Personnel

Anna Aakula

Postdoctoral Researcher

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

Background

  • PhD in Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. Conducted in the research group of Prof. Olli Kallioniemi, at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), Helsinki.
  • MSc in Biosciences, Faculty of Science, Åbo Akademi University.

Project

Dephosphorylational regulation of the epigenetic machinery in progression and treatment resistance of NSCLC.

Anna Aalto

Postdoc Board

anna.aalto@abo.fi

Oluwatosin Abe

Project Researcher

Paul Abhijit

PostDoctoral Researcher

abhijit.paul@utu.fi

Soroush Abyari

Project Researcher, Neuroscience

Coffey Lab, office 5045 soroush.s.abyari [at] utu.fi

Adetunji Adedeji

Undergraduate Student

Coffey Lab

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

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 Centre for Biotechnology, since 2012
  • University Research Fellow, Animal Bioscience, University of Eastern Finland,  2010-2011
  • Certificated Degree in Pedagogy, Jyväskylä University of Applied Science, Finland, 2010
  • 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, Animal Biotechnology, University of Kuopio, Finland, 2001

Ujjwal Aryal

Undergraduate Student

Eriksson Lab ujjwal.u.aryal [at] bioscience.fi

Kedar Batkulwar

Postdoctoral Researcher

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

Shruti Bhardiya

Doctoral Student

shrutinitin.bhardiya@utu.fi
Background
  • BS Biotechnology, University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India
  • MS Molecular Oncology, Amity University, Delhi NCR, 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

Anna Brunell

Doctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa lab

Tanja Buchacher

Postdoctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa lab tanja.buchacher [at] utu.fi

Umar Butt

Doctoral Candidate

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

Background:

  • B.S. Bioinformatics-COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan
  • M.S. Biomedical Imaging-Åbo Akademi University, Finland

Project:

Characterization of Oncogenic and metastatic properties of SHARPIN

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

Jana Crespo

Westermarck Lab

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 3790 oxana.denisova [at] utu.fi

Background

  • Ph.D. in Medicine (Molecular Virology) in 2014 at Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM)University of Helsinki, Finland.
  • M.Sc. in Biology (Molecular Biology) in 2007, at 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

Metabolomics, office 5019

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

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

  • Ph.D. in Biological Science (2020), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
  • Master in Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), 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

+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

Milja Hakoniemi

Project worker

Westermarck Lab milja.a.hakoniemi [at] utu.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

+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.

Tuulia Hyötyläinen

Professor

Affiliated Member of Systems Medicine

Mohsin Imran

Doctoral Student

Tassos Lab mohsin.imran [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

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

Project Researcher

Lönnberg Lab shreya.s.joshi [at] 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[at]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, Westermarck Group

Westermarck Lab jesse.kamila[at]utu.fi

Krishna Kanhaiya

Postdoctoral Researcher

Orešič Lab krishna.kanhaiya [at] utu.fi

Maritta Kantanen

Instrument Technician

maritta.kantanen [at] utu.fi

Pragya Karmacharya

Undergraduate student

Oresic Lab

Henok Karvonen

Project specialist | Multimedia producer

Turku Bioscience +358 (0)4 56 955689

Roosa Kattelus

Doctoral Researcher

Lahesmaa Lab roosa.m.kattelus [at] utu.fi

Otto Kauko

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

Cancer Proteomics

Tejas Kaundinya

Undergraduate student

Lahesmaa Lab

Aleksi Kauro

Oresic Lab

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

Sanna Kotilainen

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

Nora Kullberg

Undergraduate student

Westermarck Lab nora.j.kullberg [at] utu.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

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

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

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

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 [at] 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

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

Satu Mäkelä

Project Specialist

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

Faridun Mamadbekov

Master Student

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

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 [at] 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

Katarzyna Miniewska

Postdoctoral Researcher

Metabolomics

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

Alex Montoya

Master Student

Coffey Lab

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

Sebastián Zuñiga Norman

Project Researcher

Elo Lab sizuno [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

Viral Vector Core +358294503776 zsuzsanna.ortutay [at] utu.fi

Zsuzsanna Ortutay

Genome Editing Core/Viral Vector zsuzsanna.ortutay [at] utu.fi

Mirva Pääkkönen

Project Researcher

+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

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

Project Researcher

Lönnberg Lab

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

Nirmal Poudel

Doctoral Student

Tassos Lab nirpou [at] utu.fi

Roosa Pulliainen

Undergraduate student

Lahesmaa Lab

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

Suvi Rajaniemi

Undergraduate Student

Westermarck Lab suvi.a.rajaniemi [at] utu.fi

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    

Oso Rissanen

Laboratory Technician

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

Olof Rundquist

Elo Group and Lahesmaa group, Office 7090 olof.rundquist [at] utu.fi

Emilie Rydgren

Coordinator / Project Researcher

Single-Cell Omics & Lahesmaa Lab, office 5022 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

Tayyab Saleem

Undergraduate student

Oresic Lab taysal [utu] utu.fi

Katja Salonen

Master student

Metabolomics

Ines Faci Sanchez

Ivaska Lab ines.facisanchez [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 student

Westermarck Lab, Office 4120 priyadharshini.p.paimelazhagansanthi [at] utu.fi

Background

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

Mudhita Shakya

Master Student

Mukund Sharma

Doctoral Candidate

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

Background

  • MSc in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology from 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

Lucas Pinto da Silva

Postdoctoral Researcher

Metabolomics lucas.pintodasilva [at] utu.fi

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

Ilias Thomas

Postdoctoral research associate

Affiliated Member of Systems Medicine

Mari Tiehaara

Undergraduate Student

Westermarck Lab, office 4121 msstie [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

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

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

Project Researcher

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

Education

  • PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology, studied in the research group of Prof. Taneli Raivio, at the 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, 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

Ali Youssef

Project Researcher

Coffey Lab aymost [at] utu.fi

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.