Tuomas Haltia

Description of research and teaching

I am interested in the biology of copper, i.e., copper proteins, copper acquisition and copper transport. For example, we have found that Paracoccus denitrificans, a soil bacterium and a relative of the mitochondrion, secretes coproporphyrin III when grown under copper-poor conditions. In total, my scientific publications have been cited over 2900 times. My h-index is 22.

My teaching activities involve regular lectures in biochemistry (MOLE-101, BIO-201). I have also been a visiting lecturer at the Medical Faculty and Aalto University over more than ten years. Moreover, I supervise and guide students in Finnish and English and teach several types of laboratory practicals during the academic year. I also evaluate Master's theses on a regular basis. In order to develop my skills as an academic teacher, I have educated myself pedacogically (tens of credits over the years). I have also acted as the head of the teaching skills committee, section of laboratory sciences for several years. To summarise, I consider myself an experienced and qualified teacher of biochemistry.

Figure on the right

A nitrous oxide reductase monomer from Paracoccus denitrificans. The cupredoxin domain with the Cu A centre is in upper part of the figure, whereas the seven blades of the propeller form the lower part of the structure. The four coppers of Cu Z and a chloride ion are bound close to the central axis of the propeller. In the cell, two monomers associate to make a head-to-tail dimer.