Professors of practice always work part time (typically 20–50%) in addition to their regular duties. The goal is for professors of practice to strengthen the University’s community relations and visibility.
The position of professor of practice is filled by invitation. Since the position is not based on academic merit, no assessment procedure will be used in the appointment process. Professors of practice are not considered to be professorial staff.
More information on professors of practice is available through the University of Helsinki’s people finder.
Dr. Michael Burnard is an internationally distinguished researcher who is originally for US but moved to Slovenia to earn his PhD. Dr. Burnard has an excellent experience from positions in academic organizations, business management, and science-to-policy interface institutions in Europe and USA. In Europe, he has pioneered the development of wood-based construction through a Living Lab with his active role in its design and operations the InnoRenew CoE (Slovenia). He is a leader in academic networks, and is currently the Vice-President of InnovaWood and also a board member the Society for Wood Science and Technology among other duties.
The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry has invited Dr. Michael Burnard to serve as a part-time professor of practice in Sustainable Wood Construction and Healthy Living Environments for a fixed term of two years 1.10.2022-30.9.2024.
The Faculty of Law has invited LLD Markku Fredman to serve as a part-time professor of practice in Advocacy law for a fixed term of three years 1.8.2023-31.7.2026.
Martti Hetemäki, DSocSci, state secretary and permanent secretary, has had a distinguished career in the service of the Ministry of Finance. Before being appointed as permanent secretary, he served as an under-secretary and, prior to that, as director general of the Economics Department, among other positions. Hetemäki also chairs the board of Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, in addition to being the vice chair of the board of the Financial Supervisory Authority and member of the Security Committee.
Martti Hetemäki has a doctoral degree in social sciences from the University of Helsinki. His publications deal with fiscal policy, the economics of work, the international economy and the monetary union.
The Faculty of Social Sciences has invited Martti Hetemäki to the position of professor of practice in economics for a fixed term of five years. He took up the position in autumn 2020. The position of professor of practice is located at the Helsinki Graduate School of Economics (Helsinki GSE).
Jukka Jokinen, Docent, PhD, has had a long career at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) and its predecessor, the National Public Health Institute (KTL), particularly in scholarly and managerial positions related to vaccine research. As of the beginning of 2021, Jokinen has worked in a strategic role as the leading researcher at THL’s Department of Information Services directly under the director of information services, with responsibility for the Finnish coronavirus vaccination certificate project commissioned by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.
The Faculty of Science has invited Jukka Jokinen to serve as professor of practice in statistics for a fixed term of five years from 1 November 2021 to 31 October 2026.
Docent Timo Kaisanlahti, LLD, M.Sc. (Econ), works as the chief legal counsel of the Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company. He holds a doctorate in law and works as a docent of law and economics at the University of Eastern Finland.
The Faculty of Law has invited Timo Kaisanlahti to the part-time position of professor of practice in financial statements law commencing until 31.12.2027.
The Faculty of Pharmacy has invited Risto Kanerva to serve as a part-time professor of practice in Pharmaceutical Service Management and Preparedness for a fixed term of five years from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2028.
D.Sc. Kaisa Karttunen is a nationally and internationally distinguished researcher of food safety and global food systems, a civil servant and a science policy influencer at both the administrative and social interaction levels. Karttunen has extensive work experience in organizations relevant to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, such as the UN's FAO, as an adviser to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, as an advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in various international projects.
The Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry has invited Kaisa Karttunen to the position of part-time of professor of practice in Global and national food security for a term of two years, from 1 April 2023 onward.
Docent Jouni Keronen, DSc (Tech), has had a long and distinguished career in leading positions in the energy sector. His previous employers have included Fortum and Imatran Voima. From 2014 to 2021, Keronen was CEO of the Climate Leadership Coalition (CLC), which has grown into Europe’s largest climate–business network. Since 2022, he has served on a part-time basis as chair of the CLC’s Advisory Board and as an advisor to the CLC. During his career, Keronen has served as an expert member in a number of prominent Finnish organisations, and is currently vice-chair of the Finnish government’s Climate Policy Round Table. He has established significant international networks. In addition, he has been granted the title of docent by LUT University.
The Faculty of Science has invited Jouni Keronen to a part-time (40%) professorship of practice in the field of atmospheric research and climate change for a fixed term of five years from 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2027.
PhD, docent Kirsti Korkka-Niemi is a leading researcher in the field of applied hydrogeology in Finland. She works as an assistant research professor at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK).
The Faculty of Science has invited Kirsti Korkka-Niemi to the position of professor of practice in applied hydrogeology for a fixed term of five years from 1 April 2023 onward.
The Faculty of Pharmacy has invited PhD, docent Mikko Koskinen to serve as a part-time professor of practice in Drug Development for a fixed term of three years from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2026.
Mikko Kuusela, PhD, has worked in a variety of actuarial positions of high responsibility for more than 15 years in both the private and public sectors. As of 2021, Kuusela has been the director of pensions and a member of the management team at Finance Finland. Kuusela completed his doctoral thesis in applied mathematics at the University of Helsinki in 2004. In addition, he completed the actuary qualification approved by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health (‘SHV’) in 2007 and the CBM (Certified Board Member) training programme of the Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland in 2020. Kuusela has participated actively in insurance-sector training and its development. He also has significant international expertise and experience, having served, for example, on the OECD Working Party on Private Pensions and worked in a development project focused on the Zambian pension scheme.
The Faculty of Science has invited Mikko Kuusela to serve as a part-time (35%) professor of practice in actuarial mathematics for a fixed term of three years from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.
Hanna Nieminen-Finne is an administrative court judge, Doctor of Law and Doctor of Social Sciences. She has an extensive experience in administrative court duties. He works at the Vaasa Administrative Court as an administrative court judge and he has also worked as a advisor at the National Courts Administration. Nieminen-Finne's experience in administrative law appeals and court administration, combined with her publishing activities, show that she has a remarkably broad knowledge of public law. Nieminen-Finne is an alumnus of Vaasa's legal education and a solid supporter.
The Faculty of Law has invited him to the part-time position of professor of practice in law for a fixed term of five years from 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028.
The position of professor of practice in law is funded by various parties, like City of Vaasa, Regional Council of Ostrobothnia, Korsholm Municipality and six private foundations.
Dr. Anneli Pauli has a long career in science, innovation and university policy leadership. At the European Commission she was Deputy Director General of the DG Research and Innovation as well as of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and Senior Advisor to the Director General in research, innovation and competitiveness issues at the DG Climate Action. Pauli was at the Academy of Finland first as Secretary General and then as Vice-President. She was Rector at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and Director at the Heureka Science Centre.
Anneli Pauli earned her PhD in environmental sciences from the University of Helsinki. She holds the title of Doctor of Science in Technology, h. c. and Adjunct Professorship at Aalto University.
The Faculty of Science invited Anneli Pauli to the position of Professor of Practice in Global Grand Challenges commencing until 31 January 2025.
Docent Petri Peltonen, DPhil, is an expert in economic geology and mineralogy. Peltonen works as the managing director of Aurora Exploration, a Finnish company specialised in ore exploration. He has extensive experience in both research in geology and mineralogy, as well as in the industry.
The Faculty of Science has invited Petri Peltonen to the position of professor of practice in economic geology commencing until 31 December 2025.
Hannele Pokka, LLD, is a nationally and internationally distinguished, top-tier government official in environmental matters, a former Member of Finnish Parliament, Governor of the Province of Lapland and a high-level Finnish politician. In her position as permanent secretary at the Ministry of the Environment, Pokka has, over several decades, participated in high-level policy- and decision-making and public administration in Finland.
Hannele Pokka completed her doctorate at the Faculty of Law of the University of Helsinki. She is also docent in environmental law at the University of Lapland and honorary doctor in environmental and forest sciences at the former University of Jyväskylä (currently the University of Eastern Finland).
Throughout most of her career and in her positions as elected official, Hannele Pokka has been active, both thematically and regionally, in fields of key importance to the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences.
The Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences has invited Hannele Pokka to the position of professor of practice in environmental responsibility commencing until 31 August 2025.
During his long career at the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), Teemu Siiskonen, PhD, has served in several positions, including as head of laboratory and senior scientist. Since 2019, Siiskonen has also held the position of deputy director at STUK’s Department of Environmental Radiation Surveillance. He is also a visiting scientist and project leader at the Helsinki Institute of Physics (HIP). During his professional and research career, Siiskonen has served in a number of significant national and international positions as an expert member.
The Faculty of Science has invited Teemu Siiskonen to a part-time (20%) professorship of practice in the field of radiation dosimetry and interaction mechanisms for a fixed term of five years from 1 August 2022 to 31 July 2027.
The Faculty of Science has invited D.Sc. Matti Vainio to a part-time professorship of practice in Green Transition for a fixed term of three years from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2027.