Vision and Integration Committee of the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences

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Junichi Fujinuma

Research Fellow in Macroecology

Department of Botany

Junichi Fujinuma holds a PhD in Biosphere Science from Hokkaido University and currently works as a Research Fellow in Macroecology at the University of Tartu's Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences. His research focuses on biodiversity patterns, community assembly, and the ecological processes shaping both observed and dark diversity of plant communities across broad spatial scales.

His current work combines global vegetation data, species traits, environmental variables, and statistical modelling to understand why species are present or absent from suitable habitats. He is particularly interested in dark diversity, macroecological modelling, and data-intensive collaborative research through networks such as DarkDivNet and TraitDivNet.

J. Liivi 2 (Oecologicum)

Email: [email protected]

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9004-4709

ETIS: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Junichi_Fujinuma

UT Lab/working group: macroecology.ut.ee/en

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Magdaleena Männik

Specialist in Geology

Department of Geology

Magdaleena defended her PhD in geology in 2025 at the University of Tartu focusing on improving groundwater vulnerability assessment in Estonia. Her work focuses on groundwater management, GIS-based analysis, and transboundary water cooperation. She has contributed to several international projects aimed at assessing and protecting groundwater resources and her current research explores the interactions between groundwater quality and human activities, supporting the sustainable management and protection of groundwater resources.

Ravila 14a (Chemicum)

Email: [email protected]

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3884-5960

ETIS: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Magdaleena_Mannik/eng/

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Ingmar Pastak

Research Fellow in Human Geography

Department of Geography

Ingmar Pastak is a Research Fellow of Human Geography in the Department of Geography at University of Tartu, Estonia. He has participated in several research projects at the intersection of urban and rural studies, spatial planning and human geography. His research focuses on the socio-spatial inequalities and most of his research studies the topic from the perspectives of access to housing and gentrification; place-making, identity and belonging, and the interactions between human and technology (such as through digitalisation of services and smart innovations). Ingmar Pastak is also a representative of Estonian contact point for EU Interreg programmes ESPON (European Spatial Planning Observation Network) and URBACT.

Vanemuise 46

Email: [email protected]

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9159-5673

ETIS: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Ingmar_Pastak/eng/

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Helen Semilarski

Research Fellow of Science Education

Center for Science Education

Having defended her doctoral thesis at the University of Tartu in 2022 on promoting students' meaningful science learning, Helen currently works as a Research Fellow in Science Education. In 2024, she participated in the Fulbright Visiting Research Scholar Program at Boston University, where her research focused on STEAM practices, core ideas, and nonformal learning. She has contributed to several local and international research projects, including EU-funded initiatives. Her current research explores how core ideas and nonformal learning can support more meaningful and engaging student learning experiences.

Vanemuise 46

Email: [email protected]

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5699-8103

ETIS: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Helen_Semilarski/eng/

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Egle Tammeleht

Research Fellow in Theriology

Department of Zoology

Egle has worked as a research fellow in theriology since 2011. Her research mainly deals with population genetics of carnivores and various aspects of their biology and ecology, as well as human dimensions of carnivores.

J. Liivi 2 (Oecologicum)

Email: [email protected]

ORCID: https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0000-0003-0871-051X

ETIS: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Egle_Tammeleht/eng/

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Holger Virro

Research Fellow in Geoinformatics

Department of Geography

Holger is a researcher at the Landscape Geoinformatics Lab, where he applies GeoAI methods to large-scale geospatial problems, such as the detection of landscape elements from aerial imagery and LiDAR data. He completed his PhD studies in 2022, focusing on machine learning-based nationwide water quality prediction. During his studies, he spent a year at Yale University School of Environment as a Visiting Assistant in Research.

Vanemuise 46

Email: [email protected]

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6110-5453

ETIS: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Holger_Virro

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Iryna Yatsiuk

Research fellow in Taxonomy

Department of Botany

After obtaining her PhD degree at the University of Tartu and doing her postdoc in Warsaw, Iryna works as a researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences. She studies the taxonomy and systematics of myxomycetes (macroscopic amoeboid protists), focusing on their phylogeny and species delimitation. Her work combines traditional methods, including various types of microscopy, with DNA analysis to achieve more accurate species classification. She is also involved in educational and citizen science projects aimed at disseminating knowledge about the biodiversity.

J. Liivi 2 (Oecologicum)

Email: [email protected]

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1610-3533

ETIS: https://www.etis.ee/CV/Iryna_Yatsiuk