An endowed professorship can establish a new field of research

The University of Helsinki employs more than 100 professors, researchers and other experts in positions funded entirely or partially with donated funds. The donated professorships have a great impact and they can open up a whole new field of research. Thank you donors and partners!

The donated positions have had great impact, which is apparent in the fact that several positions which were originally established with donated funds are now being covered by the University’s own core funding.

Here you can read more about our professors, researchers and other experts in positions funded entirely or partially with donated funds.

Professors as pioneers
Donated professorships

Professorship in geoinformatics, professor Markus Holopainen

Spatial Data Centre of the National Land Survey of Finland, the Finnish Forest and Park Service

Professorship in the economics of Baltic Sea protection, professor Kari Hyytiäinen

City of Helsinki

Professorship in animal breeding, professor Pekka Uimari

Professorship in forest–atmosphere interactions*, professor Jaana Bäck

Svenskspråkigt universitetslektorat i lantbruksekonomi, Stefan Bäckman

Income from the Future Fund

Professorship in international forest policy, professor Maria Brockhaus

Assistant professorship in agrotechnology, assistant professor Antti Lajunen

Assistant professorship in soil and environmental science, professor Mari Pihlatie

The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund

Professorship in American studies, professor Mikko Saikku

McDonnell Douglas Aerospace

Professorship in non-fiction literature and non-fiction writing, professor Pirjo Hiidenmaa

Association of Finnish Non-Fiction Writers (fund), Tieteen tiedotus ry and the Lauri Jäntti Foundation

Professorship in business history, professor Niklas Jensen-Eriksen

The professorship is based on donations made to celebrate Casimir Ehrnrooth.

Swedish-language tenure track assistant professorship in marine archaeology, assistant professor Kristin Ilves

Income from the Future Fund

Tenure track assistant professorship in indigenous studies, assistant professor Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen

The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund and its proceeds

Tenure track professorship in Russian security policy, assistant professor Katri Pynnöniemi

The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund and its proceeds

Professorship in Baltic Sea research, professor Alf Norkko
Walter och Andrée de Nottbecks stiftelse, Finnish Environment Institute

Assistant professorship in functional biodiversity of the Baltic Sea, assistant professor Aleksandra Lewandowska
Walter och Andrée de Nottbecks stiftelse

Professorship in urban ecosystem research, professor Heikki Setälä
City of Lahti

Professorship in fisheries biology, professor Sakari Kuikka
City of Kotka, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute

Professorship in multidisciplinary risk analysis, professor Päivi Haapasaari
Finnish Environment Institute, City of Kotka

Professorship in environmental biotechnology, professor Martin Romantschuk
City of Lahti

Professorship in environmental research, professor Lauri Arvola
Kehittämiskeskus Oy Häme

Professor in sustainable development, professor Erik Andersson
Income from the Future Fund

Professorship in food culture, Professor Johanna Mäkelä (dean of the Faculty 2022–2025), deputised by Professor Taru Lindblom

Several donors, proceeds from the Future Fund

Professor in small children's pedagogy, professor Mirjam Kalland

Assistant professorship in technology pedagogy, assistant professor Kaiju Kangas

Assistan professorship in pedagogy, assistant professor Sonja Kosunen

Professorship in teacher education, professor Erika Löfström

The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund

Professorship of Practice in Legal Practice Law, Markku Fredman
The Finnish Bar Association
The Finnish Bar Association’s Foundation

Professorship of Cooperative Law, Professor Jukka Mähönen 
Professorship in Social Law, Associate Professor Jari Murto
The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund

Professorship in sports law, Professor Antti Aine
Ministry of Education and Culture

Vesa Vainio Professorship in Comparative Tax Law, Professor Marjaana Helminen
Nordea Bank Ab
Vesa Vainio Professorship Fund


Professorship in Securities Market Law, Professor Mårten Knuts 
Professorship in Copyright, Professor Taina Pihlajarinne
Professorship in Nordic law, Professor Johan Bärlund
Professorship in Insurance and Indemnity Law, Professor Olli Norros
Professorship in Communication Law, Professor Päivi Korpisaari
Professorship in Environmental Law, Professor Kai Kokko
The Future Fund (a part of Johan Bärlunds professorship is funded by Edward Anderssons fond för svenskspråking juridisk undervisning)

Professorship in Energy Law*, Professor Kim Talus
The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund
City of Vaasa 
Vaasan sähkö

Swedish-speaking University Lecturer in Law, University Lecturer Kristiina Äimä (in other position in 2024)
Professorship I Law, Professor Marcus Norrgård (partly funded)
Swedish-speaking Professor of Practice in Public Law, Ida Sulin (20%)
Edward Anderssons fond för svenskspråkig juridisk undervisning

Swedish-speaking University Lecturer in Public Law, University Lecturer Hannele Tolonen
The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund
Regional Council of Ostrobothnia

Professorship in Law, Professor Petra Sund-Norrgård
City of Vaasa, Municipality of Mustasaari, Harry Schaumans Stiftelse,, Svensk-Österbottniska Samfundet, The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund

Three Swedish-speaking Doctoral Researchers in Law
The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund

Two Doctoral Researchers in Procedural Law
Aili ja Brynolf Honkasalon rahasto

Doctoral Student in Criminal Law
Kansleri Antti Tulenheimon muistorahasto

Professorship in milk hygiene and cattle health, professor Päivi Rajala-Schultz
Professorship in industrial milk hygiene, professor Miia Lindström
The Walter Ehrström Foundation

Professur i husdjursvälfärd, svenskspråkig, professor Anna Valros
Anna och Karl Eklunds stiftelse, Finlands veterinärmedicinska stiftelse, Konstsamfundet, Stiftelsen Finlandsvenska Jordfonden, Stödstiftelsen för veterinärmedicinsk forskning, Sparbankstiftelsen, Svenska kulturfonden, Svenska Lantbruksproducenters Centralförbund, Vetcare Oy, Universitets apoteket samt Walter Ehrströms stiftelse

Professorship in veterinary anaesthesia and pain management (This position is not filled at the moment)
University Pharmacy, Vetcare Oy, the Finnish Veterinary Foundation, the Foundation of Veterinary Medicine in Finland

Clinical Doctor in Specialising Veterina (European College of Veterinary Surgery, ECVS)
Bartlomiej Obrochta 2022-2025
Profit from the Future Fund

Doctor in Specialising Veterina (European College of Animal Reproduction, ECAR)
Maria Nystén 2023-2026
Vetcare Oy

Doctor in Specialising Veterina (European College of Veterinary Pathologists, ECVP)
Hanna-Maaria Javela 2024-2026
Orion Oyj

Clinical Doctor in Specialising Veterina (European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Companion Animals, ECVIM-CA)
Henriikka Neittaanmäki 2024-2026
Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.

Professor in pharmacogenetics, professor Mikko Niemi
University Pharmacy

Professorship in medical genetics (Swedish speaking), professor Anna-Elina Lehesjoki

Professorship in adolescent psychiatry*, Anu Raevuo
The Yrjö and Tuulikki Ilvonen Fund, National Institute for Health and Welfare  

Professorship in addiction medicine,* professor Jonna Levola
Alko

Professorship in geriatric psychiatry, professor Hannu Koponen
Swedish-language professorship in anaesthesiology, Smärtmedicin, professor 
Professorship in clinical pharmacology and personalised medicine*, professor Janne Backman
Professorship in traffic medicine* (The position has not yet been filled.)
Professorship in neurological rehabilitation* (The position has not yet been filled.)
Professorship in coagulation disorders*, professor Riitta Lassila
Professorship in palliative medicine*, professor Tiina Saarto
Professorship in physiatry*, professor Jari Arokoski
Professorship in acute medicine*, professor Maaret Castren
Proceeds from the Future Fund in the University’s core capital are used to fund these professorships. The Future Fund is based on donations made between 2010 and 2012 as well as the Finnish Government’s matched-funding investment.

Professorship in paediatric endocrinology, professor Outi Mäkitie
Professor Sakari Vanharanta
The Sigrid Juselius Foundation  

The Niilo Hallman professorship in translational paediatrics, professor Taneli Raivio
Professorship in children cardiology, professor Tiina Ojala
Foundation for Pediatric Research 

Professorship in pharmacoeconomics, professor Marja Blom

University Pharmacy

Professorship in social pharmacy, professor Marja Airaksinen

University Pharmacy

Swedish-language professorship in medical toxicology; the position has not yet been filled.

Income from the Future Fund

Research director, Unit of Chemistry Teacher Education, Department of Chemistry, research director Maija Aksela

Borealis Polymers Oy, Oy EKOKEM Ab, Kemira Oyj, Kemira GrowHow Oyj, Neste Oil Oyj ja Kemianteollisuus ry

Tenure track Swedish-language assistant professorship in geography, new professor to be appointed during summer 2018

Tenure track assistant professorship in radar meteorology, assistant professor Dmitry Moisseev

Income from the Future Fund

Professorship in data science, professor Pan Hui

Data curator, Finnish Museum of Natural History Luomus

The University of Helsinki’s 375 Future Fund

Professorship in social gerontology, professor Ilkka Pietilä

City of Lahti

Professorship in social work, with an emphasis on practitioner research in social work, professor Maija Jäppinen

The cities of Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen, MinEdu

University lectureship in practitioner research in social work, university lecturer Aino Kääriäinen

The cities of Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen

Tenure track assistant professorship in economic research

Assistant professorship in ageing research, assistant professor Kathrin Komp

Income from the Future Fund

Professorship in Media and Communication, Professor Mats Bergman
The Future Fund

Career planning officer, planning officer Timo Åvist

The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland

The Jane and Aatos Erkko professorship in studies on contemporary society, Professor Molly Andrews 2019–2020, Professor Karen Knop 2020–2021.

The Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation