Piia Puurunen

Piia Puurunen is a University Lecturer at the Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland. Her research focuses on social work challenges, professional ethics, historical perspectives in social work, and interdisciplinary collaboration. She has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed journals and edited volumes, including the 2025 book Vaativa sosiaalityö, which examines demanding aspects of social work. Her work also addresses secularization in social care, research ethics, and social justice in immigration contexts.

• Research Interests: Social work ethics, professional development, historical analysis of social work practices, and policy implementation in regional sustainability.
• Publications: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles and books, with a focus on social work challenges, ethics, and historical methodologies. Recent work emphasizes the intersection of social policy and professional practice.
• Affiliations: Member of the Social Work Research and Education Team at UEF and contributor to projects like the North Karelia region's social services development initiative.

Her academic contributions span theoretical frameworks (e.g., hermeneutics in historical analysis) to applied studies (e.g., substance abuse identification in partnerships). She has also co-edited volumes on ethics in social work research and the legacy of pioneers like Jane Addams.

Grants & Advising: While no specific grants are listed, her involvement in regional projects indicates collaborative research. She has advised on multidisciplinary initiatives, though formal student advisee records are not provided.

Teams/Labs: Active in the Social Work Research and Education Team, focusing on advancing social work education and practice through empirical and theoretical research.