Personnel







Anna Aalto

Postdoc Board



anna.aalto@abo.fi

Oluwatosin Abe

Project Researcher

Proteomics


Paul Abhijit

PostDoctoral Researcher



abhijit.paul@utu.fi

Ketlin Adel

Project Engineer

Cell Imaging & Cytometry, office 5135

ketlin.adel@utu.fi

Activities in the core

Consultation, operations, training & maintenance: Flow Cytometry and Mass Cytometry

Nigatu Adossa

Doctoral Candidate

Elo Lab, office 7114

nigatu.a.adossa [at] utu.fi

Anneli Alamaunu

Instrument Technician



anneli.takala [at] utu.fi

Jonna Alanko

Group Leader


+358 29 450 3791
jhalan [at] utu.fi

Syed Bilal Ahmad Andrabi

Postdoctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab, office 7093
+358 (0)29 450 3769
bilal.andrabi [at] bioscience.fi

Tiina Arsiola

Laboratory Manager

Westermarck Lab, office 4123
+358 (0)29 450 3788
tiina.arsiola [at] bioscience.fi

Background

  • Laboratory Manager, Turku Bioscience Centre, since 2012
  • University Research Fellow, Animal Bioscience, University of Eastern Finland,  2010-2011
  • Certificated Degree in Pedagogy (2010), Jyväskylä University of Applied Science, Finland
  • Research Associate, Animal Biotechnology, University of Eastern Finland, 2000-2010
  • Post Doctoral Fellow, Prostate cance​r research, University of Kuopio, Finland, 2004-2007
  • Post Doctoral Fellow, Prostate cancer research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA, 2001-2003
  • PhD in Animal Biotechnology (2001), University of Kuopio, Finland

Ujjwal Aryal

Undergraduate Student

Eriksson Lab

ujjwal.u.aryal [at] bioscience.fi

Malik Mohd Azhar

Doctoral Researcher

Dickens Lab


Kedar Batkulwar

Postdoctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab, office 7115
+358 (0)29 450 3730
kedar.batkulwar [at] utu.fi

Shruti Bhardiya

Doctoral Student

Westermarck Lab, office 4120
+358 (0)29 450 3790
shrutinitin.bhardiya [at] utu.fi
Background
  • MSc in Cellular and Molecular Oncology (2019), Amity University, Delhi NCR, India
  • BSc in Biotechnology (2017), University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
Project Small molecule targeting of oncogenic dual-specificity phosphatase DUSP6 in breast cancer

Alexander Biehl

Project Researcher

Elo Lab, office 7086

alexander.biehl [at] bioscience.fi

Rahul Biradar

Doctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab, office 7094
+358 (0)29 450 3768
rahul.biradar [at] utu.fi

Itana Bojovic

Project Researcher

Elo Lab


Tanja Buchacher

Senior researcher

Lahesmaa lab

tanja.buchacher [at] utu.fi

Deepankar Chakroborty

Doctoral Candidate

Elenius Lab, office 4137
+358 (0)29 450 3786
deepankar.chakroborty [at] bioscience.fi

Megan Chastney

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ivaska Lab

megan.chastney [at] utu.fi

Eleanor Coffey

Vice-Director, Group Leader, Research Director

Office 7079
+358 (0)40 182 2424
eleanor.coffey@utu.fi

James Conway

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ivaska Lab

james.conway [at] utu.fi

Project title

Regulation of integrin phosphorylation

Research interests

FRET biosensors and 3D models

Michael Courtney

Group Leader


+358 (0)29 450 3739
michael.courtney [at] utu.fi

Activities in the cell imaging core

CIC consultant on high content imaging

Navid Delshad

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab

navid.delshad [at] abo.fi
"Navid Delshad is a Pharm.D.. He has joined the John Eriksson lab in 2021 as a project researcher. Now he is a PhD candidate in Biosciences and a member of HPV Horizon team."

Oxana Denisova

Postdoctoral Reseacher

Westermarck Lab, office 4120
+358 (0)29 450 3788
oxana.denisova [at] utu.fi

Background

  • PhD in Molecular Virology (2014), Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Finland
  • MSc in Molecular Biology (2007), Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
  • Training at the Molecular Biology Education centre (2005 –2007), Institute of Protein Research, Pushchino, Russia

Project

PP2A in glioblastoma therapy resistance: novel opportunities for targeted therapeutics​

Prasannakumar Deshpande

Senior Researcher

Coffey Lab

prasannakumar.deshpande [at] utu.fi

Michal Dibus

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ivaska Lab

michal.dibus [at] utu.fi

Alex Dickens

Group Leader, Co-PI of Metabolomics

Neurometabolomics
+358400285575
alex.dickens [at] utu.fi

Phuong Doan

Postdoctoral Researcher

Westermarck Lab, Office 4120
+358 (0)29 450 3790
phuong.doan [at] utu.fi

Background

  • DSc (Tech) in Biomedical Sciences and Engineering (2022), Tampere University, Finland
  • MSc (Tech) in Bioengineering (2016), Tampere University of Technology, Finland

Project

Target mechanisms for CIP2A-mediated essentiality in homologous recombination deficiency BL-TNBC cells

Klaus Elenius

Group Leader, Professor of Medical Biochemistry

Office 4114
+358 (0) 29 540 4393
klaus.elenius [at] utu.fi

Laura Elo

Professor, Vice-Director, Research Director, Group Leader

Office 7073-74
+358 (0)29 450 2090
laura.elo [at] bioscience.fi

Solveig Eriksson

Project Researcher

Turku BioImaging

solveig.l.eriksson [at] utu.fi

John Eriksson

Research Director, Group Leader, Professor


+358 (0)2 215 3313, +358 (0)29 450 2042
john.eriksson [at] bioscience.fi

Olaya Esparta-Gonzalez

Project Researcher

Elenius Lab

olaya.espartagonzalez [at] utu.fi

Ilia Evstafev

Doctoral Researcher

Oresic Lab

ilia.evstafev@utu.fi

Anastasiia Evstafeva

Laboratory engineer

Metabolomics


Veronica Fagerholm

Coordinator

Coffey Lab, office 5045
+358 (0)29 450 3784
veronica.fagerholm [at] utu.fi

Project

I am searching for driver genes that act downstream of JNK1 to promote mood disorders.

Jimmy Fagersund

Project Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab

jimmy.c.fagersund [at] utu.fi

Iman Farahani

Doctoral Candidate

Elenius Lab

iman.i.farahani [at] utu.fi

Tehreem Fatima

Coffey Lab


Thomas Faux

Doctoral Candidate

Elo Lab, office 7089
+358 (0)29 450 3805
thomas.faux [at] bioscience.fi

Dani Flinkman

Proteomics Expert

Coffey Lab, office 5045
+358 (0)29 450 3784

Gautier Follain

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ivaska & Jacquemet Labs

gautier.follain [at] utu.fi

Paulina Frolovaite

Doctoral researcher

Elo Lab, office 7118a

paulina.p.frolovaite [at[ utu.fi

Heidi Gerke

Project Researcher

Rantakari Lab, office 5041a


Daniel Giesel




Mariam Gouda

Undergraduate Student

Zhang Lab, Biocity 2nd floor

mariam.gouda [at] utu.fi

Michalis Gounis

Postdoctoral Researcher



michail.gounis@utu.fi

Laura Grönfors

Laboratory Technician

Mattila Lab & Rantakari Lab

lmgron [at] utu.fi

Sirkku Grönroos

Departmental Coordinator/Controller

Office 7077
+358 400 513701
sirkku.gronroos [at] utu.fi

Nikhil Gupta

Postdoctoral Researcher

Westermarck Lab, office 4120
+358 (0)29 450 3790
nikhil.gupta [at] utu.fi

Background

  • PhD in Biological Science (2020), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
  • MSc (Tech.) in Bioscience and Bioengineering (2015), Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), India
  • MSc in Biochemistry (2012), CSJM University, Kanpur, India

Project

Cancer therapy implications of species specific difference in requirement of PP2A mediated tumor suppression

Eduardo Gusmao

Elo Lab


Anna-Mari Haapanen-Saaristo

Project Researcher

Zebrafish, office 4138

anna-mari.e.haapanen-saaristo@utu.fi
Consultation, operations, maintenance: Microscopy

Pekka Haapaniemi

Laboratory Technician

Proteomics
+358 (0)29 450 2200
pekka.haapaniemi [at] bioscience.fi

Marjo Hakkarainen

Laboratory Technician

Lahesmaa Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3754
marjo.hakkarainen [at] bioscience.fi

Hellyeh Hamidi

Research Coordinator

Ivaska Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3787
hellyeh.hamidi [at] bioscience.fi

Research interests

Integrin activity, cell adhesion, cancer, cell migration

Afra Haque

Doctoral Candidate

Rantakari Group, office 5121

afra.a.haque@utu.fi

Elia Heinonen

Trainee

Ivaska Lab

elia.j.heinonen [at] utu.fi

Sarita Heinonen

Laboratory Technician

Lahesmaa Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3758
sarita.heinonen [at] bioscience.fi

Arttu Heinonen

Project Engineer

Proteomics
+358 (0)29 450 2200
arttu.heinonen [at] bioscience.fi

Sofia Held

Trainee

Ivaska Lab

sofia.held [at] utu.fi

Karoliina Hirvonen

Doctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab, office 7095
+358 (0)29 450 3810
karoliina.hirvonen [at] bioscience.fi

Julian Hofmann

Doctoral Candidate

Rantakari Lab 5021

julian.hofmann [at] utu.fi

Emilia Holm

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab
+358449708251
emilia.holm [at] abo.fi

Background

I received my Master’s degree in Cell biology at Åbo Akademi University, Finland in 2018 while working under Professor Kid Törnqvist. During this period, I was mainly studying what role the transcription factors TRb1 and Runx2 have in follicular thyroid cancer. As I finished my Master’s degree, I hoped to learn new techniques that are used in cell biology and thus became a PhD student in Professor John Eriksson’s lab. Currently, I study the importance of vimentin in the maintenance of nuclear integrity in fibroblasts. In addition, I am also involved in studies involving vimentin phosphorylation and interactions between lamins and heat shock factor 1 during heat shock.

Research interests

  • Imaging
  • Nuclear integrity and function
  • Intermediate filament structure
  • Mechanosensing

Ye Hong

Senior Datascientist

Coffey & Elo Lab, office 7089
+358 (0)29 450 3805

Project in the Kinase group

I am using bioinformatics to predict molecular mechanisms of depression and schizophrenia using proteomics and behavioral data.

Teemu Huusko

Project Researcher

Ventelä Lab

tejohu [at] utu.fi
Specialist in otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck surgery

Background degree:

Medical Doctor, University of Turku, Finland

Project:

Prevalence, prognosis and treatment results of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the region of Southwestern Finland in the years 2005–2015

Tuulia Hyötyläinen

Professor

Affiliated Member of Systems Medicine


Mohsin Imran

Doctoral Student

Tassos Lab

mohsin.imran [at] utu.fi

Sanni Inkilä

Master Student

Alanko Lab

sanni.a.inkila [at] utu.fi

Aleksi Isomursu

Doctoral Candidate

Ivaska Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3789
aleksi.isomursu [at] bioscience.fi

Project title

Mechanotransduction mechanisms in cancer

Research interests

Cancer, actin cytoskeleton, cell migration, ECM, mechanotransduction

Johanna Ivaska

Academy Professor, Group Leader


+358 (0)29 450 2260
johanna.ivaska [at] bioscience.fi

Lavinia Izzo




Guillaume Jacquemet

Affiliated Group Leader


+358 (0)50 5012 574
guillaume.jacquemet [at] bioscience.fi

Project title

Targeting filopodia to block cancer cell invasion

Research interests

Cell invasion, actin cytoskeleton, myosin-X, integrins

Peter James

Visiting Professor, University of Lund

Proteomics

peter.james [at] bioscience.fi

Niklas Jäntti

Doctoral Candidate

Ivaska Lab

niklas.z.jantti [at] utu.fi

Jismi John

Doctoral Researcher, Neuroscience

Coffey Lab, office 5045
+358 (0)29 450 3784
jimajo [at] utu.fi
I work with Nikita and together we hope to identify molecular drivers of anxiety and depression. We do this using different types of in vivo and ex vivo imaging methods.

Anniina Jokela

Researcher, Neuroscience

Coffey Lab, office 5045

anniina.a.jokela [at] utu.fi

Heli Jokela

Senior Researcher

Rantakari Lab, office 5041a


Anne Jokilammi

University Teacher

Elenius Lab 4438
+358 29 450 4737
anjosil [at] utu.fi

Omkar Joshi

Doctoral Candidate

Ivaska Lab

omkar.joshi [at] utu.fi

Shreya Joshi

Doctoral Researcher

Lönnberg Lab

shreya.s.joshi@utu.fi

Jenny Joutsen

Postdoctoral Researcher

Sistonen Lab
+358 (0)2-2154060
jenny.joutsen [at] abo.fi

I am mainly interested in HSFs and their importance in protein aggregation induced cell stress. Currently I am working with HSF2 and proteasome inhibition and I am mainly focusing on the HSF2-dependent transcriptional program that sensitises cells to proteasome inhibiting drugs. The overall keywords for my scientific interests could be: HSFs, protein aggregation, neurodegeneration, PTMs, SUMO, translation, cell adhesion, mechanical stress and many others!

I love knitting and crocheting, detective stories, sushi, gardening and of course my two wonderful kids Ivalo and Pietari.

Päivi Junni

Laboratory Technician

FFGC, Single-Cell Omics
+358 (0)29 450 3764
paivi.junni@bioscience.fi

Sini Junttila

Postdoctoral Researcher

Elo Lab, office 7087C
+358(0)29 450 3756
simaju [at] bioscience.fi

Jasmin Kaivola

Doctoral Candidate

Ivaska Lab

jasmin.e.kaivola [at] utu.fi

Taina Kalevo-Mattila

Laboratory Technician

Westermarck Lab, lab 5080
+358 (0)29 450 3758
taina.kalevo-mattila [at] bioscience.fi

Ubaid Kalim

Senior Research Fellow

Lahesmaa Lab, office 7093
+358 (0)29 450 3808
ubaid.ullah [at] bioscience.fi

Jesse Kamila

Project Researcher, office 4120

Westermarck Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3790
jesse.kamila [at] utu.fi

Maritta Kantanen

Instrument Technician



maritta.kantanen [at] utu.fi

Henok Karvonen

Project specialist | Multimedia producer

Turku Bioscience Centre


Roosa Kattelus

Doctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab

roosa.m.kattelus [at] utu.fi

Otto Kauko

M.D., Ph.D., Group Leader

Proteomics


Iivari Kleino

Postdoctoral Researcher

Elo Lab

iivari.kleino [at] utu.fi

Marika Koivu

Doctoral Candidate

Elenius Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3786
mkahak [at] utu.fi

Jari Korhonen


+358 (0)2 215 4062 ; BioCity 2nd floor, room 2066
jari.korhonen [at] abo.fi

Activities in the core

Maintenance and training: microscopes located on the 2nd floor

Anna-Riina Koskenniemi

Doctoral Researcher

Ventelä Lab

arhuht [at] utu.fi
Pathologist

Background degree:

Medical Doctor and specialist in pathology, University of Turku, Finland

Project:

Germ cell-associated cancer testis antigens in human cancers and development of novel tools for treatment stratification in HNSCC.

Sanna Kotilainen

Research Assistant

Lönnberg lab


Matilda Kråkström

Postdoctoral Researcher

Metabolomics, 5019

matilda.v.krakstrom [at] utu.fi

Anu Kukkonen-Macchi

Research Coordinator

Elo Lab, office 7072
+358 (0) 294 503 796
anukuk [at] bioscience.fi

Katri Kulmala

Office Secretary / Support Services

Office team, office 2006

office [at] bioscience.fi

Sami Kurkinen

Doctoral Candidate

Ivaska Lab

sami.t.kurkinen [at] utu.fi

Kari Kurppa

Supervisor



kjkurp [at] utu.fi

Minna Kyläniemi

Head of FFGC, Laboratory Manager

FFGC
+358 (0)29 450 3763
minna.kylaniemi[at]utu.fi

Satu Kylänpää

Project Specialist

FFGC
+358 (0)29 450 3764
satmak [at] utu.fi

Petra Laasola

Laboratory Technician

Ivaska Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3758
petra.laasola [at] utu.fi

Current Role

Day-to-day laboratory organisation and assisting in several research projects

Research skills

Molecular biology, immunoprecipitation, PLA, IHC & IF and FACS analysis

Christoffer Lagerholm

Lab Engineer

Cell Imaging Core

christoffer.lagerholm [at] utu.fi

Activities in the core

Consultation, operations, maintenance: Microscopy

Anne Lahdenperä

Laboratory Manager

Lahesmaa Lab
+358 (0)29 450 2412
anne.lahdenpera [at] bioscience.fi

Riitta Lahesmaa

Director, Group Leader, Professor

Office 7075
+358 (0)29 450 2415
riitta.lahesmaa [at] bioscience.fi

Asta Laiho

Service Manager

Elo Lab, office 7075
+358 (0)29 450 2916
astlai [at] bioscience.fi

Santosh Lamichhane

Postdoctoral Researcher

Orešič Lab


Johanna Lampa

Undergraduate Student

Zebrafish

johanna.m.lampa [at] utu.fi

Sakari Lätti

Doctoral Candidate

Ivaska Lab

sakari.t.latti [at] utu.fi

Paulina Moreno Layseca

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ivaska Lab

paulina.morenolayseca [at] bioscience.fi

Project title

LIMA1 in Rab21-mediated integrin trafficking

Research interests

Rab21, integrins, endosomes, LIMA1, cancer

Fatemehsadat Seyednasrollah (on leave)

Doctoral Candidate

Bioinformatics, office 7116
+358 (0)29 450 3803
fseyedna [at] bioscience.fi

Riikka Lund [On leave]

Head of FFGC, Group Leader, Adjunct Professor (Title of Docent), Senior Researcher

Biomedical Epigenomics, FFGC
+358 (0)29 450 3793

Elisabeth Lefevre

Trainee

Lönneberg Lab

elisabeth.lefevre@utu.fi

Henna Lehtonen

Undergraduate Student

Rantakari Lab

henna.n.lehtonen [at] utu.fi

Veli-Matti Leppänen

Research Fellow

Ivaska Lab

veli-matti.leppanen [at] utu.fi

Maija Lespinasse

BioCity Turku Coordinator

Biocity Turku, 6th floor


Lili Li

Postdoctoral Researcher

Courtney Lab


Huayi Li

Doctoral Researcher

Ivaska Lab

huayi.li [at] utu.fi

Markus Lindén

Project Researcher

Elo Lab

markus.linden [at] utu.fi

Laura Lintukorpi

Doctoral Student

Rantakari Lab

lamlin [at] utu.fi

Rui Liu

Doctoral Candidate

Zhang Lab

rui.liu [at] abo.fi

Emmi Lokka

Doctoral Candidate

Rantakari Lab

emmi.lokka [at] utu.fi
On maternity leave

Tapio Lönnberg

Senior Researcher, Adjunct Professor

Lönnberg Lab, Single-Cell Omics
+358 (0)29 450 3738
tapio.lonnberg@utu.fi

Paula Luoma

HR Specialist / Human Resources


HR Specialist / Human Resources +358 (0)29 450 2676
paula.luoma [at] utu.fi

Noushin Madani

Doctoral Candidate

Tassos Lab, office 5018

noushin.madani [at] utu.fi

Ayush Madhok

Postdoctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab

aymadh@utu.fi

Rakesh Mahato

Project Specialist

Eriksson Lab

rakesh.mahato [at] utu.fi

Mehrad Mahmoudian

Doctoral Candidate

Elo Lab, office 7096
+358 (0)29 450 3794
mehmah [at] bioscience.fi

Elias Manca

Postdoctoral Researcher




Mathilde Mathieu

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ivaska Lab

mathilde.mathieu [at] utu.fi

Julia Mathlin

Project Researcher

Elo Lab

julia.mathlin [at] utu.fi

Pieta Mattila

Affiliated Group Leader

Mattila Lab, 5th floor
+358 29 450 4431
pieta.mattila [at] utu.fi

Jesse Mattsson

Research Assistant

Kauko Lab


Aidan McGlinchey

Postdoctoral research associate

Affiliated Member of Systems Medicine


Manila Meem

Internship




Johannes Merilahti

Facility Coordinator

Proteomics
+358 (0)29 450 3779
johannes.merilahti [at] bioscience.fi

Sara Metso

Project Researcher

FFGC, Single-Cell Omics
+358 (0)29 450 3764
sara.m.metso@utu.fi

Herbert Michlmayr

Research Fellow

Tassos Lab


Lea Mikkola

Postdoctoral Researcher

Lönnberg Lab
050 473 9618
lea.mikkola@utu.fi

Ivana Mikocziova

Postdoctoral Researcher

Single-Cell Omics, InFLAMES Research Flagship
050 473 9618
ivana.mikocziova@utu.fi

Mayank Modi

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab
+358-(0)-469527179
maymod [at] bioscience.fi; mmodi [at] abo.fi

Background

  • PhD in Cell Biology (ongoing)
  • MSc in Molecular systems biology (Dec 2019)
  • B. Tech. in Biotechnology (May 2016)

Research interests

  • Fibroblasts in ECM deposition and remodeling
  • Vimentin mediated mechanotransduction in adipogenesis
  • Directional cell migration
  • Microscopy and bioimage analysis

Ali Youssef Mostafa

Doctoral Researcher

Coffey Lab

aymost [at] utu.fi

Robert Moulder

Senior Research Fellow

Lahesmaa Lab, office 7115
+358 (0)29 450 3802
rmoulder [at] bioscience.fi

Lana Mutabdzija

Erasmus Exchange Student

Tassos Lab, office 5018

lana.l.mutabdzija [at] utu.fi

Iida Muuraneva

Doctoral Researcher

Ventelä Lab


Specialising physician in otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck surgery

Background degree:

Medical Doctor, University of Turku, Finland

Project:

New methods for identifying the aggressiveness of head and neck cancers and specific cancer treatments

Linda Nissi

Doctoral researcher

Ventelä Lab

lranis [at] utu.fi

Background degree:

Medical Doctor, BSc, University of Turku, Finland

Project:

p16 and xCT as biomarkers in HNSCC

Sebastián Zuñiga Norman

Project Researcher

Elo Lab

sizuno [at] utu.fi

Elina Nyman

Master Student

Alanko Lab

elina.k.nyman [at] utu.fi

Christina Oetken-Lindholm

Project Engineer

Cell Imaging & Cytometry, office 5135

christina.oetken-lindholm [at] utu.fi

Activities in the core

Consultation, operations, training & maintenance: Flow Cytometry and back up for Mass Cytometry

Veera Ojala

Doctoral Candidate

Elenius Lab
+358 (0)50 349 6323
vekaoj [at] utu.fi

Venla Ojasalo

Undergraduate Student

Rantakari Lab

venla.i.ojasalo [at] utu.fi

Janni Ollikainen

Undergraduate Student

Rantakari Lab 5021

janni.t.ollikainen [at] utu.fi

Matej Oresic

Group Leader, Senior Scientist

Metabolomics and System Medicine
+358 (0)29 450 3798
matej.oresic [at] utu.fi

Zsuzsanna Ortutay

Operator

Genome Editing Core
+358294503776
zsuzsanna.ortutay [at] utu.fi

Mirva Pääkkönen

Project Researcher

Proteomics
+358 (0)29 450 2200
mirva.paakkonen [at] bioscience.fi

Ilkka Paatero

Head of Zebrafish Facility


+358 (0)29 450 3789
ilkka.paatero [at] bioscience.fi ; zebrafish [at] bioscience.fi

Project title

In vivo imaging of cell migration

Research interests

Confocal imaging, live in vivo imaging, zebrafish, angiogenesis, signalling, migration

Esko Pakarinen

Project Specialist, Data Systems Specialist

FFGC
+358 (0)29 450 3764
esko.pakarinen [at] utu.fi

Tassos Papageorgiou

Group Leader, Senior Scientist, Adjunct Professor


+358 (0)29 450 3752, 3760, 3776
anapap [at] utu.fi

Priya Parimelazhagan

Doctoral Student

Westermarck Lab, office 4120
+358408148842
ppasan@utu.fi
Background
  • MSc in Molecular Biotechnology and Diagnostics, University of Turku, Finland
  • B.Tech in Biotechnology, Sathyabama University, Chennai, India
Project Predictive biomarkers for stratifying aggressive HNSCC in the clinics.

Hanna Parkkola

Postdoctoral Researcher

Pentikäinen Lab

hkpark [at] utu.fi

Sepideh Parvanian

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab

sepideh.parvanian [at] bioscience.fi; sepideh.parvanian [at] abo.fi

Background

I received my Master’s degree in Genetic Engineering from the National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Tehran, Iran) in 2013. I worked in the biopharmaceutical industry for six years in up-stream bioprocess and R&D, and also as an internal auditor and monoclonal antibody API supervisor. I came to Finland in March 2017 as a Research Assistant to work on vesicular compartments in bone-resorbing osteoclasts, as a member of the EU-funded EUROCLAST project (Marie Curie ESR) at the University of Turku. I joined Erikson's Lab in June 2018 as a PhD student. My research focuses on novel fundamental insights on the role of fibrotic-derived extracellular vesicles in myofibroblasts heterogeneity and mechanism of fibrosis.

Research interests

• Extracellular Vesicles • Wound healing • Biopharmaceutical manufacturing

Nicolas Pasquier

Doctoral Candidate

Ivaska lab, office 4121

nicolas.pasquier [at] utu.fi

Preethy Paul

Project Coordinator & Postdoctoral Researcher

Eriksson Lab
+358 41 36 40 948
ppreethy [at] abo.fi ; prepau [at] utu.fi

Background

  • Screening & development of natural compounds and small molecules for anti-cancer activity
  • Studying the molecular mechanism of apoptosis induced by the compounds

Research interests

  • Drug development research related to anti-cancer therapeutics
  • Developing natural compounds/extracts & small molecules for treatment of HPV associated cancers and warts
  • Studying the mechanism of cell death induced by the compounds in HPV associated cell lines by various biochemical and biophysical methods

Niklas Paulin

Undergraduate Student

Elo Lab, office 7086
+ 358 (0)50 5216649
niklas.paulin [at] bioscience.fi

Meri Pelkonen

Project Researcher



meri.h.pelkonen@utu.fi

Ulla Pentikäinen

Academy Research Fellow/University lecturer (Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku)


+358 505012574
ulla.pentikainen [at] utu.fi

Sara Hernández Pérez

Doctoral Candidate

Mattila Lab, office 5092

sarher [at] utu.fi
Doctoral candidate in Pieta Mattila´s group. I am interested in lymphocyte biology and imaging.

Mats Perk

Project Researcher

Elo Lab

matsdaniel.perk [at] utu.fi

Jenny Pessa

Doctoral Candidate

Potsdoc Board, Sistonen lab


Nina Pettersson

Doctoral Candidate, co-supervisor Dr. Eva Ekholm

Biomedical Epigenomics


Emilia Peuhu

Affiliated Group Leader

Peuhu Lab, D5066

emilia.peuhu [at] bioscience.fi

Project title:

Regulation of stemness and invasion in normal mammary gland and breast cancer.

Research interests:

Breast development and cancer, mechanotransduction, somatic stem cells.

Trinh Pham

Undergraduate Student

Ivaska Lab


Sami Pietilä

Doctoral Candidate

Elo Lab, office 7086
+ 358 (0)50 5216649
sami.pietila [at] bioscience.fi

Minna Piipponen

Postdoctoral Researcher

Single-Cell Omics, Lönnberg Lab

minna.piipponen@utu.fi

Pekka Akseli Postila

Senior Researcher

Pentikäinen/Ivaska Lab

pekka.postila [at] utu.fi

Nirmal Poudel

Doctoral Candidate

Tassos Lab, room 5018

nirpou [at] utu.fi

Iris Purma

Project Researcher

Proteomics


Susanna Pyökäri

Laboratory Technician

Coffey Lab, office 5080
+358 (0)29 450 3758 / 3771
susanna.pyokari [at] bioscience.fi

Julia Pyysalo




Senthilkumar Rajendran

Senior Research Fellow

Eriksson Lab
+358442362631
srajendr [at] abo.fi ; sekura [at] utu.fi ; biosen81 [at] gmail.com

Areas of expertise

Drug discovery and development :
  • Synthesis of organic small molecules and inorganic metal complexes
  • Natural products – Extraction and isolation of compounds
  • Apoptosis cell signaling pathways
  • Drug-DNA/protein interaction
  • In Ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model
  • Nanocarriers

Background

  • Project Coordinator at Åbo Akademi Unviersity, Finland– January 2014 - present
  • Postdoctoral Researcher at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Switzerland – September 2009 - January 2011
  • Senior Researcher Fellow at Bharathidasan University, India – April 2007 - August 2009

Pia Rantakari

Adjunct Professor and Group Leader

Rantakari Lab
+358 (0)400 426 791

Activities in the core

Scientific adviser for Mass- and Imaging Mass Cytometry

Omid Rasool

Senior Researcher, Adjunct Professor

Lahesmaa Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3769
omid.rasool [at] bioscience.fi

Leila Rato

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab
+358 469511582
leila.coelhorato [at] abo.fi

Background

I have received my BSc and MSc in Biochemistry from University of Aveiro, Portugal. I had the opportunity to join the Eriksson laboratory as part of the Erasmus Programme for my master`s thesis, in which I focused on studying vimentin and cell size signalling. I joined the Proteomics core facility for my summer job in 2017 and then I decided to enrol as a PhD candidate. I focus on understanding the role of vimentin in cell growth signalling by looking at signalling partners and post-translation modifications using mass spectrometry.

Research interests

  • Mass spectrometry techniques and data analysis
  • Cell metabolism and signalling  
  • Post-translational modifications

Kaisa Rautaniemi

Project engineer

Cell Imaging & Cytometry, office 5077

kaisa.rautaniemi [at] utu.fi

Activities in the core

Consultation, operations, maintenance: Microscopy    

Päivikki Reinivuori

Research technician

Metabolomics and Proteomics
+358 (0)29 450 2200
paivikki.reinivuori [at] utu.fi

Oso Rissanen

Laboratory Technician

FFGC, Single-Cell Omics
+358 (0)29 450 3764
oso.rissanen@bioscience.fi

Olof Rundquist

Elo Group and Lahesmaa group, Office 7090

olof.rundquist [at] utu.fi

Emilie Rydgren

Doctoral Researcher

Lönnberg Lab, InFLAMES
050 473 9618
emilie.rydgren@utu.fi

Kalle Rytkönen

Postdoctoral Researcher

Elo Lab, office 7089
+358 (0)29 450 3805
katyry [at] bioscience.fi

Cecilia Sahlgren

Principal investigator (Åbo Akademi University, Eindhoven University of Technology), Professor of Cell Biology (ÅAU), Professor in Biomedical Engineering (TU/e)

Sahlgren Lab, office 2017
+358 2 215 3300
cecilia.sahlgren [at] bioscience.fi

Nikita Sain

Project Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab


Katja Salonen

Doctoral Researcher

Metabolomics

katja.h.salonen [at] utu.fi

Jouko Sandholm

Research Coordinator

Cell Imaging & Cytometry, office 5077

jouko.sandholm@utu.fi

Activities in the core

Consultation, operations, maintenance: Microscopy and backup for Flow Cytometry and Mass Cytometry

Priya Parimelazhagan Santhi

Doctoral Researcher

Ventelä Lab

priyadharshini.p.paimelazhagansanthi [at] utu.fi
Background degree: MSc in Biomedical Science, University of Turku, Finland Project: Stratification markers for diagnosis and targeted drug delivery of HNSCC metastasis

Eva Savulkina




Vincent Seube

Postdoctoral Researcher




Mukund Sharma

Postdoctoral Researcher

Westermarck Lab, office 4120
+358 (0)29 450 3790
mukund.sharma [at] bioscience.fi

Background

  • PhD in Pathology (2024), Turku Doctoral Program in Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland
  • MSc in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology (2015), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany

Project

Epigenetic regulation by PP2A and RAS synergy and its implication in cancer

Farid Ahmad Siddiqui

Postdoctoral Researcher

Elenius Lab, office 5130
+358 (0)29 450 3779 / 3779
farid.siddiqui [at] utu.fi

Background

  • Doctoral student at Turku Center for Biotechnology since February 2016
  • MSc in Biotechnology form Punjab Technical University and master thesis form School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India, 2011

Project involvement

CIMO project- Understanding the mechanism of action of conglobatin A in blocking oncogenic K-ras signaling

Research interests

Drug development especially inhibiting oncogenic K-ras

Jenni Siivonen

Laboratory Technician

Ivaska Lab
+358 (0)29 450 3758
jenni.siivonen [at] utu.fi

Current role

Day-to-day laboratory organisation and assisting in several research projects

Research skills

Cell culture, DNA & RNA purification, Western blotting, IF, recombinant protein production, qRT-PCR

Michael Silva

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab
+358 469511586
michael.santossilva [at] abo.fi

Background

I have done my Biochemistry degree in University of Aveiro, Portugal. During that time, I adventured myself in University of Southern Denmark, where I worked in pseudoexon activation in disease. After this experience, I decided to look for another place for me to do my master thesis. I was kindly accepted in John Eriksson’s lab, where I worked on c-FLIP regulation of cell population size. When the opportunity of starting PhD arrived, I embraced a new project working with human papillomavirus E6 and E7 oncoproteins.

Research interests

  • Human papillomavirus E6 and E7 oncoproteins
  • Cell death
  • Ubiquitination
  • Proteomics

Loane Simon

Master Student

Ivaska Lab

loane.simon [at] utu.fi

Burak Simsek

Student




Lea Sistonen

Professor, Group Leader


+358 (0)2 215 3311
lea.sistonen [at] abo.fi

Johannes Smolander

Doctoral Candidate

Elo Lab, office 7118A
+358 (0)29 450 3800
johannes.smolander [at] bioscience.fi

Christel Sourander

Doctoral Researcher, Neuroscience

Coffey Lab, office 5045
+358 (0)29 450 3784
christel.c.sourander [at] utu.fi
In my PhD project, I am studying how loss of cellular homeostasis may lead to behavioral changes at the level of the whole organism.

Antonio Goncalves de Sousa

Doctoral Candidate

Elo Lab

antonio.goncalvesdesousa [at] utu.fi

Inna Starskaia

Doctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa lab

inna.starskaia (at) utu.fi

Freddy Suarez-Rodriguez

Doctoral Candidate

Postdoc Board, Sahlgren Lab


Suvi-Riitta Sulander

Undergraduate Student

Peuhu Lab

srmsul [at] utu.fi

Giulia Sultana

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab
+358466565957
giulia.sultana [at] abo.fi

Background

  • PhD in Cell Biology (ongoing)
  • Trainee in Anatomical Pathology
  • Trainee in Translational Medicine
  • Master of Science in Biomedical Applications
  • Bachelor’s degree in Biology

Research interests

  • Cytoskeleton signaling
  • ECM remodeling
  • Cell migration in cancer and wound healing
  • Imaging

Kim Sundfors

Laboratory Engineer

Office 5023
+358 (0)29 450 3737
kim.sundfors [at] utu.fi / tbctrouble@utu.fi

Tomi Suomi

Doctoral Candidate

Elo Lab, office 7116
+358 (0)29 450 3803
tomi.suomi [at] bioscience.fi

Thomas Svoboda

Papageorgiou Lab




Rifahul Abrar Taiseer

Undergraduate Student

Zhang Lab

mratai [at] utu.fi

Ifrat Tamanna

Student

Metabolomics


Tatiana Tarkhova

Master Student

Eriksson Lab

tatiana.t.tarkhova [at] utu.fi

Background:

  • Joined the HPV project to conduct her master’s thesis
  • Technician at central animal laboratory of Turku (2019-2021)
  • Master’s degree in Drug discovery and development (2020-2022)
  • Bachelor’s degree in Biomedicine (2017-2020)

Research interest:

  • Early phase drug development
  • Oncology
  • Computer aided drug design
  • TurboID

Anupa Thapa

Multimedia group



anupa.thapa [at] utu.fi

Pauli Tikka

PostDoctoral Researcher




Lauriina Tola

Undergraduate Student

Rantakari Lab 5021

lauriina.a.tola [at] utu.fi

Maria Tuominen

Project Engineer

Elenius Lab 4438
+358 (0) 29 450 4439
martuo [at] utu.fi

Dulashini Udawatta

Trainee

Courtney Lab

dulashini.l.udawattakankanamgedona [at] utu.fi

Tommi Välikangas

Doctoral Candidate

Elo Lab, office 7116
+358 (0)29 450 3803
tsvali [at] bioscience.fi

Katri Vaparanta

Doctoral Candidate

Elenius Lab
+358 (0)29 450 4438
kmvapa [at] utu.fi

Reija Venho

Laboratory Technician

FFGC
+358 (0)29 450 3754
reija.venho [at] bioscience.fi

Sami Ventelä

Group Leader

office 4124

satuve [at] utu.fi

Arun Venu

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab
+358 41 49 39 527
apoonthu [at] abo.fi

Background

Master of Science in Biomedical Imaging Bachelor’s degree in biotechnology

Research interests

  • Development of Functional materials at biological interfaces for wound healing.
  • Vimentin’s role in cell migration (fibroblast, macrophages and zebrafish)
  • Bioimaging and image analysis

Anniina Vihervaara

Postdoctoral Researcher

Sistonen Lab
+358 (0)2 215 4055
anniina.vihervaara [at] abo.fi

Postdoctoral fellow working in the laboratory of John Lis at Cornell University, New York.

Pasi Viljakainen

Senior Technician

Office 5081
+358 (0)29 450 3757
pasi.viljakainen [at] bioscience.fi

Jenna Villman

Research Assistant

Zebrafish core

jenna.m.villman [at] utu.fi

Eveliina Virtanen

Project Specialist, Quality manager

FFGC
+358 (0)29 450 2764
eveliina.virtanen [at] bioscience.fi

Etta-Liisa Virtomaa

Laboratory Technician

Rantakari Lab

etliva [at] utu.fi

Kim Vortriede

Undergraduate Student

Dickens Lab


Mikael Wasberg

Laboratory Manager

Office 5023
+358 (0)2 215 3913
mikael.wasberg [at] bioscience.fi

Jukka Westermarck

Research Director, Group Leader

Office 4124
+358 (0)29 450 2880
jukwes [at] utu.fi

Ziyu Yang

Doctoral Researcher

Oresic Lab

ziyu.yang@utu.fi

Peiru Yang

Doctoral Candidate

Eriksson Lab
+385 (0)418084762
peiru.yang [at] abo.fi; peiru.yang [at] bioscience.fi

Background

  • Trainee in John Eriksson Laboratory (2018-2019, Åbo Akademi University)
  • Trainee in Pharmaceutical Science Laboratory (2017-2018, Åbo Akademi University)
  • Master's Degree in Medicine (2016-2019, Jiangsu University, China)
  • Medical internship and rotation in surgery and radiology (2015-2016, The 81st Hospital of the People's Liberation Army, China)
  • Bachelor's Degree in Medicine (2010-2015, Jiangsu University, China)

Research interests

  • Cytoskeletal signaling
  • Lipid droplet development and lipid metabolism
  • Immunometabolism
  • Wound Healing

Venkatram Yellapragada

Postdoctoral Researcher

Westermarck Lab, office 4120
+358 (0)29 450 3790
venkatram.yellapragada [at] utu.fi

Background

  • PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology (2022), Research group of Prof. Taneli Raivio, Stem Cells and Metabolism (STEMM) Research Program, Research Programs Unit (RPU), Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
  • MSc in Molecular Biotechnology (2014), Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland

Project

RAS/PP2A targets in rRNA metabolism in RAS-driven cancers

Nina Ylinen

Undergraduate student

Zebrafish Core

nina.a.ylinen [at] utu.fi

Wei Zhang

Postdoctoral Researcher

Westermarck Lab, office 4120
+358 (0)29 450 3790
wei.w.zhang [at] utu.fi
Background
  • PhD candidate in Cancer Sciences, The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
  • MSc in Clinical Immunology (2019), The University of Manchester, United Kingdom
Project

Investigating the awakening mechanisms of drug-tolerant persister cancer cells

Hongbo Zhang

Tenure Track Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory


+358 (0)22 154 141
hongbo.zhang [at] utu.fi

Junnian Zhou

Postdoctoral Resercher


+ 358 (0)449124391
junnian.zhou [at] utu.fi
Holder of Biology Bechelor degree from Fudan university, Shanghai, China; Ph.D. degree from Beijing Institute of Transfusion Medicine, China. His research interests focus on the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in diseases, targeted therapy of cancer stem cells, tissue repair and radiation medicine based on adult stem cell therapy and multifunctional nanomaterials. He has published more than 30 articles in Hepatology (IF=11.711. 2015), Cell Death & Diseases (IF=5.9, 2019), Stem Cells Development (IF=4.6, 2012) and other journals.