I received my PhD in Marine Biology in 2014 from Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU), after which I worked as postdoc within the EU BONUS project BIO-C3, and as a guest researcher at the Centre for Ocean Life, Technical University of Denmark. In 2018 I moved back to Finland and Turku to work as an assisstant professor (tenure-track) within the interdishiplinary research profile The Sea and the subject Environmental and Marine Biology at ÅAU. I am currently (2021) an associate professor (tenure-track) within The Sea and the Environmental and Marine Biology.

My current marine ecological research focuses on the functioning of coastal areas, marine environments and particularly the seafloor. In order to understand the functioning and be able to assess the state of, pressures on and changes to the marine ecosystem, I apply and develop the “trait-based approach”. This approach centers around the characteristics or traits of marine organisms, such as how they feed, live and reproduce, which allows us to understand how marine organism contribute to e.g. production, nutrient circulation and habitat provision, as well as predict ecological strategies in contrasting environments under global change. My aim is to take the concept and theories of trait-based approaches and ecosystem functioning to the next level, that is to improve mechanistic understanding and predictability of marine ecosystems for research and management. This work includes theoretical aspects as well as applications and assessments in coastal areas and in the Baltic Sea in particular, but also the Arctic, through the H2020 project ECOTIP. The ECOTIP project focus on biodiveristy changes in the Arctic, and as a partner our interest is specifically on changes to benthic communities and their functioning. Within this project I co-supervise Phoebe Armitage (doctoral candidate 2020). 

As a new interdischiplinary research avenue for me, I am interested in linking marine ecology, social science, maritime law and business, more specifically answering what aspects of nature, and particularly marine organisms, that we humans relate to and what type of relationships we have with these, in order to better understand the linkage between biodiversity and ecosystem services that promote wellbeing. My aim is to develop the methodology, including concepts, terminology and methods for working across disciplines as well as across sectors (private/public) and actors (stakeholders) in society. Within this theme, I lead a project on “Human-marine animal relationships in the context of biodiversity and human-wellbeing” (Kulturfonden 2019). Within this topic I also co-supervise Joland Linsén (doctoral candidate 2020), and a number of master students. 

I teach the course Global Change Biology at Environmental and Marine Biology and participate in the Bachelor thesis course, as well as give guest lectures within The Sea, at the university, nationally and internationally.

I supervise doctoral candidates (Phoebe Armitage, Jolanda Linsén, Christina Henseler - graduated) as well as undergraduate students (Bachelor and Master students).