I see that my role as a teacher is not only to educate and mentor students in the theory and the process of science, but also to guide them to be critical thinkers that have a deep understanding of the scientific approach to problem solving and creation of knowledge. Therefore, the three central overall goals for my teaching are 1) foster critical scientific thinking, 2) encourage creative problem solving and 3) continuously improve my own teaching abilities.

I have extensive experience teaching in bachelor’s and master’s level courses in both Finnish and English. I am used to giving instruction in variable settings and my teaching has included lecturing, leading field courses, and instructing computer labs. Topics of courses I have taught on include ecology (introduction to ecology, populations, species interactions), evolution, genetics, statistics, career development and field ecology.

List of courses by level taught at the University of Turku (UTU), Finland, and at Cornell University (CU). Links provided to course description when available:

Course name in English or translated to English, number of ECTS (instruction language, institution) – my role – year(s) taught by me

MSc/Advanced level
Plant ecology 5 ECTS (En, UTU) - responsible teacher - 2026
Geographical plant ecology 5 ECTS (En, UTU) - responsible teacher - 2024
Ecological interactions 5 ECTS (En, UTU) – lecturing, evaluation – 2023
Environmental ecology 5 ECTS (En, UTU) – lecturing, presentation evaluation – 2019, 2021, 2023
Population genetics 5 ECTS (En, UTU)– lecturing, evaluation – 2019 

BSc/Intermediate level
Evolutionary biology 5 ECTS (Fi, UTU) – lecturing, evaluation – 2025
Field course in aquatic ecology 3 ECTS (Fi, UTU) – teaching – 2025
Population ecology 3 ECTS (Fi, UTU) – lecturing – 2020-2023
Multivariate models 3 ECTS (Fi, UTU) – lecturing – 2021-2023, 2025
Terrestial plant ecology, field course 2 ECTS (Fi, UTU) – teaching, course development – 2021, 2022
Plant behavior and biotic interactions 3 ECTS (En, CU) –  teaching, course development  – 2017, 2018
Field ecology 3 ECTS (En, CU) – teaching – 2017

BSc/Basic level
Working as a biologist and personal study plan 2 ECTS (Fi, UTU) – teaching, evaluation – 2023, 2025
Basics of ecology 4 ECTS (Fi, UTU) – lecturing, exam evaluation – 2023-2025
Biological data analysis: Introduction 4 ECTS (Fi, UTU) – computer practical instruction – 2024 

PhD students
Emilia Mäkinen, ongoing, year of admission 2024 
Akanksha Ingale, ongoing, year of admission 2024 

MSc students (year graduated)
Milla-Maaria Pekurinen (ongoing)
Altti Tähtinen  (ongoing)
Veera Bilaletdin (2026)
Eveliina Karppi (2025)
Parinaz Asadnejad (2024)
Suvi Hakulinen (2024)
Alba Martin Fernandez (2021)

BSc students (year graduated)
Jay Savolainen (2024)
Pasi Ahola (2023)
Alba Martin Fernandez (2020)