Pietiläinen received his PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Helsinki, while also spending several years at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, UK. For his postdoc, Pietiläinen moved to the Broad Institute and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA to analyze functional impact of genetic risk variants in schizophrenia using human neuronal models.
“Once again the Neuroscience Center call for Group Leader positions attracted a lot of outstanding applicants from all over the world. Our great research environment within HiLIFE and with local and national partners in particular was praised by all interviewed candidates” says Jari Koistinaho, the Director of Neuroscience Center.
NC launched a call for two group leader positions in September 2019 with a deadline of October 27. From the total of 57 applications, an eight-member appointment committee chaired by Professor Jari Koistinaho short-listed eight applications to be evaluated and interviewed by NC’s Scientific Advisory Board during a site visit, which took place on December 2-3 in Meilahti Campus of the University.
“Pietiläinen is an outstanding researcher and brings top-level expertise in complex disease genetics and functional genomics to the Neuroscience Center” Koistinaho states.
“My goal is to understand the genetic basis and biological mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders and to enable development of effective medicine and novel therapies for these disorders” says Olli Pietiläinen.
“The extraordinary scientific community at the Neuroscience Center and HiLiFE provides an outstanding opportunity for translational research in neuroscience. I am both proud and enthusiastic to be part of further building and developing this research environment” Pietiläinen adds.
Further information:
Jari Koistiaho
Director, Neuroscience Center
Jari.koistinaho@helsinki.fi
+358 50 378 9207