Rate My Professor Jaakko Timonen

Jaakko Timonen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University School of Science, holding the position since 2016. He leads the Active Matter research group, serves as Vice-head of the Department of Applied Physics since 2020, and acts as Deputy Director of the Center of Excellence in Life-Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER) since 2022. Timonen obtained his Master's degree in Engineering and Technology from Helsinki University of Technology in 2009, earning the Distinction prize for his master's thesis. He completed his Doctoral degree at Aalto University in 2013, receiving the Distinction prize for his doctoral thesis. His PhD dissertation focused on synthesizing biohybrid fibres controllable using magnetic nanoparticles and nanocellulose, magnetic cilia mimicking biological cilia, self-organisation of magnetic fluid drops, and their application in measuring friction between fluids and fixed surfaces. For this work, he was awarded the Best Doctoral Dissertation of the Year in the field of technology by TEK and TFIF in 2014, as well as Aalto University's Award of Best Dissertation of the Year in 2016. Following his doctorate, Timonen held postdoctoral positions at Northwestern University from 2013 to 2014 and at Harvard University from 2014 to 2016. His research has been supported by prestigious grants, including the ERC Starting Grant from 2019 to 2024 and the Academy of Finland Research Fellowship from 2019 to 2023.