What research are you conducting?
Among other things, I develop methods for identifying microplastics more reliably in different types of environmental samples. That makes it possible to assess how effective the solutions developed for removing them actually are.
Micro- and nanoplastics are found everywhere in the environment. Removing them from wastewater and sewage sludge is essential to reducing the amount of harmful substances that end up in nature.
In the Balt-Plast-Free project, we're working with our Estonian partners to develop methods for separating and analysing microplastics in wastewater and sewage sludge. We also have an ongoing sampling campaign covering several wastewater treatment plants, aiming to assess how effectively different treatment methods remove microplastics from wastewater. In another project, we're studying whether the same methods can also be used to remove PFAS – so-called forever chemicals – as well as pharmaceutical residues and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. During the summer, we also carried out a survey in which we specifically encouraged cottage owners to monitor sources of microplastics along shorelines.
Sometimes it feels like research in my field focuses too much on where microplastics can be detected rather than on how to solve the plastic pollution in the environment.
What should everyone understand about separation technology?
Separation technology can solve many environmental problems. By combining different separation methods, you can remove multiple harmful substances from different environments and recover valuable compounds for reuse along the way.
How did you end up in your current role, and what inspires you about it?
I graduated from the University of Helsinki in 2014 with a major in environmental ecology. A year and a half later, I started as a junior researcher at LUT University's regional unit in Mikkeli. I earned my doctorate and kept working in microplastics research. Since spring 2023, I’ve been a post-doctoral researcher. I also coordinate the Water Technology master’s programme offered in Mikkeli.
I love how varied my work is. My days involve research, teaching, and the development of teaching and studies. I hope that over the course of my career, I’ll come to understand other environmental problems too and get to help develop solutions to them. I also hope to see LUT take better advantage of the possibilities of cross-disciplinary work in our research in the future.
In LUT's pedagogy courses, it's been great to see how enthusiastic our teachers are and how varied teaching can be at its best. I want to stay involved in training and inspiring future professionals. I believe they’ll be even better than we are at solving many of our environmental problems.
How do you balance your work and personal life?
I try to keep normal office hours when I work. I have a daughter who's now a toddler, and she makes sure my free time is mostly spent crawling around on the floor and marvelling at this new little life. I also enjoy being outdoors, doing yoga, playing board games, and knitting.
What is the Tieteenkesyttäjä award?
I received the 2025 Tieteenkesyttäjä (“science tamer”) award from the Mikkeli University Consortium. It’s given to someone who has made science and research accessible to the public in an easy-to-understand way. I’m honoured by the recognition and what it stands for. I think it's important to bring science outside the university, into places like schools.
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