Currently I am working as a postdoc at the University of Texas at Austin. I recently defended my doctoral dissertation in chemistry at the Tampere University. Previously, I obtained my Master's (Tampere University) in chemistry and biomaterials and Bachelor's in chemistry and physics (Tampere University of Technology). Below you can read my short biography. You can also click on "CV" in the title above to open my curriculum vitae.
Before university studies I have worked as a janitor, security guard, assistant for the disabled and instructor in the Finnish Defence Forces. The pre-university work history is often excluded in the academic setting. I, however, value the experiences I gained during those years. I worked with people from all walks of life and for example came upon multiple, both good and bad, approaches to leadership.
During my Bachelor's I got the chance to work as a research assistant in Prof. Timo Laaksonen's team. In my first research project I developed optically transparent electrodes using nanofibrillar cellulose and silver nanowires. That summer internship could be defined as a pivot point in my life and career. I had worked independently before but the opportunity to conduct my own little research project and tackle challenges felt thrilling.
After Bachelor's I took the opportunity to spend a semester of Master's courses in chemistry at the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands. The experience of moving and living abroad surely changed my outlook for career opportunities later on. Later during my Master's I also had the chance to visit the University of Kentucky, hosted by Prof. Chad Risko. This visit opened my eyes on research in the US.
After returning to Finland I continued my Master's studies at the Tampere University and as a research assistant for Prof. Timo Laaksonen. I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Nikita Durandin whose passion changed my outlook on research and science. First we worked on dye-loaded liposomes as a platform for light-activatable processes and therapies. One of the goals was to achieve triplet fusion upconversion in liposomes. In order to study the process in a relevant medium prior to applying the upconversion system in the more complex lipid bilayer, we turned to highly viscous polyethyleneglycols. After a steep learning curve, we were able to publish our first papers in photon upconversion. This set also set the ground work for my doctorate.
Thanks to the upconversion results we had already obtained during my Master's, I was able to hit the ground running for the doctorate. We kept on studying the more fundamental aspects of triplet-triplet annihilation while also enrolling photon upconversion systems to biomedically relevant media by utilizing different nanocarriers.
Besides triplet-triplet annihilation, triplet sensitization can be used in other photophysical/chemical phenomena, such as photoisomerization. Together with Prof. Arri Priimägi's group we applied triplet sensitization to azobenzenes. This represented interdepartmental collaboration at its best and resulted in two publications. After these encouraging results, I contacted Prof. Rainer Herges at the University of Kiel and pitched a project that involved triplet-sensitization and bridged azobenzene, also known as diazocine. Together we were able to fashion purely triplet sensitized bidirectional photswitching system, a first of its kind!
I started my postdoc at the University of Texas at Austin in October 2022. I am working in the Roberts group and collaborating closely with the Page group. The collaboration between Roberts and Page groups represents interdisciplinary research at its finest. Overall, working at UT Austin feels like the big leagues. The size and resources of the department are tremendous.
This postdoc naturally involved a big change in my life overall. The move between continents and cultures has been eye-opening and humbling. Despite all the effort and stress, I feel like I am right now in the absolute right place for my life and career.