Fabrication of high-performing yet renewable and biodegradable materials is one of the current challenges in sustainable development. A possible solution is offered by mechanically robust natural polymers such as silk and cellulose that have proven to be excellent candidates for next-generation sustainable materials. Nature also gives us inspiration how to assemble these building-blocks into complex and hierarchical bulk materials. The aim of my current project is to fabricate engineered living materials (ELMs) that take advantage of these robust natural polymers. I am especially interested in production of engineered enzymes and proteins in yeast that may be useful in altering the material properties. In addition, synthetic biology provides us interesting ways to control the material properties. Such living materials have a wide range of potential applications from therapeutic to self-healing purposes.

Currently I work as a postdoctoral researcher in Prof. Markus Linder's group at Aalto University. I have obtained a PhD at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden. In my PhD work I focused on lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) and their utilization towards environmentally friendly production of nanocellulose and cellulose-based materials. My master's degree is from University of Helsinki, Finland, where my main subject was fungal biotechnology.

Key areas of expertise:

protein production in fungal hosts, carbohydrate-active enzymes, and the use of enzymes and proteins in fabrication of nanocellulose-based materials. 

Current and former students:

Karoliina Elfving, PhD student (co-supervisor, 6/2023-)

Tiia Siivola, PhD student (co-supervisor, 12/2023-)

Jenni Klemola, MSc student (2024-)

Cleopatra Siders Silva, BSc student (Graduated 2024)

Venla Laitinen, BSc student (Graduated 2024)

Activities: