Carbohydrates are not merely a source of energy; they also play crucial roles in cell signalling and recognition. There remain uncertainties surrounding how biological activities, such as cell signalling, are regulated. My primary research area focuses on the phenomena in carbohydrate structures that can influence biological activity. This is not only significant for understanding cell signalling but also impacts the development of carbohydrate-based pharmaceuticals such as vaccines. Understanding the fundamental phenomena could aid in the development of safe and effective vaccines.
Another research area that I focus on is developing NMR spectroscopic methods to analyse lignin. NMR spectroscopy is one of the most powerful tools for studying the chemical structures of organic compounds. Lignin is a heterogeneous material, making it very difficult to ascertain its structure. By determining the structural properties, we can then link them to the physical properties. This knowledge can further be utilised, for example, in designing various materials that are based on lignin.
I graduated with a PhD from Åbo Akademi University in 2022. Before graduating, I started working as a laboratory engineer responsible for the shared NMR spectrometers between Åbo Akademi University and the University of Turku. Since 2023, I have been working as a university lecturer in organic chemistry at Åbo Akademi University.