Group manager
PhD (General microbiology), University of Helsinki
Contact information
Email: firstname.lastname@syke.fi
Tel.: +358400148596
Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
Research infrastructure
Environmental impacts
Mustialankatu 3, 00790 Helsinki
Twitter: @kbjorklof
Katarina Björklöf on LinkedIn
Current tasks
In addition to administrative tasks, my tasks in Syke focus on the quality of environmental research both related to laboratory work and field work.
- Manager of the Certification Scheme for sampling personnel.
- Expert in international development projects for laboratory practices, microbiological methods and field work.
- Expert member in National Standardization Group in 2020-2024.
- Technical assessor for microbiology since 2004 and external head assessor since 2017 for national accreditation body (FINAS).
Background
I have worked at Syke since 1997: as a research scientist in studying microbiological processes in soil, then after finishing my PhD-thesis on more administrative issues. I prefer to work with applicable and practical issues. As the head of the Environmental Chemistry Research unit, I promote collaboration and openness.
My main areas of expertise include:
- Quality working practices according to ISO17025 and ISO/IEC 17024
- Environmental field work; sampling, monitoring, field instruments
- Environmental microbiology
- Quality management according to Common Assessment Framework of EU (CAF)
Participation in international development projects
- Capacity building on surface water quality monitoring in Tajikistan (2015-2018)
- Water Quality Monitoring in the Kyrgyz Republic (2012-2013)
- Development of environmental monitoring and management systems in Georgia, Phase II (2011-2012).
Publications
Currently my publications focus on professional articles in Finnish language, with the help of which I want to promote knowledge for researchers, experts and the general public about relevant quality issues. The topics of my scientific publications relate to safety of genetically modified bacteria in soil.
Katarina Björklöf on Google Scholar