I am a professor in computational space physics at the University of Helsinki, jointly funded by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. My research interests range from fundamental plasma physics and space weather to high performance computing and supercomputer technologies. With my team I’m modelling the near-Earth plasma environment using the world’s first global hybrid-Vlasov simulation code, Vlasiator. Vlasiator is developed with my two European Research Council grants (Starting, 2007, Consolidator, 2015). I am proud to be the PI of this code.

Short bio

Minna Palmroth is a professor in computational space physics at the University of Helsinki and Finnish Meteorological Institute. She is the Director of the Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, Finland’s first own space program. Palmroth has won the prestigious European Research Council grant twice (Starting 2007; Consolidator 2015). Of her scientific achievements, the most important is Vlasiator, the world’s most accurate space environment simulation. Palmroth holds important positions of trust. In 2022, in recognition for her highly active in outreach, societal impact and policy advising, she received the J.V. Snellman Prize. In 2023, she was awarded the prestigious Copernicus Medal for her scientific achievements.

Longer bio

Minna Palmroth is a professor in computational space physics at the University of Helsinki (2017-). Her research area includes the physics of the near-Earth space, its implications to the societal infrastructure and sustainable space economy. Her key areas of expertise are the global energy circulation within the magnetosphere – ionosphere system, and modelling both in the MHD and ion-kinetic regimes.

Palmroth received an MSc degree in 1999, and a PhD degree in 2003. She become a Head of Department at the Finnish Meteorological Institute (2011) to lead researchers in fields ranging from radar and space technology to earth observation and space weather. As a Head of Department, she held several significant positions of trust, e.g., as the Finnish Delegate in the Scientific and Technical group in the European Weather Spacecraft organization (EUMETSAT).

In 2013 she became a research professor at the Finnish Meteorological Institute. She has held several highly competitive scientific positions in Finland: Academy of Finland postdoctoral fellow (2005-2008), and Academy research fellow (2008-2013). She is a PI or Co-PI in research grants worth over 17 M€, including two European Research Council grants, first (Starting) in 2007 and second (Consolidator) in 2016. Of her scientific achievements, the most important is Vlasiator, the world’s most accurate space environment simulation. Vlasiator has made a paradigm change in modelling the space environment, and it has been used to make new discoveries that were not imagined before the accurate picture of space became available. As PI of Vlasiator, she has won several prestigious PRACE Tier-0 grants, making her research group among the top in the Finnish high-performance computing.

In 2017 she became a full professor in the University of Helsinki, Finland. In 2018, her vision and strategy for sustainable utilization of space was selected to form a Finnish Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space, where she is now a Director. In 2021 she became the Chair of Board for the Technology Academy Finland, awarding the 1 million euro Millennium Technology Prize, which is Finland’s tribute for a better life. Palmroth is a member in the Finnish Society of Science and Letters (limited to 30 members in natural sciences in Finland), the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters and the Finnish Academy of Technological Sciences.

Palmroth is an internationally distinguished researcher and holds important national and international positions of trust. She is a member of the INFRAG committee advising the EuroHPC supercomputer infrastructure. She was, e.g., the Chair of the Space Advisory Group for the European Commission. She is highly active both in outreach and societal impact. She is personally interested in coupling science and research with the public and private sectors, and is holding several prestigious positions of trust in the private sector as well. Her career includes a year-long maternity leave.