Please introduce yourself

I am a synthetic organic chemist. My interest in this field began during my bachelor’s studies at TalTech, where I also completed my master’s and doctoral studies. I have furthered my studies in Sweden and Germany and spent an extended period as a postdoctoral researcher in Aarhus, Denmark. I returned to Estonia at the end of 2023 to establish my own cocatalysis research group.

Our research group is exploring different catalytic processes and how they can be combined. This makes it possible to carry out reactions that would not be feasible using a single catalyst.

Which of your experiences and areas of expertise will be useful in your role as a professor?

My education and career as a chemist have been closely linked to catalytic processes. I gained my first research laboratory experience in the field of organocatalysis. My postdoctoral research gave me the opportunity to work in one of the world’s leading aminocatalysis research groups and gain international experience.

Working abroad has also allowed me to see how my field is taught in different countries and at different levels. These experiences will be valuable in my role as a professor, both in advancing research and developing teaching.

What would you like to achieve as a professor?

It would be exciting to discover a conceptually new reaction, but that takes considerable time and effort. Given how far chemistry has advanced, it also requires a fair amount of luck.

Above all, I want to develop my research group. My goal is to conduct high-quality, world-class research and establish our group as a recognised name both in Estonia and internationally. On the one hand, it is important to pursue the ideas that brought me back to Estonia, while also looking towards new research directions. All of this is essential for ensuring the continuity and growth of the group.

Our research topics are experimentally demanding, requiring thoroughness, precision and a great deal of effort from every group member. At the same time, synthesis is also a creative process that calls for openness to new ideas and a willingness to put them to the test. The development of a research group therefore goes hand in hand with the development of its members.

In teaching, I would like to explore my field in greater depth and contribute to teaching it more comprehensively.

What has been one surprise about your new position?

So far, there have been no surprises. The position is still relatively new, and work has continued at much the same pace as in previous years.