LiWeFoR Core Research Team
Prof. Ülo Mander
Ülo Mander is a Professor of Physical Geography and Landscape Ecology. Main research interest: biogeosciences (carbon and nutrient cycling; GHG emissions in wetlands and forests), landscape ecology and ecological engineering. Supervised 43 PhD theses and 4 postdocs. Leading EU Horizon LiWeFor and ERC Advanced Grant PeatlandN2O.
Assoc. Prof. Mikk Espenberg
Dr. Mikk Espenberg focuses on soil, sediments, and plants microbiology. He will participate in field campaigns, provide microbiome analysis of soils, contribute to database development, and leads all educational activities.
Prof. Mari Pihlatie
Professor and head of Environmental Soil Science unit. Research focuses on quantifying greenhouse gas flux dynamics (N2O and CH4) and understanding processes in the plant-soil-atmosphere interface. Research director of the SMEAR-Agri station.
Prof. Klaus Butterbach-Bahl
Internationally recognized expert in measuring and modeling GHG fluxes (CO2, CH4, N2O). His research assesses land-use and climate change impacts on greenhouse gas emissions across international projects and IPCC assessments.
Prof. Lulie Melling
Founding member and director of TROPI. Specializes in sustainable peatland management, carbon dynamics of tropical ecosystems, and atmospheric interactions using advanced technologies like eddy covariance and IoT.
MSc. Lizardo Fachín Malaverri
Soil biogeochemist conducted research on GHG dynamics and carbon cycling in tropical peatland ecosystems. Focuses on quantifying carbon and nitrogen fluxes in the Peruvian Amazon.
Assoc. Prof. Kaido Soosaar
Studies physical, biological, and chemical processes of trace gas exchange using chamber and Eddy Covariance techniques. Investigates the impact of wetland restoration and management on C- and N-cycles.
Assoc. Prof. Jaan Pärn
Expert in biogeochemistry of the world’s peatlands. Contributes to global modelling of wetland forests GHG budgets, tracer analysis, and leads tropical site educational events.
Dr. Elizabeth Wangari
Specializing in soil biogeochemistry and GHG dynamics. Her work focuses on nitrogen cycling, particularly N2O and methane emissions under varying land-use conditions using flux measurements and modeling.
Dr. David Piatka
Working on ecosystem modeling and soil-atmosphere exchange processes. Integrates experimental data with modeling frameworks to assess land-use impacts on carbon dynamics.
Dr. Mireia Plà Castellana
Hydrogeologist with focus on water science. Professional experience includes project management in detection of contaminants in soil and water and GHG monitoring in the context of fertilizer management.
Prof. Ivan Mammarella
Group leader of micrometeorology group (INAR). PI of ICOS Hyytiälä station. Published over 160 peer-reviewed articles. Expertise in flux measurements across large scale terrestrial systems.
Dr. Anuliina Putkinen
Specializes in soil–plant–atmosphere interactions. Research focuses on methane/N2O fluxes, microbial processes, and controls regulating carbon cycling in forest and agricultural systems.
Dr. Salla Tenhovirta
Focuses on carbon and nitrogen cycling, particularly GHG fluxes from soils under varying environmental conditions. Integrates field flux measurements with lab analysis.
Dr. Eyrún Gyða Gunnlaugsdóttir
Specializes in wetland biogeochemistry. Her research uses field and process-based approaches to understand how northern wetlands respond to climate change and land-use impacts.