Life in Finland
Does Finland repeat the mistakes of the USA?

August 16, 2026 • 7 min read • Teaching

Does Finland repeat the mistakes of the USA?

Against the evidence, the short-sighted policies of the Purra/Orpo government aim at destroying Finlands' future in favour of small (and perhaps non-existing) cost savings.
Inauguration of the new professors

May 28, 2026 • 1 min read • Inauguration

Inauguration of the new professors

We - the new professors in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Helsinki - gave our inaugural lectures yesterday!
Vantaa Blue

May 15, 2026 • 1 min read • Vantaa Blue

Vantaa Blue

Swedish Blue Stone is a synthetic jewelry stone made from blast-furnace slag. They were not made on purpose, but have been cast away as a byproduct of metal ore smelting during the last centuries.
The Study Voucher

April 4, 2026 • 3 min read • Study Voucher

The Study Voucher

Since I am working at the University of Helsinki (UH), I should probably know a bit more about the upcoming Study Voucher pilot (Finnish: opintoseteli), as UH will offer a lot of courses within this program, including some of mine.
You know you've been in Finland too long…

March 4, 2026 • 1 min read • Finland

You know you’ve been in Finland too long…

You know you've been in Finland too long when… is an old Facebook thread from 2010 , but I have had quite a few of these moments. With increasing frequency, I realize that I would no longer pass as a normal German.
My Samsung Work Phone Came Preinstalled With Spyware

December 25, 2025 • 9 min read • AppCloud

My Samsung Work Phone Came Preinstalled With Spyware

Working at the University of Helsinki, you might get the impression that the IT department is serious about protecting your digital safety.
Still wondering what to study?

December 20, 2025 • 3 min read • Pharmacy

Still wondering what to study?

This is what I would do if I were 20 years old today: I would enter an interdisciplinary study program.
The Finnish Dream: A Pipe Dream?

December 15, 2025 • 10 min read • Study

The Finnish Dream: A Pipe Dream?

A reality check for international students.
Find me elsewhere

Biochemistry/Molecular biology researcher and teacher