People

Prof. Mikko Sipilä is the co-leader of the Panda group and the head of Värriö sub-arctic research station and SMEAR I station located in Salla, eastern Lapland (/en/research-stations/varrio-subarctic-research-station). Mikko works with Arctic and Antarctic polar atmospheric research focusing on sea - ice - land ecosystem - atmosphere interactions mainly from aerosol formation point of view. He also investigates sub-arctic boreal forest - atmosphere interactions and the interference of anthropogenic air pollution. Furthermore, he collects data on north boreal flora and fauna, including birds, small mammals and apex predators.

Nina Sarnela Ph.D., University researcher working for trace gases in situ measurements in CiGas-UHEL topical center of ACTRIS, co-leader of the Panda group.

I’m experienced in in-situ gas and particle measurements, especially chemical ionization high resolution mass spectrometry, in field, chamber, and laboratory measurements. I’m interested in developing better instruments, operation procedures and methods of analysis for atmospheric in-situ measurements. I’m curious about Arctic particle formation and atmospheric oxidation products and their role in nucleation.

Lead Investigator of the Project “Molecular Steps of New Particle Formation in the Arctic Atmosphere- Long Term Measurements (NPF ARCTIC-II). My research focus is on the New Particle formation (NPF) processes through biogenic precursors in Arctic region. I aim to increase the understanding of the sources of biogenic volatile organic compounds in High Arctic and their implications on new particle formation. The objectives of my research involves Field campaigns in the Svalbard region using CIMS, Neutral cluster Air Ion Spectrometer and VOC flux chambers. My first love is always the Polar regions, however, I am also interested in carrying out studies elsewhere with a focus on biogenic precursors influencing NPF.

Post Doctoral Researcher at INAR for Investigating the chemistry of aerosol precursors in cold environments: From laboratory experiments to remote polar field observations.

Research on the chemical origin of nucleation in the antarctic peninsula and central arctic ocean. Expert on Mass Spectrometry measurements for chemical identification and quantification of gas-phase molecules and ions, precursor of aerosols. 

Matt Boyer is a postdoctoral researcher studying aerosol processes in polar environments. He is interested in the link between newly formed particles and their growth to CCN relevant sizes, and he enjoys making measurements in the field.

Cecilia Righi is a PhD student working towards standardization of nitrate-CIMS measurements and its calibrations. In her work she studies both field measurements of condensable vapours and exhaust experiments of aircrafts.

PhD student working with long-term mass spectrometry data and ambient ammonia measurements. 

Aarni Vaittinen is a PhD student studying the formation mechanisms of aerosols in the Arctic. His main focus area is currently in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard. He uses mass spectrometry to study atmospheric nucleation and gas-phase aerosol precursors. Aarni has also studied the interplay between aerosol processes and greenhouse gas fluxes in Finnish agricultural and forest ecosystems. He enjoys installing and maintaining instrumentation in the field.