PeopleofSuperintelligence

Researcher

Jukka Corander

Jukka Corander is a statistician whose research connects AI, Bayesian inference, population genetics, and bacterial evolution. He studied statistics at the University of Turku and completed a Stockholm University PhD in 2000 on Bayesian graphical models and the mathematical foundations of early AI. His work includes BAPS software for genetic population structure and ELFI, a Python library for likelihood-free inference; he became a professor at Helsinki in 2009 and Oslo in 2016, and joined Wellcome Sanger's Honorary Faculty in 2017. In 2026, he received an ERC Advanced Grant for ACES, which studies E. coli competition and uses simulation-based inference to calibrate predictive models, and NOK 10 million for H. influenzae vaccine research. As of October 2026, he is a professor at Helsinki and Oslo, Associate Faculty at Wellcome Sanger, and a principal investigator at ELLIS Institute Finland.

Timeline

  1. By 2000

    Statistics and an AI PhD

    At the University of Turku, he studies statistics and completes a master's and PhD at Stockholm University; his 2000 doctorate examines Bayesian learning of graphical models and the mathematical foundations of early artificial intelligence.

  2. 2008

    Bayesian modelling in BAPS

    In 2008, he coauthors a paper on enhanced Bayesian modelling in BAPS software to learn genetic structures of populations.

  3. 2009–2016

    Professorships in Finland and Norway

    In 2009, he becomes Professor of statistics at the University of Helsinki. In 2016, he becomes Professor of biostatistics at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Oslo.

  4. 2016–2017

    A visit to Wellcome Sanger

    In 2016, a longer-term visit brings him to Wellcome Sanger; he joins its Honorary Faculty in 2017.

  5. 2018

    ELFI for likelihood-free inference

    The ELFI paper introduces a Python library for likelihood-free inference. He coauthors it in 2018 for publication in the Journal of Machine Learning Research.

  6. 2026

    ACES models bacterial competition

    In June 2026, he receives a €2.5 million ERC Advanced Grant for ACES. The project studies E. coli competition, and simulation-based inference helps calibrate its predictive models.

  7. September 2026

    Funding a vaccine study

    A September 2026 award gives him NOK 10 million to research a candidate vaccine against H. influenzae.

  8. As of October 2026

    Current research appointments

    His current appointments include Professor of biostatistics at the University of Oslo, Professor of statistics at the University of Helsinki, Associate Faculty at Wellcome Sanger, and a principal investigator at ELLIS Institute Finland.

Career

  1. Since 2016University of OsloProfessor of biostatistics
  2. Since 2016Wellcome TrustHonorary Faculty
  3. Since 2009University of HelsinkiProfessor of statistics
  4. NowELLIS Institute FinlandPrincipal Investigator

Education

  1. 2000Stockholm UniversityMaster's
  2. University of Turku

From the biography.

  1. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Helsinki. We estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.
  2. The company share of AI researchers’ top papers was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974Includes University of Helsinki. We estimate where the people shaping AI worked when their most-cited papers appeared: the company share was 31% in 2020–2024 and 8% in 1970–1974, and Google led all organizations in 2020–2024.
  3. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes University of Helsinki. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology trained or employed 44 of the 187 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and 5+ year employment links, career timing and current workplaces for 187 major-prize and 1,111 best-paper winners.
  4. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI each year from 1955 to 2025, tracing the shift from university labs to companies.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Jukka Corander yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. “I am reborn as a wannabe population geneticist”: Jukka Corander on modelling bacterial dynamics, keeping an open mind and over 40s raves sangerinstitute.blog. Checked 20 October 2026.
  2. Corander, Jukka sanger.ac.uk. Checked 20 October 2026.
  3. Enhanced Bayesian modelling in BAPS software for learning genetic structures of populations researchportal.helsinki.fi. Checked 20 October 2026.
  4. ELFI: Engine for Likelihood-Free Inference jmlr.org. Checked 20 October 2026.
  5. Sanger scientists to receive major grants from the European Research Council sanger.ac.uk. Checked 20 October 2026.
  6. An evolutionary modeling approach to combating antibiotic resistance ellisinstitute.fi. Checked 20 October 2026.
  7. Awarded NOK 10 million for research on a candidate vaccine against ear infections med.uio.no. Checked 20 October 2026.