Risto Punkkinen (born 1951) received his MSc degree in physics from the University of Turku,Finland in 1976 and received his PhD in physics from the University of Turku, Finland 1990. Since then he has worked at the university almost all the time mainly in teaching. He has retired  in August 2021. After that he has worked as a part-time researcher in Academy of project Foresail and worked as a part-time teacher teaching basic courses in electronics.

My reseach has concentrated on semiconductor technology and measuring technology.
One object was to study the possiblity of manufacturing silicon-based laser.
In sensor technology, we succeeded in manufacturing a sensor on a silicon substrate that is capable of detecting very low hydrogen concentrations in air.
Our laboratory laboratory has produced and measured the main particle diode dectectors used in Academy’s Foresail satellite project to be used in space. Also the setup of the particle detector system PATE was finalized in the clean room.
Material science: trying to improve the properties of a MOSFET by using different materials in order to improve the mobility of electrons and holes.

Teaching has covered the basic and advanced courses in electronics and semiconductor technology and being responsible of them.