People

Members of the BioGeoClimate Modelling Lab.
Miska Luoto

Professor, leader

Physical geography

  • Species distribution modelling
  • Climate change impact modelling
  • Modelling of Earth system processes
  • Biogeography and macroecology
  • Arctic environmental change

Department of Geosciences and Geography

P.O. Box 64 (Physicum, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2a, room A136)

00014 University of Helsinki

FINLAND

Phone: +35844 2727327

miska.luoto@helsinki.fi

J. Sakari Salonen

Postdoctoral researcher, PhD

My research is focused on the palaeoclimate of the Late Quaternary period.

Department of Geosciences and Geography

P.O. Box 64 (Physicum, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2a)

00014 University of Helsinki

FINLAND

sakari.salonen@helsinki.fi

Juha Aalto

Research professor (Tenure track), PhD

My research is focused on local climate variation and cold-region land surface processes.

Department of Geosciences and Geography

P.O. Box 64 (Physicum, Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2a)

00014 University of Helsinki

FINLAND

Finnish Meteorological Institute

P.O Box 503

00101 HELSINKI

FINLAND

juha.aalto@helsinki.fi

juha.aalto@fmi.fi

Heidi Mod

University lecturer, PhD

My research covers broadly themes related to biogeography with focus on ecosystem structure and function in high-latitude and -altitude environments.

Phone: +358 50 528 0547

heidi.mod@helsinki.fi

Anna-Maria Virkkala

Postdoctoral researcher, PhD

The main focus of my research is to assess the magnitude, drivers, and changes in high-latitude carbon balance. I utilize carbon flux and other field measurements, satellite data, and various modeling approaches in my studies. My work is driven by the rapidly changing northern regions, their vast carbon stocks, and the need to understand the impacts of climate change.

anna-maria.virkkala@helsinki.fi

Hamid Darabi

Postdoctoral researcher, PhD

My research focuses on i) remote sensing of environmental changes and ii) water resources management. I also utilize satellite imagery to analyze vegetation dynamics, and climate impacts on hydrological processes.

hamid.darabi@helsinki.fi

Johanna Lehtinen

Doctoral researcher, MSc 

In my PhD, I focus on cool microclimates—their drivers, spatiotemporal variation, and ecological significance. By combining field measurements with advanced modelling techniques and beautiful visualizations, I aim to uncover the potential of cool microclimates to act as refugia for species under climate change. 

johanna.lehtinen@helsinki.fi

Susanna Koivusaari

Doctoral researcher, MSc 

I'm a physical geographer with a stong interest in ecology and conservation biology. My research focuses on climate change and land use impacts on biodiversity, mainly on plants and butterflies. 

susanna.koivusaari@helsinki.fi

Johannes Niemi

Doctoral researcher, MSc 

My research topic is terrestrial high-latitude carbon dynamics with a focus on greenhouse gas measurements and modelling in relation to various environmental drivers. My aim is to better comprehend the complex biogeochemical cycles and environmental change in the rapidly warming arctic.

johannes.niemi@helsinki.fi

Annika Reijonen

Doctoral researcher, MSc 

In my PhD, I focus on soil organic carbon stocks in high-latitude ecosystems. My main interests are identifying the key drivers of soil organic carbon, developing spatial predictive models, and predicting climate change scenarios.

annika.reijonen@helsinki.fi

Petri Manninen

Doctoral researcher, MSc 

I study boreal forest microclimates and their variability, focusing on the key drivers of forest climate dynamics and their interactions with local environmental conditions.

petri.a.manninen@helsinki.fi

Research assistants

We thank our current and former research assistants for their important input in data collection! 

  • Aapo Keinänen
  • Anna Liljefors
  • Annika Luoma
  • Eero Turkki
  • Leo Mäklin
  • Sara Solastie
  • Tiina Aalto
  • Vilma Rajasuu

If your name is missing from the list or some personal information needs to be updated, please contact Johanna or Annika.