Explore-Try-Develop competition. Labs & Teams: Affiliated with the Global Change and Conservation Lab and collaborates with institutions like the Academy of Finland and Walter Ehrström Foundation .

Sten AnslanView profile

Research Fellow

• Environmental DNA
• Metabarcoding
• Soil Ecology
• +3 more

Sten Anslan serves as an Academy Research Fellow at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Jyväskylä, with office location YA C410.2 and contact details sten.s.anslan@jyu.fi / +358504612239. His research centers on environmental DNA metabarcoding for organism identification in ecological samples, with specialized focus on soil faunal networks and micro-mycobiome interactions. He systematically evaluates bioinformatics pipelines for sequence data analysis to optimize methodological approaches for diverse environmental datasets, bridging molecular biology and ecosystem ecology. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in biodiversity assessment through DNA-based techniques, spanning soil microbial databases, machine learning applications for rare species identification in Madagascar, and marine ecosystem studies in the Galápagos. His work consistently addresses methodological innovation for ecological monitoring and restoration science. Dr. Anslan actively contributes to the Predictive Community Ecology Group, a collaborative research initiative led by Nerea Abrego and Otso Ovaskainen focused on biodiversity modeling and community assembly mechanisms.

• Ecology
• Mycology
• Fungal Ecology
• +2 more

Carlos Aguilar Trigueros serves as an Academy Research Fellow at the Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Jyväskylä, where he actively contributes to the Predictive Community Ecology Group led by Professors Nerea Abrego and Otso Ovaskainen. His work integrates advanced ecological modeling with empirical fungal research across global ecosystems. His research focuses on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), investigating community assembly mechanisms, functional trait expression (particularly spore morphology), and responses to anthropogenic stressors including urbanization and climate change. Key interests span fungal biogeography, network theory applications in symbiosis, and plant-fungal-microbe interactions within soil ecosystems, emphasizing how environmental filters shape microbial communities. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant themes: development of global AMF databases (AusAMF, TraitAM), climate-driven trait biogeography, urbanization impacts on fungal functional composition, and herbivory-mediated shifts in AMF-plant mutualisms. His interdisciplinary approach combines molecular techniques (e.g., airborne DNA analysis), spatial ecology modeling, and large-scale collaborative datasets to address fundamental questions in community ecology. As part of the Predictive Community Ecology Group, Dr. Aguilar Trigueros engages in cutting-edge research using computational and statistical frameworks to forecast ecological community dynamics, with significant contributions to understanding fungal roles in ecosystem resilience under global change scenarios.

Bastien ParisyView profile

Researcher

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Plant Ecology
• +3 more

Bastien Parisy is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme. His research focuses on ecology and evolutionary biology, with particular emphasis on Arctic plant-soil interactions, microbial networks, and climate impacts on biodiversity. Active participant in the ERC-funded project 'Coevolutionary Consequences of Biodivers' (2024-2028) Specializes in metabarcoding, community ecology, and environmental variation studies Recent publications highlight his work on plant-fungus associations, hybrid speciation in Finnish flora, and multi-trophic interactions in subarctic landscapes. Collaborations span institutions across Finland and international Arctic research networks.

Iines SalonenView profile

Researcher

• Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Microbiology
• +5 more

Iines Salonen is a Postdoctoral Researcher affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki and the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) . She works at the Tvärminne Zoological Station as part of the Centre for Coastal Ecosystem and Climate Change Research (CoastClim) , focusing on marine ecosystem dynamics. Research Focus : Microbiology, evolutionary biology, and ecological impacts of climate change Contact : iines.salonen@helsinki.fi Research Interests span marine microbial ecology, benthic ecosystem responses to environmental stressors, and advanced DNA metabarcoding techniques. Her work investigates symbiotic relationships in benthic foraminifera and paleoceanographic reconstructions using microfossil proxies. Publications (2013–2023) demonstrate expertise in microbial community analysis, with applications in climate science, marine geochemistry, and ecological monitoring.

Brendan FurneauxView profile

Researcher

• Bioinformatics
• DNA Metabarcoding
• Taxonomic Identification
• +6 more

Brendan Furneaux serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher within the Department of Biological and Environmental Science at the University of Jyväskylä's Faculty of Mathematics and Science, where he develops advanced bioinformatic methodologies for global DNA metabarcoding datasets with emphasis on environmental DNA applications. His research centers on taxonomic identification, species delimitation, and trait inference for "dark taxa"—organisms known exclusively through environmental DNA sequences without physical specimens. Leveraging his foundational expertise in fungal ecology, he extends these approaches to understudied groups including insects and protists, utilizing large-scale collaborative datasets to decode ecological patterns across diverse ecosystems. Analysis of his 2024-2025 publications reveals dominant themes in fungal community assembly dynamics, dispersal mechanisms, and environmental drivers of plant-fungal associations, frequently employing airborne DNA metabarcoding at continental scales. Key methodological innovations include standardized global sampling protocols and predictive modeling of spatial-temporal fungal distributions, reflecting strong international collaboration across 10 high-impact studies. Scientific Awards: No awards documented in source material. Advising and Grants: No student advisement or grant funding details provided in available text. Laboratory and Team: Integral member of the Predictive Community Ecology Group led by Professors Nerea Abrego and Otso Ovaskainen, focusing on statistical modeling of ecological communities through DNA-based monitoring frameworks.

Jukka KekäläinenView profile

Professor

• Reproductive Biology
• Immunogenetics
• Aquatic Ecology
• +3 more

Jukka Kekäläinen is a Professor at the Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Forestry and Technology, University of Eastern Finland. His research group investigates molecular and immunological mechanisms in fertilization and infertility, with a focus on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) interactions and reproductive microbiomes. Current faculty member (Professor) Research themes: MHC-based mate choice, sperm protein SUMOylation, environmental nanoplastic impacts Collaborations: Finnish Red Cross Blood Service, Netherlands Institute of Ecology, French Centre de Recherche sur la Biodiversité Recent publications analyze MHC diversity and microbiome composition , nanoplastic biotransformation , and gamete-level immunogenetic interactions . Key methodologies include 16S rRNA metabarcoding , HLA typing , and in vitro fertilization models . Current projects involve Indo-Finnish microplastics collaboration and HLA-cervical mucus interaction studies . Research has implications for human fertility treatments and conservation aquaculture .

• Environmental sciences
• Marine ecosystems
• Ecology, evolutionary biology
• +5 more

Jaanika Blomster is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Helsinki's Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, affiliated with the Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme. She is part of the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) and the Teachers' Academy, focusing on research-based teaching. Her work integrates marine ecology, algal biology, and educational innovation. Research interests include marine ecosystems, microbial biodiversity in Baltic Sea environments, and the application of algae in biotechnology and food science. She explores topics such as cryptophyte antimicrobial compounds, dinoflagellate dynamics, and the ecological roles of seaweeds like Ulva and Fucus. Her educational focus emphasizes peer teaching and student integration in environmental studies. Key achievements include the University of Helsinki Open Science Award (2024) and recognition as an outstanding doctoral thesis supervisor (2025). She actively supervises doctoral and master's students, including work on natural antibiotics from cryptophytes and algal biomaterials. Blomster leads projects like FunkVeg (2018–2023), studying Baltic Sea Fucus populations, and contributes to initiatives like WE - Winter Ecology. Her research often involves international collaboration, particularly in molecular ecology and Baltic Sea biodiversity conservation.

• Spatial dynamics
• Insect-plant interactions
• Quantitative food webs
• +7 more

Professor Tomas Roslin is a prominent ecologist at the University of Helsinki, affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme. His research focuses on the spatial dynamics of ecological communities, particularly insect-plant interactions and quantitative food webs. Roslin leads the Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group, which investigates how spatial context affects interactions between plants, herbivorous insects, and their natural enemies. Professor Roslin's research spans multiple ecological domains, with particular emphasis on spatial dynamics in food webs, habitat fragmentation, and metacommunity processes. His work demonstrates how spatial context affects not only ecological population dynamics but also microevolutionary processes such as local adaptation. Recent research has increasingly focused on quantitative food webs as descriptors of insect interactions with other trophic levels, addressing general patterns across multiple local food webs and linking food web structure to functioning. His studies often incorporate cutting-edge molecular techniques like metabarcoding to explore biodiversity patterns. Analysis of Professor Roslin's recent publications reveals a strong focus on climate change impacts on ecological communities, particularly in northern ecosystems. His work examines thermal homogenization of boreal communities, latitudinal gradients in species interactions, and the effects of climate warming on Arctic plant-fungus networks. There's also significant emphasis on methodological advances in biodiversity monitoring, including metabarcoding approaches for studying insect microbiota and airborne fungal DNA. His research increasingly addresses conservation applications, particularly for invertebrates. Professor Roslin has received several prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to ecology and mentorship: Academy of Finland Recognition Award (2005) Best tutor of undergraduate students in the Faculty of Biosciences (2007) Commendation for good thesis supervision (2011) Oskar Öflund Foundation "The Big Prize" (2011) Professor Roslin actively supervises students at multiple levels, serving as supervisor or co-supervisor for doctoral theses, pre-examiner of doctoral theses, and member of doctoral thesis committees. His research is supported by numerous projects, including "Mapping Mosquito-Borne Viruses" (2025-2026), "Näringsvävar i matsvamp" (2024-2025), and "Biodiversiteettimuutoksen mittarit ja ek" (2023-2027). He also leads the long-running "Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group" project since 2011. Professor Roslin leads the Spatial Foodweb Ecology Group, which employs innovative approaches to study ecological networks. The group has been instrumental in developing metabarcoding techniques for studying insect communities and their interactions. Recent work includes the Insect Biome Atlas project, which conducted a comprehensive metabarcoding survey of terrestrial arthropods in Sweden and Madagascar, and the Global Spore Sampling Project, which created a standardized dataset of airborne fungal DNA worldwide.

• Ecology
• evolutionary biology
• Baltic Sea benthic ecology
• +3 more

Ze Hui Kong is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki , affiliated with the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences and the Biological Stations . Holding a PhD in Ecology from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (awarded 2024), his research focuses on the impacts of marine heatwaves on coastal ecosystems, with expertise in metabarcoding and ecosystem ecology. Active project: Heatwave-driven rewiring of coastal food webs (2024–2028), funded by the Academy of Finland as part of the Academy Research Fellow program. Fields of Science: Ecology, evolutionary biology, Baltic Sea benthic ecology, marine heat waves, metabarcoding, ecosystem ecology.