High school graduation 1987,  Licentiate of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland 1996,  Doctor of Medical Sciences (MD, PhD), University of Turku 2003,  Specialist in Clinical Microbiology 2007, Docent in Medical Microbiology, University of Turku 2011,  Special Competence in Medical Education 2015.

Various research and teaching positions, University of Turku 1996–2012

Academy Research Fellow, University of Turku 2012-2017

Associate professor of bacteriology (tenure track), University of Turku 1.9.2017-31.7.2024

My research focuses on Lyme borreliosis (LB) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), and on the so called emerging tick-borne diseases (eTBDs: neoehlichiosis, Borrelia miyamotoi disease etc.). The research addresses the following topics:

Prevalence of ticks and tick-borne pathogens in Finland. Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of TBDs in Finland. Immunopathogenesis of LB and Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). Metabolomics of LB and LNB. Immunology of TBE vaccine break-through infections. Seroepidemiology of TBDs in Finland.

Bacteriology; Infectious diseases laboratory diagnostics; Lyme borreliosis; Vector-borne infections; Tick-borne infections