Academy of Sciences elected new research professor from University of Tartu

The Estonian Academy of Sciences elected three new research professors for the next three years. From the University of Tartu, Lead Research Fellow of Materials Science Kaupo Kukli of the Institute of Physics was elected.

The position of research professor, which is elected every three years, enables acknowledged researchers, who lead research work at research and development institutions or the university and supervise doctoral students, to focus on scientific research.

Kukli said that as research professor, his work in the field of materials science focuses on developing the process of atomic layer deposition of thin solid films and assessing the physical quality of the deposed materials. “Such materials are nowadays the general basis for various technological developments in nano-electronics, sensorics and medicine,” said Kukli.

“Of course we include master’s and doctoral students in the research work, participate in international cooperation networks and improve the lectures and courses of the field with information gathered from present-day results and know-how,” explained Kukli as to how as research professor he also contributes to improving the quality of studies.

In addition to Kaupo Kukli, Lead Research Fellow Anne Kahru of the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, and Professor Rainer Kattel of the School of Innovation and Governance of Tallinn University of Technology were also elected as research professors for the period 2016–2018.