Dr Anna Kaksonen

Dr Anna Kaksonen, Senior Research Scientist.

Dr Anna Kaksonen: leading environmental and industrial biotechnology research

Dr Anna Kaksonen is leading a team that is researching the use of microorganisms and biotechnological processes for environmental and industrial applications in the mining, water supply and wastewater treatment industries.

  • 19 October 2009 | Updated 19 November 2012

Current activities

Dr Anna Kaksonen’s primary research areas include mining biotechnology, resource recovery, biological treatment of wastewaters, water treatment and distribution microbiology, biofouling and biocorrosion, and microbial ecology and taxonomy.

Research topics of special interest include:

  • Bioleaching of metals from minerals
  • Bioleaching and recovery of metals from waste materials
  • Biofouling of water production bores
  • Biofilm sensors
  • Biocorrosion
  • Treatment of acidic metal- and sulphate-containing mine and process waters with sulphate-reducing bioreactors
  • Production of bio-H2 and bioethanol using dark fermentation
  • Bioremediation of contaminated sites
  • Deep biosphere microorganisms
  • Water pipeline microbiology
  • Molecular detection and monitoring of microbial communities in natural and engineered environments
  • Isolation and description of novel microorganisms

Background

Dr Kaksonen joined CSIRO in 2009 after working for 10 years at Tampere University of Technology, Finland. Over the years she has been a visiting scientist with CSIRO Land and Water, worked at the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ), the Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), and as an on-board microbiologist with the International Ocean Drilling Project (IODP) expedition 315 on the Deep Sea Drilling Vessel CHIKYU, Japan.

Dr Kaksonen has published over 60 peer-reviewed research papers in international journals, three book chapters and over 75 conference publications.

Academic qualifications

Dr Kaksonen has been awarded:

  • Masters of Science (Environmental Science and Policy) from the University of Helsinki, Finland in 1999
  • Masters of Science in Engineering (Environmental Biotechnology) from Tampere University of Technology, Finland in 2001
  • Doctor of Technology (Environmental Biotechnology) from Tampere University of Technology, Finland in 2004.

Achievements

Dr Kaksonen has published over 60 peer-reviewed research papers in international journals, three book chapters and over 75 conference publications.

Her achievements include:

  • Best doctoral thesis in Technology in Finland in 2004 given by the Finnish Association of Graduate Engineers (Tekniikan Akateemisten Liitto, TEK) and Technical Association in Finland (Tekniska Förening in Finland, TFiF), 2005
  • Best doctoral thesis in environmental sciences during the years 2003-04 in Finland given by the Finnish Society for Environmental Science, 2005.

Professional activities

Dr Kaksonen is:

  • Docent in Environmental Biotechnology, Tampere University of Technology, Finland
  • Member of the Science Committee of Australia-New Zealand Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Consortium (ANZIC)
  • Member of the International Scientific Committee (ISC) of the International Biohydrometallurgy Symposium (IBS)
  • Member of the International Water Association (IWA)
  • Member of the Australian Water Association (AWA).

Find out more about CSIRO Land and Water.