Visiting Researcher Spotlight: Moi, Mari!

Mari Toppinen is a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki in Finland. She is studying virology and her dissertation work focuses on the recovery of viral DNA from human remains. Mari holds a Master of Science from the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Helsinki. During her M.S., she majored in virology and graduated in 2013. She also did her minor studies in management at Aalto University, which is in Helsinki, Finland. Mari's favorite movie is the Godfather and she hopes to visit Corleone village while in Sicily...which is her ulterior motivation for coming to the island this summer. :p

Mari will be joining us in Sicily for part of the Mummy Studies Field School as a visiting researcher to gain some valuable experience that will help her with her dissertation work. We caught up with Mari to ask her about her involvement with our program this summer.

Hey, Mari! What made you interested in coming to Sicily to study mummies with us?
Our collaborator, Dr. Dario Piombino-Mascali, told us about the course and I got interested about the possibility to learn about mummies!

Would you describe your dissertation project for us?
We are studying virus DNA persistence in tissues of modern humans and ancient mummies. Several human viruses establish, after primary infection, lifelong persistence of their genomes in our tissues. Tracing the footprints of viruses in human remains reveals clues on their distribution and adaptation and may have major implications for our ability to control or eradicate infectious diseases.

How does Sicily fit into your dissertation project?
It is very important to learn about mummification processes and preservation of tissues. which probably influence virus DNA preservation.

What are you most looking forward to about the Mummy Studies Field School?
To see the Palermo Catacombs and the mummies there.

What are you most worried/anxious about?
I have only taken basic courses in anatomy and that was during my first year at university (2007) and I have forgotten most! In particular, my English vocabulary of different body parts is limited. However, I have been trying to learn those a little.

What are your plans following graduation?
I am now half way into my studies. I plan to graduate at 2018. I would like to continue with research, either in academia or in a company.

Who is your favorite mummy and why?
My favorite mummy is in the British museum. He is from 3400 BC, naturally mummified, and found from a sand grave in the Egyptian desert. He looks like he is sleeping with his hands under his head and knees bend. When in London, I need to visit him.