On 12 April 2018, after an interview of the applicants by the University Collegium and a joint discussion between the Board of the University of Helsinki and the Collegium, the Board convened to agree on the next steps of the appointment process for the rectorship.
The Board decided to invite Liisa Laakso, Jari Niemelä and Outi Vaarala for further assessment.
Liisa Laakso
Liisa Laakso, Doctor of Social Sciences, is the current rector of the University of Tampere. She has previously held the position of dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki from 2010 to 2015.
Jari Niemelä
Jari Niemelä, Doctor of Philosophy, is director of the Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science HELSUS and professor of urban ecology at the University of Helsinki. He has previously served as dean of the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences from 2004 to 2017.
Outi Vaarala
Outi Vaarala, Doctor of Medical Science, is professor of paediatric immunology and head of lung immunity at the Astra Zeneca RIA IMED Biotech Unit. She also serves as a research director at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki.
The Board aims to select the rector in its evening meeting on 25 April.