Evaluation Report Publications of the Academy of Finland 1/11

4.23 University of Helsinki, Radiochemistry
Overview
The UH Laboratory of Radiochemistry has, on average, one professor, seven senior 
researchers, two postdoctoral researchers and five PhD students. It is the only 
comprehensive radiochemistry group in Finnish universities and is also large in size in 
a European context. From the overall budget, core funding accounts for 25 per cent; 
this provides salaries for seven staff members. Other funding comes from a wide 
variety of sources.
Research profile
Research in the unit covers a number of areas of radiochemistry. The majority of the 
work is application-oriented with the approach of establishing a deep knowledge and 
understanding of radioactive elements and radiation.
Specific areas include migration and retention of radionuclides in the geosphere 
and the development of inorganic ion exchangers for the removal of radionucleids 
from nuclear waste effluents. The unit also studies radiopharmaceutical chemistry, 
environmental radioactivity and radiation chemistry and develops analytical methods 
for radionuclides in the environment and in nuclear waste.
The Master’s course and the PhD programme are a valuable source of 
radiochemists for Finnish industry.