In January 2014 he graduated from the University of Vaasa as a doctor in the area of biofuels. His background is environmental engineering and his doctoral and current research resides in biodiesel production by integration of microalgae cultivation with wastewater treatment. Until now, he has published more than 50 papers in many esteemed peer-reviewed scientific journals, such as Water Research, Applied Energy, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Energy, Bioresource Technology, Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining (Biofpr) and Ecological Engineering.