University of Helsinki
Heidi AaltonenFormer Ph.D student, disputation on 11.6.2020, presently a PostDoc at the University of Eastern Finland MSc, Biogeochemical cycles, University of Helsinki, 2015 Area of Interest: Effects of forest fires on soil organic matter dynamics Publications in Tuhat database
Wafa AbakerFormer Ph.D student, disputation on 29.5.2018 Area of interest: Carbon dynamics in dryland ecosystems, water balance |
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Yiyang DingPostDoc 2022 onwards, PhD student 2015-2021 Ph.D thesis 2021: Fine-root dynamics and below- and aboveground carbon inputs into soil in boreal forests
Area of interest: Belowground ecology Publications in Tuhat database
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Jussi HeinonsaloProfessor in Forest Soil Science since 1.6.2021 My main research interest is carbon and nitrogen cycling in forest soil and the role of ericoid and ectomycorrhizal fungi in soil C and N dynamics. To study these processes, I am using molecular biological, enzymatic, chemical and stable isotope tools, and both laboratory and field experimentation. The soil C and N cycling were studied in the NITROFUNGI and PYROFUNGI projects (2012-2017). My earlier projects include studies on fungal bioremediation, VOC-compounds, bioactive compounds and biodiversity. Publications in Tuhat database Teaching: |
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Heljä-Sisko HelmisaariProfessor Emer. since 1.1.2022, Prof. in Forest Soil Science 1.6.2010-31.12.2021 Research in nutrient cycling For understanding the function of natural, managed or disturbed forest soils and ecosystems, the pools, fluxes and cycling of carbon and nutrients have to be understood and quantified. This has been the major theme in my research. My special research interests has been fine root dynamics, especially the responses of fine roots and their ectomycorrhizas to environment and interactions with the aboveground. The long-term effects of forest management on forest soil have also been among my special research topics. Helmisaari H-S. CV in Tuhat database Publications in Tuhat database
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Lilli KaarakkaAppointed in August 2020 as Assistant Professor in Forestry at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, USA, with start in 2021. Presently a PostDoc at the University of Colorado, E-mail lkaarakk@calpoly.edu Ph.D, disputation on 9.11.2018 Area of interest: Forest soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, soil disturbance and recovery and soil restoration. |
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Kristiina KarhuAssistant professor, Academy Researcher Research interests: Processes related to soil carbon cycling and feedbacks to climate change, temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter decomposition, soil carbon sequestration, interactions between soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, and soil carbon priming effects Current projects: Unravelling the mechanisms of the soil “microbial carbon pump” – soil C sequestration under global change (UNCAP) funded by the Academy of Finland (2018-2023) Increasing soil carbon stocks and reducing nitrogen leaching with biochar (InCan), University of Helsinki Three-Year Research Project (2018-2020) Research group: Soils and Climate Change |
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Maiju KosunenPostDoc since 1.1.2022, Former PhD student, disputation took place on 4.9.2020. Area of interest: Effects of disturbances (especially storms and insect outbreaks) on the carbon dynamics of forest soils. |
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Kajar KösterFormer Post-Doc Researcher, Department of Forest Sciences, University of Helsinki Presently University researcher at the university of Eastern Finland Research interests: Research is focusing to the carbon dynamics in forest soils, with special interest to disturbed (fire, wind, reindeer grazing, etc.) areas Current projects: Reindeer grazing vs. Changes in above- and below ground biota and soil carbon dynamics in subarctic boreal forests – guilty or not? (Kone Foundation) Research group web page: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/disturbances-and-biogeochemistry Publications in Estonian Research Information System Publications in Tuhat database Egle KösterPh.D, Project researcher Research interests: Long-term effects of forest fires on soil greenhouse gas fluxes and the use of biochar in the field of forestry, especially on the effects on tree seedlings growth and survival. Project web page: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/disturbances-and-biogeochemistry Publications in Tuhat database
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Jaana Leppälammi-KujansuuFormer Postdoctoral Researcher My research focuses on fine roots and their ectomycorrhizas and their responses to environmental changes like increased soil temperature and nutrient availability. In wider perspective I am interested in C cycling in boreal forests: the amount of root-origin litter C into the forest soil and its relation to aboveground litterfall. |
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Nele MeyerFormer Postdoctoral Researcher Research interest: Impact of climate change on soil organic matter turnover, processes related to microbial nutrient deficiency (priming effects, microbial nitrogen mining) Research Group: Soils and Climate Change |
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Kevin MgangaPostdoctoral Researcher Research interests:
Research group: Soils and Climate Change Publications in Tuhat database Marjo PalviainenUniversity researcher, University teacher (2018-2019) Expertise: Carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems, the effects of forest management on nutrient pools and fluxes, organic matter decomposition, ground vegetation, biogeochemistry of forest catchments |
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Jukka PumpanenJukka Pumpanen was appointed as Professor of Microbiological Biogeochemistry in the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio 1st October 2015. Present information: http://www.uef.fi/web/bgc/pumpanen Academy Research Fellow, Docent in Forest Soil Science Publications in Tuhat database Caius Ribeiro-KumaraPhD student Area of interest: Belowground ecology |
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Anu RiikonenDoctor (Agric. For.), University of Helsinki, 2016 Project researcher in various projects related to urban trees. Research interests include urban soils, engineered soils, urban tree root environment, root system structure and root function. Viikki Urban tree reseach projects’ common website Publications in Tuhat database Eva RothPhD student, started in 2020 MSc in Forest Sciences 2019 MSc thesis topic: Effects of canopy gaps on soil respiration and microbial activity in uneven-aged Norway spruce stands Area of interest: Forest management and soil carbon |
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Mike StarrPhD (University of Sheffield, UK, 1983) Research areas of interest: Forest ecosystem and catchment biogeochemistry, hydrology and water balance, forest management impacts, carbon sequestration and impacts of climate change, integrated monitoring, weathering, DOC and land-use, and heavy metals |
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Marjut WallnerFormer Laboratory technician |
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Qian ZhaoVisiting Ph.D student September 2016 – April 2017 South China Botanical Garden, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Research topic: Responses of soil microbial community structure and function to seasonal precipitation changes in subtropical forest soils Chunzi WangVisiting Ph.D student November 2017 – November 2018 Institute of Ecology and Forestry, Sichuan Agricultural University, China. Research topic: Effects of phenolic compounds and terpenes on soil processes, jointly with Dr. Aino Smolander´s group at the Natural Resources Institue (Luke). Syed Ashraful AlamDr. in Agriculture and Forestry, Univ. of Helsinki 2013 Research experience on African savannah woodlands (mainly in the Sudan) especially on biomass and soil carbon sequestration, deforestation and greenhouse gas emission inventory, ecosystem water balance, climate change and use of Global Climate Models (GCMs). |
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Shambhu Prasad SahPh.D. (Forestry), Univ. of Goettingen, Germany, 1990 Area of interest: Implications of natural abundance of stable isotopes and radiocarbon in Biogeochemical cycling studies, Forest soil /nutrients, Root longevity and Ecology |
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Loice Mildred Akinyi OmoroM.Sc. in Forest Resources & Conservation Area of interest: Ecosystem services, biomass and soil stocks, biodiversity, water balance and community participation. Contact information: |
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Mesele Negash TesemmaDoctor of Agriculture and Forest Sciences 2013 Area of interest: Carbon stocks in agroforestry systems in woody vegetation and soils, biodiversity and developing biomass and carbon models for indigenous agroforestry species in Ethiopia. Contact information in Tuhat database |
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Aki LindénPhD student My research is about microbial processes in general that are affecting carbon cycling in changing environmental conditions and the role of root exudation to below ground carbon dynamics. I am also interested in the role of bacteriophages for regulating soil dynamics. |
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