I joined the Molecular Plant Biology unit at the University of Turku as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2002. In 2009, I was awarded with the title of Docent in Bioenergetics. Since 2010, I have served as the leader of the Photosynthetic Microbes lab (http://www.utu.fi/photo-microbes), at the University of Turku. Currently, I hold the position of full Professor of Basic and Applied Photosynthesis. I was involved as a junior PI in the Finnish Center of Excellence and later chaired the Nordic Center of Excellence “Towards Versatility of Aquatic Production Platforms: Unlocking the Value of Nordic Bioresources” (NordAqua, www.nordaqua.fi), funded by NordForsk (2017-2022). I am a director of the Biocity Turku Research Programme “Advanced Bioresources and Smart Bioproducts – Towards Sustainable Bioeconomy. (SmartBio, www.smartbio.fi).

My research primarily focuses on plant, algal, and cyanobacterial photosynthesis, particularly on alternative electron transport routes and their role in the regulation of photosynthesis. My team is leveraging this knowledge to develop sustainable biotechnological applications through two main strategies: a short-term approach focused on producing sustainable algal biomass for a circular bioeconomy, and a long-term approach centered on creating emerging living cell factories and engineered living materials for the production of solar chemicals and fuels. Thus, we utilize both natural biodiversity and advanced engineering techniques.

Our team is engaged in several EU, Nordic, and national projects, and we maintain close interactions with stakeholders and industry partners. 

Currently, we are investigating: (i) Alternative electron transport pathways and the regulation of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria and green algae; (ii) The development of solid-state cell factories and engineered living materials (ELMs) for efficient production of solar chemicals and fuels; (iii) Green electricity generation from cyanobacteria and algae through exoelectrogenesis, including its mechanisms of action; (iv) The biodiversity of Nordic cyanobacteria and algae for efficient remediation of industrial effluents, nutrient recovery, and production of value-added products.

Major projects as Principal Investigator/coordinator:

2024-2026 - Business Finland co-research project AlgaCircle;
2024-2028 - EU HE RIA, Solar to Butanol S2B;
2024-2029 - Jane and Aatos Erkko foundation, PhotoFactory;
2023-2027 - Research Council of Finland, Photo-e-Mat;
2023-2027 - Finnish Cultural Foundation;
2022-2026 - EU Horizon Europe IA, REALM;
2023-2025 - Tandem Industry Academia, Finnish Research Impact Foundation, AgriAlga;
2022          - Donation from Maa- ja vesitekniikan tuki ry;
2022-2025 - EU CSA, SUNER-C;
2021-2023 - Research project grant from the Novo Nordisk Foundation - PhotoCat;
2020-2023 - EU FET-Open, FuturoLEAF;
2020-2023 - Novo Nordisk Foundation - PhotoPro;
2019-2023 - Academy Project Funding, AlgaLEAF;
2018-2022 - Academy Project Funding, Revisiting Photosynthesis;
2017-2022 - NordForsk NCoE "NordAqua"

*** Our group is always looking for motivated post-docs and PhD students. If you are interested in any of the research areas we pursue you can contact YAR (allahve[a]utu.fi) along with your CV.

**** M.Sc and B.Sc students who are intrested to do their thesis projects can contact YAR (allahve[a]utu.fi) directly.

I have been teaching the 'Advanced Photosynthesis' and 'Bioenergetics' courses since 2009. Currently, I am also chair of the MSc program in 'Sustainable Biotechnological Bioprocesses.'