Research Professors

The aim of the election of Academy Research Professor is to enable recognised researchers in their field working full-time in an Estonian research and development institution or university, leading research and supervising doctoral students, to commit themselves to scientific research during the term of Academy Professor.

The aim of the election of theme-based Academy Research Professor is to enable recognised researchers in their field to carry out their field-specific research in an Estonian private or public sector organisation during the minimum one-year term of theme-based Academy Professor. The number of open positions, the field or theme, the term and the conditions for application are decided by the Board of the Academy in agreement with the institution financing theme-based Researcher-Professors.
The General Assembly of the Academy approved the new Statute of Research Professor of the Academy of Sciences (in Estonian) on 20 April 2022.

For the first time Research Professors were elected in 2002. Since then, the Estonian Academy of Sciences has announced a competition for the position of Research Professor every three years and each time has elected three Researcher Professors for a three-year term.

Additional information: Siiri Jakobson, phone +372 5647 0529, siiri.jakobson@akadeemia.ee

2025–2027

Senior Research Fellow at National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Gert Hütsi

Tenured Associate Professor, Head of Laboratory of Biopolymer Technology at Tallinn University of Technology Andres Krumme

Professor of Human Geography at Tallinn University Hannes Palang

2024–2026

Research Professorship in Artificial Intelligence in Artifical Intelligence

Research group of Meelis Kull, Associate Professor of Machine Learning at the University of Tartu

2024–2026

Research Professor of Estonian Language and its Teaching

Birute Klaas-Lang, Professor of Estonian as a Foreign Language at the University of Tartu

2023–2024

Research Professor in Arctic Studies

Professor of Environmental Physics at the University of Tartu Heikki Junninen

Professor Lauri Laanisto, Chair of Biodiversity and Nature Tourism, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Agriculture and the Environment, Estonia

2023–2024

Research Professorship in Russian Studies

Andrey Makarychev, Professor of Regional Policy Studies, University of Tartu

2023–2024

Birute Klaas-Lang, Professor of Estonian as a Foreign Language, University of Tartu

2022–2023

Research Professorships in Arctic Studies

Professor Lauri Laanisto Research Group, Estonian University of Life Sciences

Associate Professor of Ethnology Aimar Ventsel's research group, University of Tartu

2022–2024

Professor of Taltech Tõnis Kanger.

Professor of Urban and Population Geography, University of Tartu Tiit Tammaru.

Professor in the technology of antimicrobial compounds, Universitu of Tartu Tanel Tenson.

2019–2021

Professor of Applied Virology, University of Tartu Institute of Technology Andres Merits.

Research Professor of Taltech, Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics Dmitri Vinnikov.

Research Professor of National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Toomas Rõõm.

2016–2018

Research Professor of the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Anne Kahru.

Professor of Ragnar Nurkse School of Innovation and Governance at Tallinn University of Technology Rainer Kattel.

Leading Researcher of the Institute of Physics at the University of Tartu Kaupo Kukli.

2013–2015

Professor of the University of Tartu Rein Ahas.

Senior Researcher of the University of Tartu Anu Realo.

Professor of Tallinn University of Technology Tõnis Timmusk.

2009–2011

Professor of the University of Tartu Pärt Peterson.

Senior Research Scientist of the National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics Martti Raidal.

Senior Research Scientist of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Tiina Nõges.

2006–2008

Extraordinary Professor of the University of Tartu, Member of Academy Ilmar Koppel.

Leading Research Scientist of Tallinn University of Technology Malle Krunks.

Professor of the Estonian University of Life Sciences Ülo Niinemets.

RESEARCH PROFESSORS 2003–2007

Professor of the University of Tartu, Member of Academy Agu Laisk.

Professor of Tallinn University of Technology, Member of Academy Raimund-Johannes Ubar.

Senior Research Scientist of the University of Tartu Asko Uri.