Management and decision-making
The Faculty is led by Dean Craig Primmer. The Faculty also has four vice-deans, whose main areas of responsibility are research, educational affairs, societal interaction, and doctoral education.
Faculty Council
The Faculty Council exercises the highest decision-making authority; in addition to the dean, it consists of 6 professors, 6 members elected from other teachers, researchers and other staff, and 6 student members.
Under the direction of the dean, the Faculty Council enhances the Faculty’s overall operations in accordance with the University’s operational and financial objectives, the Strategic Plan of the University of Helsinki as well as the Faculty’s implementation plan.
The term of office for the Faculty Council is four years, with the exception that student members are elected for a two-year term.
Faculty Council meetings
Meetings, agendas and minutes
The agendas and minutes of the Faculty Council are posted in Finnish on the for students and staff of the University. A list of Faculty Council members can be found on the same page. To use Flamma, you must log in with your University username and password. If you cannot access Flamma, please contact
Spring 2026
All meetings start at 12.15.
- Tuesday 20.1.2026, Info Centre Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 7.1.2026 at 15.45 (note: exceptionally 13 days before meeting instead of 14 days due to Epiphany on 6.1.)
- Tuesday 24.2.2026, Info Centre Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 10.2.2026 at 15.45
- Tuesday 31.3.2026, Info Centre Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 17.3.2026 at 15.45
- Tuesday 28.4.2026, Info Centre Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 14.4.2026 at 15.45
- Wednesday 20.5.2026, Info Centre Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 6.5.2026 at 15.45
- Tuesday 16.6.2026, remote/online
Materials must be submitted no later than 2.6.2026 at 15.45
Autumn 2026
All meetings start at 12.15.
- Tuesday 25.8.2026, Info Center Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 11.8.2026 at 15.45
- Tuesday 29.9.2026, Info Center Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 15.9.2026 at 15.45
- Tuesday 27.10.2026, Info Center Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 13.10.2026 at 15.45
- Tuesday 24.11.2026, Info Center Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 10.11.2026 at 15.45
- Tuesday 15.12.2026, Info Center Korona, hall 4024
Materials must be submitted no later than 1.12.2026 at 15.45
Agendas and minutes
The agendas and minutes of the Faculty Council are posted in Finnish on the for students and staff of the University. A list of Faculty Council members can be found on the same page. To use Flamma, you must log in with your University username and password. If you cannot access Flamma, please contact
Dean Craig Primmer
The Faculty is led by dean Craig Primmer.
For appointments, please contact the Dean's assistant, Soile Saloranta.
Sarah Butcher, vice-dean for research
Research, infrastructure, innovation, international affairs, space issues, and Dean's substitute
Johanna Mappes, vice-dean for academic affairs
Vice-dean Mappes is in charge of educational affairs.
Societal interaction, sustainability, wellbeing, donations and fundraising, internal communication
Ville Hietakangas, vice-dean for doctoral education
Doctoral education; Data Management; coordination of research-teaching interface
Directors of departments and director of biological research stations
Department of Molecular and Integrative Biosciences (MIBS)
Director Susanna Fagerholm and Deputy Director Francisco Rivera
Department of Organismal and Evolutionary Biology (OEB)
Director Frederic Guillaume and Deputy Director Jarno Vanhatalo
Department of Environmental Sciences (DES)
Director Erik Andersson and Deputy Director Olli-Pekka Penttinen
Biological research stations