Bio.Rmd

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title: '  Bio'
---

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Self portrait 2025.
<h6><img  src="Figs/Omakuva_edits_border.png" width="15%"/></h6>
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_In 2015, I became the youngest person to graduate in my major at the University of Helsinki (UH). My_ _doctoral dissertation focused on physically based vegetation remote sensing, particularly the development_ _of ground reference methods and the validation of various global satellite-based vegetation products in_ _the boreal region._

_Following my PhD, I undertook a short research visit to Duke University in the USA. After returning, I_ _continued working at UH for 1.5 years, during which I expanded my expertise to include the processing and_ _application of airborne laser scanning data for quantifying forest canopy structures. During my time at_ _UH, I also participated in teaching remote sensing courses and led GIS practicals._

_In autumn 2016, I began a postdoctoral position at the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO)_ _in a project aimed at developing methods to account for forest management impacts in land surface model_ _(LSM) simulations using prescribed land cover information. In this role, I developed a forest_ _classification scheme and an associated land cover product to improve the representation of managed_ _Fennoscandian forests in LSMs, utilizing Scandinavian forest inventory data. Additionally, I refined the_ _time-invariant optical properties -table used in these models._

_In mid-2019, I returned to Finland and joined the Geoinformatics section at Aalto University. There, my_ _research focused on remote sensing of forest understory, forest land cover classification, and land_ _surface phenology.I was also involved in teaching remote sensing courses and leading/grading GIS_ _practical sessions._

_In September 2021, I returned to UH to expand my work into forest biodiversity research. I processed a_ _land cover map series to enable the application of the "ELITE method" for forest biodiversity analysis in_ _Finland from 2000 to 2018. I also developed a simulator to extend the ELITE simulations through 2040,_ _enabling analysis of the impacts of alternative forest-related biodiversity policy decisions._

_Between October 2022 and September 2025, I worked on forest dynamics modeling, during which I developed a_ _new scenario framework for the European Forestry Dynamics Model (EFDM). This work aimed to quantify the_ _impacts of future forest management on living biomass carbon. During this period, I also became familiar_ _with the forest summary model FORMIT-M and the soil carbon model Yasso. In addition, I served as a_ _teacher in the Master’s thesis seminar, supporting students in their research and thesis work._

_In October 2025, I was granted the title of Docent by the University of Helsinki. Since then, I have been_ _working at the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), where I plan to continue advancing research in_ _biodiversity modeling, ELITE simulations, and scenario development._