Irma Paula Nathalia Thesleff #

Born: 24.07.1948, Helsinki

Current Position

Professor, Research Director of Developmental Biology Program, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, from 1996

Education and Training

• Graduation from Dental School (DDS) University of Helsinki, 1972
• Doctor of Odontology (Dr.Odont), University of Helsinki, 1975
• Docent (Lecturer) in Developmental Biology University of Helsinki, 1980
• Specialist's rights in orthodontics, 1983

Previous professional appointments

• Research Associate, the Academy of Finland, 1973-1976
• Instructor, Dept. of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, University of Helsinki, 1976-1978
• Visiting Associate, Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Anomalies, NIDR, Bethesda, MD, USA, 1978-1979
• Instructor, Dept. Pedodontics and Orthodontics, Univ. Helsinki, 1979-1983
• Scientist, Academy of Finland, 1983-1990
• Professor and Chairman, Department of Pedodontics and Orthodontics, University of Helsinki, 1990-2004

Research awards and honors

• The Pohjola award of the Finnish Dental Society and Finnish Dental
• Association for "scientific work at national and international levels" 1987
• Int.Assoc.Dent.Res. Distinguished Scientist Award in Craniofacial Biology 1993
• Finnish Academy of Science and Letters (Suom.Tiedeakat.), invited member 1994
• Thuréusprize of the Umeå university 1995
• City of Helsinki, Science Award 1997
• Honorary Doctor in Odontology, University of Göteborg 1997
• Swedish Dental Society, International Prize 1997
• Center of Excellence, University of Helsinki (with H.Sariola and C.Roos) 1997-2001
• Academy Professor, Finnish Academy 1998-2003
• Anders Jahre Prize in Medicine, Oslo University 1999
• Acta Odontologica Scandinavica, Prize for ”Excellent contribution to dental research” 2000
• EMBO, invited member 2000
• Academiae Europaea, invited member 2000
• Center of Excellence in Developmental Biology, Academy of Finland (with H.Sariola and J.Partanen) 2002-2007
• Honorary Doctor in Odontology, University of Copenhagen 2002
• Honorary Doctor in Science, McGill University, Montreal 2004
• Professor of the Year, The Finnish Association of University Professors 2005
• Sheldon Friel Memorial Lecturer, EOS, Amsterdam 2005
• Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters (Suom.Tiedeseura), invited member 2005
• Honorary Doctor, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven 2005
• Honorary Professor in Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, University of Copenhagen 2005-2010
• IADR/AADR William J. Gies Award for best paper in Biological Research 2006
• Chairman of the Board, Biocentrum Helsinki 2007-2009
• Gordon Conference on “Craniofacial Morphogenesis & Tissue Regeneration, Chair 2008
• European Orthodontic Society, President 2008-2009
• Honorary Doctor, University of Debrecen, Hungary 2008
• IADR Isaac Schour Memorial Award 2008
• Honorary Doctor, University of Oslo 2008
• AAAS Fellow 2009
• Valkhof Chair (Visiting Professor), Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands 2009
• Apollonia Prize, Finnish Dental Society 2009

Major research grants

• The Academy of Finland, yearly project and program grants 1982-2001 2008-2011
• National Institutes of Health, Dental Research grant 1 ROI DE09399 1990-1993
• University of Helsinki, Biocentrum Helsinki grant 1994-2009
• Sigrid Jusélius Foundation 1989-1992 1996-2008
• Human Frontiers Science Program (with Paul Sharpe & J.V. Ruch) 1995-1998
• Center of Excellence grant (Dev.Biol.Program), University of Helsinki 1997-2001
• National Institutes of Health, NIDCR (with R.D´Souza) 1999-2003
• Center of Excellence funding, Academy of Finland 2002-2007
• Sigrid Juselius Foundation, major 5-year grant 2008-2013

Scientific expert functions

• Supervisor of doctoral thesis works: 19 times
• Opponent of doctoral thesis works: 13 times
• External reviewer for: **professor : 9 times **promotion to professorship: 25 times **doctoral thesis: 23 times
• Member of International Scientific Advisory Board: 6
• Member of International Scientific Evaluation Committees: 12
• Reviewer of grant applications: 22 international organizations
• Member of the Editorial Board: 12 international scientific journals
• Referee: for over 30 international scientific journals

Participation in Scientific Meetings

Invited lectures in 125 international conferences.
61 seminars in foreign universities/research institutions.