Rate My Professor Pekka Savolainen

Pekka Savolainen currently holds the position of Head of the ENS Research Environment Unit at Tampere University’s Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences. In this role, he functions as the Head of Laboratories and Research Infrastructures, tasked with the critical mission of bolstering the faculty's research endeavors and educational programs. This involves the ongoing maintenance, development, and optimization of laboratories, specialized equipment, and overall research environments. Working closely under the guidance of the Vice Dean of Research, Savolainen ensures that faculty members and students have access to cutting-edge facilities necessary for groundbreaking work in engineering and natural sciences disciplines.

Savolainen's distinguished academic and professional trajectory is firmly grounded in technical physics and semiconductor technology. He earned his DI (Master of Science in Technology) degree in 1993 and his TkT (Doctor of Science in Technology) in 2001, both specializing in these fields. Further enhancing his leadership skills, he obtained an eMBA in 2015. Previously, from 2009 to 2016, he served as Director of the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at Tampere University of Technology, where he directed innovative research projects and spearheaded the commercialization of developed technologies through the creation of spin-off companies. From 2017 to 2022, Savolainen took charge of developing and managing a substantial investment program aimed specifically at upgrading and expanding the university's research infrastructures. Moreover, he played a key role in co-establishing prominent national networks, including LCC Finland and Photonics Finland, which facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange in photonics, laser technology, and related areas. Over the course of his career, Pekka Savolainen has made significant scholarly contributions, including authorship or co-authorship of several dozen peer-reviewed scientific articles. He has also actively engaged with the global scientific community through presentations at numerous international scientific meetings and conferences. His multifaceted efforts have profoundly influenced the research landscape at Tampere University, perpetuating and advancing the strong legacy established during his time at Tampere University of Technology. Through his administrative leadership and technical expertise, Savolainen continues to drive innovation and support the next generation of researchers in the field of engineering.