Education

• 2008 Doctoral degree (Agr. & For.), University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology. Title of the dissertation: Plant secondary compounds and soil microbial processes in carbon and nitrogen cycling in relation to tree species

• 2002 Master’s degree (Agr. & For.), University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology

 Additional education

• 2011 Teacher's pedagogical studies (Professional Teacher Education), Häme University of Applied Sciences

Current Position

University lecturer of Environmental Soil Science, University of Helsinki, Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, 08/2011 -

Professional experience

• Post doctoral researcher, University of Helsinki, Department of Chemistry, laboratory of Analytical Chemistry. Co-operational project with Finnish Forest Research Institute funded by the Academy of Finland. 01/2009-07/2011
• University teacher in Environmental Soil Science, University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology 08-12/2008
• Researcher/Ph.D. student, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit. 2002-2007
• Junior researcher in the research project “An environmental soil test to Determine the Potential for Sediment and Phosphorus Transfer in Run-off from Agricultural Land” (DeSPRAL), University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, 06 – 12/2001
• Teacher in laboratory exercise course, University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology (total 4 weeks) 2001
• Assistant in Soil and Environmental Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology 10/1999 - 05/2000
• Trainee, Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa Research Unit (total 2 months) 1999

Research

At the moment my major research interest focus on soil organic matter; how it affects soil productivity, how different agricultural practices affect amount of it and what happens when organic carbon ends up in water bodies due to leaching or erosion. Loss of soil organic matter is a serious global problem. If we can't prevent it, we will face severe effects not only on our food security but also on production of other biomaterials, functioning of ecosystem services, and climate change. Research project ‘Loss of organic carbon from agricultural soil - impacts on water quality and soil productivity’ of PhD Noora Manninen who I’m co-supervising with PhD Helena Soinne, is central part of the above mentioned research and it is carried out in co-operation with Natural Resources Institute Finland. The results of this study will help us in assessing effects of different agricultural practices on soil carbon budget and in giving recommendations of agricultural best management practices for different type of soils to secure sustainable production of food under uncertain future environmental and socio-economic developments.

Previously, during my PhD studies and post doctoral research project, I have familiarized myself with soil carbon and nitrogen cycling processes and analytical methods of soil organic nitrogen compounds research.

Referee of manuscripts for the following journals

Agricultural Science and Technology

Agriculture

Biology and Fertility of Soils

Boreal  Environmental Research  

Canadian Journal of Forest Research  

Forest Ecology and Management  

Forests  

Journal of Chemical Ecology  

Land Degradation and Development  

Silva Fennica  

Soil Biology & Biochemistry  

Soil Science Society of America Journal
 

Teaching

Responsible teacher of the following courses:

MAAT-021 Principles of soil science (in Finnish)

MAAT-405 Organic compounds in soil (in Finnish)

MAAT-406 Soil science laboratory II (in Finnish and in English)

AGRI-415 Soil science laboratory III (in Finnish and in English)

Member of the University of Helsinki Teachers’ Academy https://www.helsinki.fi/en/university/teachers-academy