Can you say a few words about yourself?
I was born and raised in a small town called Karttula which is part of a city called Kuopio in Eastern Finland. I went to school in Kuopio and attended the University of Eastern Finland where I did my bachelor’s thesis, master’s thesis as well as my PhD.
Did you choose your profession or did it choose you?
I think I can say that the profession I currently am chose me. When I started my studies in UEF, in applied physics, I did not know what I wanted to be. Then I applied to a summer job at the UEF aerosol physics department and got my interest in aerosol cloud interactions as well as modelling.
What attracted you to join LAPI?
For me, LAPI represents high end science done by top performers in the science field, but in a friendly and relaxed work environment.
Can you speak about the projects you are currently working on and other ones in the past?
In my past I have been working with global modelling, doing model development with global aerosol-climate model ECHAM-HAMMOZ as well as OpenIFS. Currently I am working with coupling PMCAMx-UF and WRF through prognostic cloud droplets.
What have been some of your biggest successes?
My biggest successes have been my work related to modelling of SOA formation in boreal trees due to herbivore infestation and their impacts to climate. I think I can also say that successfully defending my doctoral thesis was also one of the biggest successes.
What do you enjoy to do, outside of science and research?
I love to cycle around during my leisure time. In Finland I also liked to go cross country skiing, but now that I am working in Greece it is a bit hard. However, as I am living here I like to explore the country as well as their culture.
A free thought for the end?
An advice I would give to myself at the beginning would be not to worry or stress too much about the future. Everything usually works out fine in the end even though you make bad decisions, as long as you try your best in every aspect of life.