I am a professor in space physics at the University of Helsinki (UH). I have strong and long-time experience in studying eruptions from the Sun, including their effects in the Earth’s magnetosphere. My key research interests are
- Evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and their shocks and sheaths in the corona and interplanetary space
- Turbulence in the solar wind (in particular in CME-driven sheaths)
- Data-driven modelling of eruptive solar magnetic fields
- Initiation of CMEs
- Forecasting space weather relevant parameters of CMEs in the near-Earth solar wind
- Electron dynamics in the Van Allen radiation belts
I am an active publisher. I have ~200 articles in peer-reviewed journals, from which 39 are as a first-author. My ISI-H index 43.
I have been very successful in obtaining research funding. I am a team leader of Finnish Centre of Excellence and the coordinator of a H2020 Marie Curie Innovative Network. I got an ERC Consolidator Grant in 2016. My other most important past/currently active research projects include several EU H2020 and FP7 projects (as a Work Package leader), Academy projects (co-I), Academy of Finland Research Fellowship and UH Three Year Research Grant Project.
My supervising experience covers 50 post-docs, PhD students, and MSc/BSc students and I participate actively to institutional responsibilities at UH. For examples, I am the leader of the Doctoral Programme in Particle Physics and Universe Sciences (PAPU) that consist of about 70 doctoral students and I’m also a member of the educational jury board. I have lectured/am lecturing several master’s level courses on plasma physics and their space applications, and electromagnetisms for the first year students.
During my career I have gather a very active and wide international collaboration network. I’m participating actively to conference organising and act as part of international committees. Currently I am a Finnish delegate of ESA Science Program Committee, the President of EGU Solar-Terrestrial Sciences Division and co-leader in the SCOSTEP/PRESTO program for 2020-2024. I am a former member of the board of European Solar Physics Division and acted as a President of the Finnish Physical Society (2020-2021) before being several years as a board member. I am member of Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters and Finnish Academy of Letters and Sciences.
I take actively part in science outreach, e.g., visit schools, give public seminars, organise outreach events and tweet actively (http://@EmiliaKilpua). Recently I published a popular science book about the Sun (Aurinko – tuttu ja tuntematon tähtemme: Emilia Kilpua & Hannu Koskinen, ISBN 9789523452329)