Marjo Helander

Marjo Helander is a Researcher in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a Docent at the University of Turku's Faculty of Science. Her research focuses on plant-microbe interactions, agrochemical effects (particularly glyphosate), and fungal ecology. She leads an Academy of Finland-funded project (2017-2021) examining glyphosate impacts on agroecosystems, including soil microbiota, plant defense mechanisms, and animal health. Collaborations include international groups studying grass-endophyte systems globally. Teaching includes courses on plant-microbe interactions and agroecology, with extensive supervision of student theses linked to ongoing research.

Her work spans field experiments in Finland's Botanical Garden, circumpolar grass sampling, and lab-based analyses. Key interests include glyphosate's non-target effects, microbial community dynamics, and plant defense strategies. Current projects address glyphosate residues in fertilizers, bumblebee cognition, and polar light regime impacts on biodiversity.