Adjunct Professor of Medical Microbiology and Principal Investigator, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki
I am the group leader of the One Health Pathogenomics Research Group, with a multidisciplinary background in information technology, next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, epidemiology, virology, and microbiology. I also serve as a Visiting Associate Professor at the
My research focuses on the genomics, evolution, and molecular epidemiology of emerging and re-emerging pathogens across humans, animals, and the environment. I lead multiple projects spanning veterinary microbiology, microbial genomics, epidemiology, and One Health approaches. Additionally, I am actively involved in developing animal models to study emerging infectious diseases and co-lead the Viikki BSL-3 animal facility at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, with Prof. Tarja Sironen.
PhD, DVM, Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Ilja Weinstein holds an MS in physiology, a PhD in bioinformatics, and a Licentiate in veterinary medicine. His research focuses on applying novel sequencing technologies and bioinformatics to advance diagnostics of infectious diseases in both human and veterinary medicine. With over 14 years of experience in biological sequence analysis, he has contributed to method development, PCR, and next-generation sequencing applications. Previously publishing under the name Plyusnin, he has authored 14 research papers, which have received 459 citations, with an h-index of 10.
MD, PhD Student
I am a doctoral researcher working on urogenital schistosomiasis. My research focuses on the bladder carcinoma associated with this parasitic infection. The aim of my research is to use the latest developments in multi-omics to bring to light the carcinogenic factors of this disease.
MSc, PhD Student
Bartosz Mundt is a PhD candidate in the One Health Pathogenomics Research Group at the University of Helsinki. His research focuses on the Urban Rat Virome Project, where he applies next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics to study viral diversity in rodent populations. His work aims to uncover potential zoonotic threats and improve understanding of ecological drivers of virus emergence in urban environments.
DVM, PhD Student
Shabani Kiyabo Motto is a PhD student in the One Health Pathogenomics Research Group at the University of Helsinki. His doctoral project investigates the genomic diversity and transmission dynamics of Leptospira spp. between livestock and rodents in Tanzania, with a focus on understanding risks of zoonotic spillover to humans. With professional experience as a laboratory scientist and livestock research officer at the Tanzania Veterinary Laboratory Agency, he has worked extensively on zoonoses including anthrax, brucellosis, leptospirosis, and Rift Valley fever. His research applies a One Health approach to improve livestock health, prevent disease spillover, and inform evidence-based interventions for public health.
MSc student
Onnia is focusing on the development of graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to improve accessibility and usability of bioinformatics tools created in the group. Her work aims to bridge computational methods with user-friendly design, supporting researchers in pathogen genomics and infectious disease studies.