Members
Here are some short descriptions of some our members.
Kessy Abarenkov
ETIS
Kessy Abarenkov is a bioinformatician. She completed her PhD at the University of Tartu in 2011. Kessy’s dissertation was connected to developing the PlutoF platform. She is among the world’s most cited researchers in her field. Abarenkov works at the University of Tartu Natural History Museum. Kessy is a member of the Taxonomy and Biodiversity Informatics Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Kessy Abarenkov is a bioinformatician. She completed her PhD at the University of Tartu in 2011. Kessy’s dissertation was connected to developing the PlutoF platform. She is among the world’s most cited researchers in her field. Abarenkov works at the University of Tartu Natural History Museum. Kessy is a member of the Taxonomy and Biodiversity Informatics Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Sten Anslan
ETIS
Sten Anslan is a researcher in metagenomics of (soil) fauna at the chair of mycology at the University of Tartu, where his work is mainly related to metabarcoding of biological diversity. University of Tartu doctoral degree acquired in 2017. Postdoctoral studies in 2018-2021 at the University of Braunschweig, Germany (project “Geo-ecosystems in Transition on the Tibetan Plateau”). Sten is a member of the Ecology of Biological Interactions workgroup of the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu.
Sten Anslan is a researcher in metagenomics of (soil) fauna at the chair of mycology at the University of Tartu, where his work is mainly related to metabarcoding of biological diversity. University of Tartu doctoral degree acquired in 2017. Postdoctoral studies in 2018-2021 at the University of Braunschweig, Germany (project “Geo-ecosystems in Transition on the Tibetan Plateau”). Sten is a member of the Ecology of Biological Interactions workgroup of the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu.
Mohammad Bahram
ETIS
Mohammad Bahram is an ecologist with a special interest in microbial biogeography, community ecology, metagenomics and biotic interactions. He completed his PhD at the University of Tartu in 2012 and has worked at the University of Tartu and Uppsala University. He currently works as an associate professor in molecular ecology at the University of Tartu and as an associate senior lecturer at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Mohammad Bahram is an ecologist with a special interest in microbial biogeography, community ecology, metagenomics and biotic interactions. He completed his PhD at the University of Tartu in 2012 and has worked at the University of Tartu and Uppsala University. He currently works as an associate professor in molecular ecology at the University of Tartu and as an associate senior lecturer at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.
Niloufar Hagh Doust
ETIS
Niloufar Hagh Doust is an ecologist with a special interest in fungal ecology, forest ecology, community ecology, plant-microbe interactions, beneficial symbionts, and environmental science. Her research mostly focuses on the ecology of plant-associated microbes (especially fungal endophytes) and their potential benefits in forestry and agriculture. She has been working as a research fellow at the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, since 2019. Niloufar is a member of the Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Niloufar Hagh Doust is an ecologist with a special interest in fungal ecology, forest ecology, community ecology, plant-microbe interactions, beneficial symbionts, and environmental science. Her research mostly focuses on the ecology of plant-associated microbes (especially fungal endophytes) and their potential benefits in forestry and agriculture. She has been working as a research fellow at the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, since 2019. Niloufar is a member of the Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Rein Drenkhan
ETIS
Rein Drenkhan is a forest pathologist. He completed his PhD at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2011. In 2018, he received the annual prize in the field of agricultural sciences of the Republic of Estonia for his work on early detection and spread analysis of invasive dendropathogens. He has been working as professor of forest pathology at Estonian University of Life Sciences. He also leads the forest pathology work group.
Rein Drenkhan is a forest pathologist. He completed his PhD at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2011. In 2018, he received the annual prize in the field of agricultural sciences of the Republic of Estonia for his work on early detection and spread analysis of invasive dendropathogens. He has been working as professor of forest pathology at Estonian University of Life Sciences. He also leads the forest pathology work group.
Olesia Dulia
ETIS
Olesya Dulya is an ecologist with a special interest in different aspects of biodiversity, the principles of biotic community assembly and response to human activity. Her primary focus is on studying microbial communities in soil and dead wood. Currently, she is engaged in a large-scale research project that utilizes metagenomics to investigate the functional diversity of soil organisms. Olesya holds the position of a research fellow in the Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu.
Olesya Dulya is an ecologist with a special interest in different aspects of biodiversity, the principles of biotic community assembly and response to human activity. Her primary focus is on studying microbial communities in soil and dead wood. Currently, she is engaged in a large-scale research project that utilizes metagenomics to investigate the functional diversity of soil organisms. Olesya holds the position of a research fellow in the Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu.
Mikk Espenberg
ETIS
Mikk Espenberg is a microbiologist whose primary research interests include environmental microbiology and bioinformatics. He is particularly interested in biogeochemical cycles, such as the carbon and nitrogen cycles, with a special focus on studying microbes involved in the production and consumption of greenhouse gases. Mikk completed his PhD at the University of Tartu in 2017. He works at the University of Tartu as an associate professor in environmental microbiology and at the University of Aberdeen as a research fellow in biological sciences. Mikk leads the Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Workgroup at the Department of Geography, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Mikk Espenberg is a microbiologist whose primary research interests include environmental microbiology and bioinformatics. He is particularly interested in biogeochemical cycles, such as the carbon and nitrogen cycles, with a special focus on studying microbes involved in the production and consumption of greenhouse gases. Mikk completed his PhD at the University of Tartu in 2017. He works at the University of Tartu as an associate professor in environmental microbiology and at the University of Aberdeen as a research fellow in biological sciences. Mikk leads the Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology Workgroup at the Department of Geography, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Daniel Herlemann
ETIS
Daniel Herlemann is a microbiologist whose main focus is on microbial ecophysiology. Daniel is a professor at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. He leads the Microbial Ecophysiology Workgroup at the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
Daniel Herlemann is a microbiologist whose main focus is on microbial ecophysiology. Daniel is a professor at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. He leads the Microbial Ecophysiology Workgroup at the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
Inga Jüriado
ETIS
Inga Jüriado is a lichenologist. Inga received her doctorate from the University of Tartu in 2007 and was a postdoc at the University of Helsinki (2015-2017). She works as an associate professor of lichenology at the University of Tartu and as a senior researcher at the University of Life Sciences. Her current research focuses on the genetic diversity of lichen photobiont and lichen secondary metabolites along environmental gradients.
Inga Jüriado is a lichenologist. Inga received her doctorate from the University of Tartu in 2007 and was a postdoc at the University of Helsinki (2015-2017). She works as an associate professor of lichenology at the University of Tartu and as a senior researcher at the University of Life Sciences. Her current research focuses on the genetic diversity of lichen photobiont and lichen secondary metabolites along environmental gradients.
Veljo Kisand
ETIS
Veljo Kisand is a hydrobiologist who mainly studies the diversity, distribution patterns, ecology, physiology and phylogeny of aquatic bacteria. Veljo received his doctorate from the University of Tartu in 1998. Currently, Veljo works as an associate professor of molecular ecology in the Environmental microbiology work group UTIT at the University of Tartu, and under his leadership, a sewage-based SARS-Cov-2 monitoring system is being created in Estonia.
Veljo Kisand is a hydrobiologist who mainly studies the diversity, distribution patterns, ecology, physiology and phylogeny of aquatic bacteria. Veljo received his doctorate from the University of Tartu in 1998. Currently, Veljo works as an associate professor of molecular ecology in the Environmental microbiology work group UTIT at the University of Tartu, and under his leadership, a sewage-based SARS-Cov-2 monitoring system is being created in Estonia.
Urmas Kõljalg
ETIS
Urmas Kõljalg is an Estonian biologist, a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, a professor at the University of Tartu and the director of the Tartu University Nature Museum and Botanical Garden. The main areas of research are systematics and phylogenetics of fungi, symbiosis between fungi and plant roots (mycorrhizae), and informatics of biodiversity. He is among the most cited researchers in his field in the world. Urmas is the head of the Taxonomy and Biodiversity Informatics Workgroup of the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu.
Urmas Kõljalg is an Estonian biologist, a member of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, a professor at the University of Tartu and the director of the Tartu University Nature Museum and Botanical Garden. The main areas of research are systematics and phylogenetics of fungi, symbiosis between fungi and plant roots (mycorrhizae), and informatics of biodiversity. He is among the most cited researchers in his field in the world. Urmas is the head of the Taxonomy and Biodiversity Informatics Workgroup of the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu.
Kaire Loit
ETIS
Kaire Loit is a phytopathologist. Her main interests include plant pathology in agriculture and creation of sustainable farming systems. Kaire is defending her dissertation at the Estonian University of Life sciences in 2021. She currently works as a senior specialist at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Kaire is a member of the Phytopathology Workgroup at the Chair of Plant Health of the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
Kaire Loit is a phytopathologist. Her main interests include plant pathology in agriculture and creation of sustainable farming systems. Kaire is defending her dissertation at the Estonian University of Life sciences in 2021. She currently works as a senior specialist at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Kaire is a member of the Phytopathology Workgroup at the Chair of Plant Health of the Estonian University of Life Sciences.
Kristiina Mark
ETIS
Kristiina Mark is a lichenologist. Her main area of research is molecular systematics of lichenized fungi. Kristiina completed her PhD at Tartu Ülikool in 2016. She now works as a research fellow at the Estonian University of Life Sciences
Kristiina Mark is a lichenologist. Her main area of research is molecular systematics of lichenized fungi. Kristiina completed her PhD at Tartu Ülikool in 2016. She now works as a research fellow at the Estonian University of Life Sciences
Vladimir Mikryukov
ETIS
Vladimir Mikryukov is a molecular ecologist with special interests in ecological genetics, biodiversity, and metagenomics. He earned his Ph.D. by studying the phylogeography and population genetics of lichen symbionts, and later explored bacterial and fungal community dynamics, as well as their roles in forest ecosystem stability. As a bioinformatician and biostatistician, he investigated the effect of long-term disturbances on the phylogenetic diversity of various biological communities. Currently, his research focuses on the factors driving the global distribution of microbial functional diversity in soil, using metagenome sequencing. Vladimir is a research fellow in the Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu.
Vladimir Mikryukov is a molecular ecologist with special interests in ecological genetics, biodiversity, and metagenomics. He earned his Ph.D. by studying the phylogeography and population genetics of lichen symbionts, and later explored bacterial and fungal community dynamics, as well as their roles in forest ecosystem stability. As a bioinformatician and biostatistician, he investigated the effect of long-term disturbances on the phylogenetic diversity of various biological communities. Currently, his research focuses on the factors driving the global distribution of microbial functional diversity in soil, using metagenome sequencing. Vladimir is a research fellow in the Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu.
Kristel Panksep
ETIS
Kristel Panksep is a hydrobiologist. Her main research interests are toxic blue-green algae and their role in the aquatic food chain, the impact of natural and anthropogenic pressures on aquatic environments, environmental DNA (eDNA) based biodiversity and monitoring studies, the development of eDNA-based methods for early detection of alien species and SARS-Cov-2 monitoring based on wastewater. She is coordinator of the global fungal biodiversity project FunAqua. Kristel is a senior lecturer and PhD student at the Department of Hydrobiology and Fisheries, Estonian University of Life Sciences, and a specialist in molecular diagnostics at the University of Tartu Institute of Technology.
Kristel Panksep is a hydrobiologist. Her main research interests are toxic blue-green algae and their role in the aquatic food chain, the impact of natural and anthropogenic pressures on aquatic environments, environmental DNA (eDNA) based biodiversity and monitoring studies, the development of eDNA-based methods for early detection of alien species and SARS-Cov-2 monitoring based on wastewater. She is coordinator of the global fungal biodiversity project FunAqua. Kristel is a senior lecturer and PhD student at the Department of Hydrobiology and Fisheries, Estonian University of Life Sciences, and a specialist in molecular diagnostics at the University of Tartu Institute of Technology.
Kadri Põldmaa
ETIS
Kadri Põldmaa is a mycologist. Kadri completed her PhD at the University of Tartu in 1998. She was a postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania during 1999-2000 and at the Estonian Biocentre during 2002-2003. She now works as an associate professor of mycology at the University of Tartu. Kadri is a member of the Taxonomy and Biodiversity Informatics Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Kadri Põldmaa is a mycologist. Kadri completed her PhD at the University of Tartu in 1998. She was a postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania during 1999-2000 and at the Estonian Biocentre during 2002-2003. She now works as an associate professor of mycology at the University of Tartu. Kadri is a member of the Taxonomy and Biodiversity Informatics Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Sergei Põlme
ETIS
Sergei Põlme is a biologist. His main areas of research include mutualistic relationships between fungi and plants. Sergei completed his PhD at the University of Tartu in 2013. He currently works as a senior specialist of zoosystematics at the University of Tartu in Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences.
Sergei Põlme is a biologist. His main areas of research include mutualistic relationships between fungi and plants. Sergei completed his PhD at the University of Tartu in 2013. He currently works as a senior specialist of zoosystematics at the University of Tartu in Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences.
Kadri Runnel
ETIS
Kadri Runnel is a conservation biologist. Her main interests include conservation biology (especially conservation in human-influenced ecosystems, forest ecology, biodiversity research methodology, and ecology and taxonomy of wood decomposing fungi. Kadri completed her PhD at the University of Tartu in 2016. She currently works as a conservation biology research fellow at the University of Tartu.
Kadri Runnel is a conservation biologist. Her main interests include conservation biology (especially conservation in human-influenced ecosystems, forest ecology, biodiversity research methodology, and ecology and taxonomy of wood decomposing fungi. Kadri completed her PhD at the University of Tartu in 2016. She currently works as a conservation biology research fellow at the University of Tartu.
Sirje Sildever
ETIS
Sirje Sildever is a marine ecologist. Sirje’s main research areas are phytoplankton analysis based on light microscope and environmental DNA, identification and analysis of resting stages of phytoplankton, growth experiments, population genetics. Sirje obtained her doctorate at Tallinn University of Technology in 2017. Currently, Sirje works as a researcher in the marine ecology laboratory of the Institute of Marine Systems of Tallinn University of Technology and is a member of the environmental DNA and phytoplankton work group.
Sirje Sildever is a marine ecologist. Sirje’s main research areas are phytoplankton analysis based on light microscope and environmental DNA, identification and analysis of resting stages of phytoplankton, growth experiments, population genetics. Sirje obtained her doctorate at Tallinn University of Technology in 2017. Currently, Sirje works as a researcher in the marine ecology laboratory of the Institute of Marine Systems of Tallinn University of Technology and is a member of the environmental DNA and phytoplankton work group.
Liina Soonvald
ETIS
Liina Soonvald is a lecturer and researcher at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. She is a member of the Phytopathology Workgroup at the Chair of Plant Health at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. She completed her PhD at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2022. From February 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Arctic University of Norway. Her main area of research is microbial ecology in agricultural and changing vegetation environments.
Liina Soonvald is a lecturer and researcher at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. She is a member of the Phytopathology Workgroup at the Chair of Plant Health at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. She completed her PhD at the Estonian University of Life Sciences in 2022. From February 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the Arctic University of Norway. Her main area of research is microbial ecology in agricultural and changing vegetation environments.
Ave Suija
ETIS
Ave Suija is a lichenologist. Ave received her doctorate from the University of Tartu in 2004 and currently works as an associate professor of lichenology and curator of mycological collections. Ave’s scientific interest is the taxonomy and phylogeny of lichen-parasitizing fungi. Ave is a member of the Taxonomy and Biodiversity Informatics Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Ave Suija is a lichenologist. Ave received her doctorate from the University of Tartu in 2004 and currently works as an associate professor of lichenology and curator of mycological collections. Ave’s scientific interest is the taxonomy and phylogeny of lichen-parasitizing fungi. Ave is a member of the Taxonomy and Biodiversity Informatics Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Leho Tedersoo
ETIS
Leho Tedersoo is a mycologist and soil ecologist. His areas of interest include global biodiversity of mycorrhizal fungi, molecular soil ecology and biogeography of fungi. He is among the world’s most cited researchers in his field. Leho is a member of the Estonian Young Academy of Sciences. Leho leads the Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Leho Tedersoo is a mycologist and soil ecologist. His areas of interest include global biodiversity of mycorrhizal fungi, molecular soil ecology and biogeography of fungi. He is among the world’s most cited researchers in his field. Leho is a member of the Estonian Young Academy of Sciences. Leho leads the Ecology of Biological Interactions Workgroup at the Department of Botany, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Iryna Yatsiuk
ETIS
Iryna Yatsiuk is a myxomycetologist. Her research focuses on the phylogeny, taxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity of myxomycetes. Currently, Iryna is pursuing her PhD at the Department of Botany within the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
Iryna Yatsiuk is a myxomycetologist. Her research focuses on the phylogeny, taxonomy, ecology, and biodiversity of myxomycetes. Currently, Iryna is pursuing her PhD at the Department of Botany within the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences of the University of Tartu.
