Tutkimuksen ja opetuksen kuvaus

Research

My research focuses on understanding how biodiversity changes across space and environmental gradients, with a particular emphasis on species turnover, functional trait replacement, and the consequences of human pressures across ecosystems. I work primarily in community ecology and ecological synthesis, integrating large multi-dataset compilations with trait-based approaches to identify general patterns across freshwater and terrestrial systems. Methodologically, my work focuses on extracting general ecological information from complex and heterogeneous datasets. I develop and apply quantitative frameworks that integrate species, trait, and environmental data across scales, using statistical and computational approaches that emphasize robustness, transparency, and reproducibility, primarily implemented in R.

Currently, I lead the Academy Research Fellow project TRACE (Trait Responses Across Connected Ecosystems) at the University of Helsinki, which examines how ecological communities respond to environmental change across linked terrestrial–freshwater gradients. In parallel, I coordinate and contribute to several international synthesis projects addressing functional homogenisation, ecosystem connectivity, and biodiversity responses to land use and nutrient enrichment. My research is strongly collaborative and international, and emphasizes open science, transparent data practices, and policy-relevant outputs, including contributions to large-scale assessment reports.

Teaching

My teaching experience spans undergraduate to graduate levels, with a strong focus on quantitative ecology and reproducible data analysis. I have taught courses in biostatistics, statistical computing in R, and functional diversity. Currently, I contribute to teaching in technology and data-driven approaches in ecology. Across courses, I emphasize conceptual understanding alongside practical skills, enabling students to critically engage with ecological data and modern analytical tools.

In addition to formal teaching, I am actively involved in research supervision and mentorship. I currently supervise and co-supervise PhD students at the University of Helsinki. I also support early-career researchers through informal training initiatives focused on quantitative skills and open research practices, aiming to foster independence, inclusivity, and confidence in computational ecology.

Research supervision

PhD students (University of Helsinki)

• Michail Pippinis (2024–present)
• Anirban Ganguly (2024–present)
• Guohao Liu (2025–present)

Master’s students (University of Helsinki)

• Shreeja Acharya (2025–present)
• Nea Hamarra (2025)
• Sukanya Hasan (2025)

Bachelor’s students (University of Helsinki)

• Karper Koski (2025)

Interns

• Faustine Menanteau (2024)
• Denise (Yaoqiong) Deng (2024)
• Anna Mae (2025)