Structure
The Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology consists of three departments – the Division of Chemistry, the Division of Gene Technology and Biomedicine, and the Division of Food and Biotechnology, which bring together the institute’s research groups. The institute also includes an animal facility.
Director
The Director of the Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology is Senior Researcher Pirjo Spuul.
Pirjo Spuul graduated in Gene Technology from the University of Tartu and earned her PhD from the University of Helsinki. During her research career, she has worked at the University of Helsinki and the University of Bordeaux, and has been working at TalTech since 2016.
Pirjo Spuul leads the Biomedicine Research Group, where her research focuses on the pathogen Helicobacter pylori. She studies how the bacterium affects the human gastrointestinal microbiome and liver cells, and the mechanisms linking bacterial infection to the development of diseases, including cancer.
In addition to her research, Pirjo Spuul is involved in teaching, research projects and the supervision of researchers. She is also a co-leader of the Health and Food Technologies Research Centre. Since 2025, she has served as President of the Estonian Society of Human Genetics.
As the Director of the Institute, I consider people, collaboration and trust to be of particular importance. To me, leadership is about valuing and recognising people and giving them the opportunity to make use of their strengths. I believe that good ideas in science emerge through collaboration, and that the value of research lies in its ability to bring genuine benefits to society.
Contact
Department Council
The Department Council is the academic decision-making body of the department, which discusses strategic development matters, membership, and budget and submits a draft action plan to the dean. The council regularly reviews the head of the department’s reports, provides an assessment of the department’s activities, and makes proposals for the development of the department and the faculty.
Head of the Council
Pirjo Spuul, Director
Members of the Council
- Riina Aav, Tenured Full Professor
- Tõnis Kanger, Tenured Full Professor
- Peep Palumaa, Tenured Full Professor
- Tõnis Timmusk, Tenured Full Professor
- Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, Tenured Associate Professor
- Ott Scheler, Tenured Associate Professor
- Agne Velthut-Meikas, Tenured Associate Professor
- Toomas Tamm, Tenured Associate Professor
- Katrin Laos, Associate Professor
- Annela Avarlaid, Representative of the academic staff
- Ly Villo, Employee representative
- Kristin Erkman, Employee representative
- Indrek Koppel, Employee representative
- Priit Eek, Employee representative
- Vello Tõugu, Employee representative
- Ivar Järving, Employee representative
- Maria Cecilia Sarmiento Guerin, Employee representative
- Maksim Ošeka, Employee representative
- Mikk Kaasik, Employee representative
- Kaarel Adamberg, Employee representative
- Annette Miller, Doctoral Student Representative
The Council has been elected for the period from 01.09.2025 to 31.08.2028.