People

Principal investigator, Director of

PhD, Docent

Anne Salonen has multidisciplinary training in biosciences and PhD in molecular virology (2004). She has studied human microbiomes since 2007. Her current research focuses on early life microbiota, microbiota-driven dietary response stratification and the role of vaginal microbiota in obstetric and gynaecological health.

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Post-doctoral researcher

My work explores host-microbe interactions, particularly in metabolic diseases and early-life gut microbiome development, aiming to inform therapeutic strategies. Beyond microbiome studies, I investigate the links between food processing and human health, striving to translate scientific discoveries into practical solutions for improved planetary health.

Research Associate

Eveliina Hanski's (PhD, 2023) research focuses on the drivers and consequences of gut microbiota maturation in early life. In particular, she studies the relative importance of pre and post-natal factors on the developing gut community, as well as whether microbiota maturation trajectories predict health outcomes.

Post-doctoral researcher

Cem Duru (PhD, 2022) is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in the gut microbiota's role in fiber degradation within the FIBRE-MATCH project. His work identifies distinct gut microbiome subtypes based on fiber degradation capabilities, gas production potential, and short-chain fatty acid production profiles. Using metagenomic sequencing and functional analysis, he characterizes these microbiome patterns to develop microbiota-matched dietary recommendations. His research aims to enhance fiber intake while minimizing gastrointestinal side effects.

Post-doctoral researcher

My project is part of the Sweet Crosstalk International Training Network and will explore the interactions between the vaginal microbiota and the cervicovaginal mucus in terms of health, HPV infection, and infertility. In the scope of this project we will utilize next generation sequencing and mass spectrometry techniques coupled with bioinformatics.

My research interests fall within cancer biology, immunology & the microbiome project with direct clinical applications. In terms of studies I have significant interests in neurosciences, organic chemistry, and quantum mechanics

MD, Post-doctoral researcher

PhD, Visiting researcher

My research investigates the development of early-life gut microbiota and its long-term effects on wellbeing. Currently, my research focuses on how early gut-microbiota patterns relate to neurocognitive development and mental health in children, aiming to identify biological markers that could enable earlier detection and intervention for neurocognitive disorders.

MD, Doctoral researcher

Doctoral researcher

I have my MSc from genetics and molecular biosciences, but my background is in obstetrics and clinics. Currently, I’m on my PhD on pregnancy complications’ effect on microbiota and metabolome, and on child metabolic health in the long run. My aim is to detect biomarkers associated with these disorders through multi-omics approach, contributing to early risk identification, and ultimately to decrease the transgenerational risks of pregnancy disorders. I’ve been working with low-biomass bacterial and fungal qPCR optimization, and lately also launching digital PCR. Aside my PhD work, I’m investigating breastfeeding and formula use in early childhood. I spend my free time with my family, enjoying doing different kind of sports and outdoor activities. 

Doctoral researcher

I graduated from the University of Padova in Italy with an M.Sc. in Biotechnology for Food Science, building on my Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology. My fascination with microbiome research began during my undergraduate studies and has guided my academic journey ever since. As a PhD student in the HELMI cohort project, I aim to investigate the developmental trajectories of early-life gut microbiota and their associations with diet, parental microbiota, and metabolic health. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, swimming, playing volleyball and badminton, learning new skills, and exploring local cultures around the world.

M.Sc., Laboratory coordinator, HUMI-coordinator

Tuomas (M.Sc.; B.Eng.) has worked as a Product Developer in dietary supplement industry and as a Research Technician in the University of Helsinki. His research has focused mainly on human microbiology and clinical nutrition.

M.Sc., Laboratory technician

Levi is a microbiologist with a background in biotechnology and molecular biology. His current work focuses on the isolation, cultivation, and characterization of bacteria from vaginal samples with an emphasis on fastidious and anaerobic bacteria. He is particularly interested in host-associated microbial communities relevant to women’s health.

M.Sc. student

My thesis focuses on quantitative microbiota profiling, specifically comparing computationally predicted microbiome profiles against quantitative PCR–based reference measurements. Through this project, I aim to better understand how different analytical approaches influence the interpretation of gut microbiome data. I am particularly interested in integrating molecular biology methods with bioinformatics in gut microbiome research.