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Dr. Maria Kaukonen (FI)

Adjunct Professor (Docent), DVM, PhD

EBVS European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Current Position

University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Biosciences
University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical and Medical Genetics

Education and Experience

Post-doctoral research scientist 2021-2023, University of Oxford
Doctoral dissertation 2020, University of Helsinki
DVM 2013, University of Helsinki

Georg graduated from the Veterinary University of Vienna in 2006, where he also completed a rotating small animal internship and a three-year ECVS approved residency program in small animal surgery. 2015 Georg moved to UK and worked as a specialist small animal surgeon in international renowned referral centers (Animal Health Trust, Dick White Referrals). In 2018 Georg returned back to Austria where he is CEO and head surgeon of a busy referral centre. Beside his clinical work, Georg has published articles in peer reviewed journals and has lectured and been invited as a speaker at numerous conferences and CPD courses at national and international level.

Teaching Experience

Course master, Clinical genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki 2019-
Lecturer In Genetics-course, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki 2015-
Lecturer in Ophthalmology I -course, ESAVS, 2023-
Lecturer in Cells’ metabolism -course, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki 2023-
University Pedagogy courses
Supervisor for three PhD students

Research

My team focuses on unravelling the genetic causes of inherited eye diseases in dogs and cats and developing novel approaches to treat them.

Awards

Ultima promovendi, Doctoral Conferment Ceremony, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 2023
Sigrid Jusélius post-doctoral fellow (140k €), Nuffield Department of Clinical Ophthalmology, University of Oxford, 2021-2022
Over 540k € competitive grant funding raised.