Team Members

About me

I am a passionate researcher, dedicated teacher, and inspiring mentor. I have a diverse background spanning multiple fields, including organic and supramolecular chemistry, nanoparticle self-assembly, cryogenic transmission electron microscopy, and extracellular matrix design for breast cancer tissue culture. What truly inspires me is the remarkable ability of nature to design structures with unparalleled precision and efficiency across different length scales. I lead a team of talented researchers from various disciplines, including Chemists, Physicists, and Biologists. Our research is at the intersection of materials science and biomedical sciences. We focus on developing multifunctional and biocompatible nanomaterials with the highest precision in structure, function, and interaction. We employ cutting-edge nanotechnological characterization techniques, including material fabrication, microfluidics-based lab-on-a-chip platforms, 3D hydrogel scaffolds, and state-of-the-art electron microscopy to achieve our objectives. Our ultimate goal is to develop promising bio-based optical sensors, advanced imaging to study nanoscale dynamics, and in vitro sustainable breast cancer disease models as diagnostics and therapeutic tools. Visit our research page to learn more about our exciting work.

Field of expertise

• Precision Nanomaterials
• Biopolymer-based optics and photonics
• In vitro breast cancer models
• Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and electron tomography

Research unit

Material Science and Environmental Engineering

Research career

Current position

• 03.08.2020-Present: Associate Professor (tenure track) in Nanochemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland. 

Academic degrees and titles

• 19.10.2018: Abilitazione Scientifica Nationale (ASN), CHIM/07-Fondamenti Chimici delle Tecnologie, MIUR, Italy.
• 26.05.2017: Title of Docent in Soft Matter Microscopy, School of Science, Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Finland
• 13.12.2008: Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India. 
• 24.05.2003: Master of Science (M.Sc. in Chemistry), Department of Chemistry, Mangalore University, Karnataka, India.
• 19.06.2001: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. in Chemistry, Botany, and Pharmacognosy as equal options), Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College, Ujire, Karnataka, India.
• 10.11.2020: Executive Master of Business Administration, Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington D.C., USA. 
• 04.05.2019: Fundamentals of Business, Quantic School of Business and Technology, Washington D.C., USA

Previous research experience 

• 26.05.2017-31.07.2020: Research Fellow and Docent, Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, Finland
• 01.08.2012-25.05.2017: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Applied Physics, School of Science, Aalto University, Finland.
• 15.02.2009-31.07.2012: Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. 
• 15.08.2008-14.02.2009: Visiting Ph.D. student, SITRA fellowship, Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Finland
• 23.09.2007-22.03.2008: Visiting Ph.D. student, CIMO fellowship, Department of Chemistry, University of Jyväskylä, Finland

About me

PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics

MSc in Biomedicine and Biotechnology

Field of expertise

Breast Cancer Metastasis

Lab-on-a-chip Platforms - Cell and Tissue Engineering

Field of expertise

Experience in the fabrication of sensors, and expertise in electrospinning for various applications such as face masks, surface coatings, and substrates for cell culture. Hands-on with various optical and electron microscopes (SEM) and used high-speed cameras for various experiments. 

About me

I gained my PhD (Molecular Medicine) from the University of Eastern Finland in 2017. While doing my PhD-research, I also worked at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand for seven years.

We returned to Finland early 2020, and was hired to work as an account manager for Neurocenter Finland (www.neurocenterfinland.fi), which was still in its establishment phase. I was closely involved in establishing Tampere Brain & Mind in 2021, which was aimed to ease collaboration between researchers at Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital.

Responsibilities

I work as a Commercialisation specialist at a Business Finland-funded Research-to-Business - project "Integrated Sensor for Indoor Environmental Condition Monitoring".

My main tasks are evaluating the commercial potential of a research-based innovation, and initiating its commercialisation.

Research unit

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