Our research is focused on the organism and population levels of a number of species, including single-cell organisms, invertebrates, plants and vertebrates. The programme employs diverse research approaches ranging from molecular biology, physiology, evolutionary genetics and genomics to theoretical modelling and bioinformatics. Our research produces and utilises large-scale datasets in ecology, bioinformatics, and metabolomics, or the study of cellular metabolites.
The strengths of OEB include include a diverse set of research groups that complement each other well in the fields of evolutionary biology, ecology and plant biology as well as our various diverse publications.
In addition to studying organisms and populations in their natural surroundings, the programme’s researchers are able to conduct research under controlled conditions at the research stations of the University of Helsinki in Tvärminne, Lammi and Kilpisjärvi, as well as the research farm and greenhouses on Viikki Campus.
Centralised research equipment and services (research infrastructures) of a high quality in the fields of genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and mass spectrometry, metabolomics, plant phenotyping as well as optical, confocal and electron microscopy provide researchers with excellent means for investigating a variety of biological processes.
Our partners and networks include the Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus, as well as Natural Resources Finland (Luke) and the Finnish Environment Institute (Syke), both of which are also located at Viikki Campus.
Our teaching is based on research, and our researchers provide instruction in bachelor’s and master’s programmes, as well as the doctoral programmes organised by the doctoral schools.
Director Anna-Liisa Laine and Deputy Director Frédéric Guillaume