President

Professor Tuula Teeri

Tuula Teeri was appointed the first President of Aalto University in April 2009. She is a staunch supporter of research excellence as a solid foundation for pioneering education and societal impact. Under her leadership, Aalto has implemented the Tenure Track career system, established interdisciplinary programs in research and education and is currently reforming its educational curricula according to the Bologna principles. Aalto University is also emerging as a major hub for growth entrepreneurship through joint activities of the student-led Aalto Entrepreneurship Society, Aalto Venture Garage and Aalto Center for Entrepreneurship.

Tuula Teeri earned an MSc degree in Molecular Genetics in 1981 and a PhD degree in 1987 from the University of Helsinki. She held various research and leadership positions at VTT Technical Research Center of Finland during 1980-1996. She then joined the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, first as a Visiting Professor 1996-1998 and Professor of Wood Biotechnology since 1998. Her research career focused on enzyme discovery and protein engineering of cellulose degradation and plant cell wall biosynthesis with long term aims of developing processes for biofuel applications and for new biomimetic materials.

At KTH, Tuula Teeri served as a member of the Faculty Board (2003-2007), Deputy Dean of the School of Biotechnology (2005-2007) and Deputy President of the University 2008-2009. She has been Board member of the Institute of Surface Chemistry Sweden (2001-2004), Institute for Future Studies, Stockholm, Sweden (2003-2006), Council for Natural Sciences and Technology of the Swedish Research Council (2004-2006) and Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (2004-2007). She is currently Board member of the Technology Academy of Finland, Finnish Business and Policy Forum and the Research Institute of Finnish Economy, Universities Finland UNIFI as well as the European Science Business Board.